John Bradford on the Lord's Prayer

Our Father in Heaven
Hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts, 
as we have also forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Matthew 6:9-13

Today's prayer is from John Bradford & is a further reflection on the Lords Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. 

John Bradford was born in 1510 and was an English preacher and reformer. He served as the chaplain to Edward VI. However after Edward VI's death, Mary I took over and strongly against any opposition to Catholicism. As a result, Bradford was arrested and eventually tried and condemned to death in 1555. 

The below reflection emphasizes in particular the first 2 words "Our Father" in the Lords Prayer, and speaks to the closeness relational proximity that we now have as believers in Christ. We hope & pray that this reflection provides you both comfort & strength as believers today. 

"As by this word Father I am taught to glory of you and in you, and all that ever you have, for you are wholly mine, my Lord, my God, and my Father, so by this word our I am taught to glory of all the good, that all and each of your servants that taught to believe that you have called me into the communion of your church and people, whom hereby I perceive you have commanded to be careful for me, as for themselves, and in all their prayers to be as mindful of me as of themselves.

Again, as by this word Father I am taught to remember and render my duty by which I owe towards you, faith, love, fear, obedience etc. So by the word our I am taught my duty towards your people, to be as mine own, and therefore to labor to help them in heart and hand, after my vocation and ability, utterly abhorring all pride, self-love, arrogance and contempt."