Spurgeon says that the Lord’s prayer is like a ladder. It starts at the top and moves downward. It begins at the highest human possibility ( “Our Father”-sonship) and ends at the lowest (“Lead us not into temptation”-a sinner in danger of becoming a greater sinner). The last petitions of the prayer are words from a humbled heart, conscious of past failure and fearful of it in the future. It is a fair fear. It is a wise prayer because sin is a very real danger. “Let him who thinks he stand take heed lest he fall” says the scripture. The burned child dreads the fire and wisely so. The Lord teaches us who have learned our own weakness to daily ask for His guidance so as to continue on the path. What wisdom is here! This may be the lowest prayer, but it rises from the most mature heart–one that can be honest about the continuing stuggle with sin.
