Book Review: On Earth as it is in Heaven

I picked up this book at the discount store. I tend to browse for sound authors and grab some cheap reads. This is the first book I have read by Warren Wiersbe, On Earth As It Is in Heaven: How the Lord's Prayer Teaches Us to Pray More Effectively.

The book takes each section of the Lord's Prayer from Matthew 6 and explains what is REALLY being said and how it applies to us as Christians. Do we know what we are saying? Do we really believe what we are saying? Do we really want what we are saying? The book interested me as Abby just finished memorizing the Lord's prayer a few months ago. I can not do the content of this book justice so I am only going to bullet point my little nuggets.

• Prayer isn't an option; it's an obligation and an opportunity for us to glorify God's name.
• Prayer isn't a luxury; it's a necessity.
• The people of this world look at heaven from earth's point of view, but God's people look at this world from heaven's point of view.
• Biblical worship should begin with transcendence, affirming that the Lord is above us and is in control. Then we should move to immanence, thanking the Lord that he is with us as we leave his sanctuary. The current "buddy-buddy" approach to the Lord is definitely unbiblical. "Abba, Father" is fine for personal devotions but not always for corporate worship. We must first see the Lord "seated on a throne, high, and exalted" so we can truly say, "Woe is me" and "Here am I. Send me."
• Our task as a chosen people is to advertise by our words and deeds the glorious virtues of Jesus Christ.
• How can he church advertise the virtues of Jesus Christ if the church is imitating the world? We have been called to shine as lights, not reflect as mirrors.
• If we pray "your kingdom come" while at the same time compromising with the world, we are hypocrites and our prayers will not be answered.
• The unconverted person wears a heavy yoke of sin that grows heavier every day. The outwardly religious person wears a yoke of rules and rituals that bring no relief. But the children of God are united with Christ and wear a yoke that is easy. They carry burdens that are light, because "his commands are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3). This is the summary of true discipleship.

Just some nuggets that struck a cord with me either as conviction or an Amen. It was a good read and a good reminder that the Lord's prayer is not just a prayer we memorize as kids but one that should truly be our daily model.