Our Father
Scripture Reading: Luke 11:1-13
The concept of God as our Father was not unknown in the Old Testament. Deuteronomy 32:6; Isaiah 63:16; and Malachi 2:10 are examples of God being called “Father” before the advent of Christ. But clearly, Jesus took that concept to a whole new level. When He taught on prayer and instructed us in how to speak to God he said to say, “Our Father…” It is not wrong or improper to use other names for God when we pray. We can say, “Lord” or “God” or any other name revealed for the One True God throughout the pages of Scripture, but “Father” ought to be our primary way of addressing Him because that is the way Jesus taught us to pray.
But this goes beyond just getting the right name of address to use. At the end of Jesus’s seminar on prayer in Luke chapter eleven, he compares and contrasts God, our Heavenly Father, with earthly fathers. Jesus is speaking in generalities here. He is not including every father in the world. I say that because someone will point out some examples of some evil father who would give his son a serpent instead of a fish. So, generally speaking, even sinful men want to do what is best for their children. They want to give them and do give them what is good for them and blesses them.
Jesus’ point is if we human fathers know how to give our children good gifts, certainly we can expect infinitely more and better from our Heavenly Father. Jesus wants us to see God as our Good Father, the best Father who treats His children with love, and kindness, and with their best interests in mind.
When you go to God in prayer, remember He is your Father and you are His child.
