My Father in Heaven

The Lord’s Prayer

While studying Matthew 6, it was a wonderful find that each line of the Lord’s Prayer is also found in the Old Testament. Unfortunately, none of it really ‘goes together’ and it is only phrase by phrase that we can find it in the Old Testament. I read too that it is based on Jewish prayers of the time, one in particular called the kaddish.

Any way you look at it, most of us find the prayer important. It was the only prayer of Jesus that was recorded. It was the answer to ‘teach us to pray.’ I think it is likely that there are many lessons to be learned from it. I was just struck by ‘father.’ God is also called father in the Old Testament, Abi. The relationship that that single word describes is actually quite profound. Yet, so often in prayer we hear ‘Father God’ or ‘Abba Father’ rather than simply ‘father’. The first puts a distance that may not need to be there. The second repeats the name, ‘Daddy Father’. What are we saying when we use these phrases?

Abba, Father

It was described to me once as an analogy. If your father is the president, you don’t call the secretary and ask to speak to him. You have his personal number and call him directly. Similarly, you don’t call him ‘Mr. President’ but you call him ‘Dad’ when he answers.

There is no need to put another layer or distance between us, God and me. He cares. He provides for me and loves me as my Abba. He wants what is good for me (His kingdom) and he provides for me (daily bread). He wants me to obey him and do good (forgive and be forgiven), overcoming weakness (temptation) and evil. Maybe it all hinges on that one word: Father.

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 today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Matthew 6:9-13

The more I understand who He is, the more these other things are my desire. As I know better what God as ‘Father’ means, the more I desire him as my father. A father is the one who leads the household, loves the family, guides in wisdom and strength, provides materially and spiritually. He participates in family life. He protects without stifling growth; he encourages personal endeavors. He demonstrates proper interaction with others. He disciplines and instructs. We could go on and on.

He treasures his role of Father

The relationship is not one of equals. And he treasures that. He treasures this role of giving. And he hopes that we too treasure our role of giving in the relationship. The main part of that is that I accept my role as child of the Father. That I love him too. You see, in accepting that he is Father and I am child, then I can hear his guidance and accept his gifts. That is the obedience part. The hard part I suppose. I’m not sure that I have treasured the role that I have as child, fully dependent upon Father. Reviewing the short list of things that a father does, I don’t know that I delight in his role at all, but rather take some of these upon myself, weighing me down. Or maybe I ignore some of his guidance and instruction. Ah, I long for solid food, but sometimes find myself back on milk.

My father in heaven, you are holy. Send your kingdom. Work in me and circumstances to bring about your will so that I and also this earth reflect your kingdom. Fulfill my needs for today, material things like food and shelter, and also mental and spiritual needs. I forgive those who sin against me and ask your forgiveness for my sins. May your Spirit and my flesh cooperate today and beat back temptation, assisting me to stand against evil.

Amen.

Feel free to print the Matthew 6:9-13, the Lord’s Prayer, as found below as a free download.

If you are looking for the Session Notes for Matthew 6-13, they have been moved here.

Lord's Prayer

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