Lord's Day 45

Devotion

When you begin to pray, to whom do you address your prayers? To the Almighty God? The eternal one? To the creator of heaven and earth? These are all perfectly suitable ways in which one might address God. But Jesus, in teaching his disciples to pray, offers a more intimate and powerful relationship with God by calling upon Him as “Our Father which art in Heaven.”

To call upon God as “our Father” does three things. First, it helps us to remember that prayer is a personal and powerful communication with a loving heavenly Father. Sometimes, we can be overwhelmed by the thought of going before the throne of the God of all creation with the cares and concerns of everyday life in our small corner of the universe. Knowing that we are praying to our Father reminds us that He is interested and listening. No prayer is too small.

Secondly, “our Father” reminds us that God is the Father of all who call on His name. Those who profess faith in Christ are counted as members of the family of God and heirs of the covenant. We are called to unity in the church, but in reality we know that we do not see eye to eye on all matters, sometimes we don’t even get along with each other in the church. The Lord’s Prayer reminds us, though, that while we are many and different, we have one Father. God is just as much my Father as He is yours; and if we are to truly honor Him as our Father, we are to live in forgiveness and love for one another.

Finally, calling upon God in prayer as “Father” identifies God as the author of our salvation and redemption. While one could argue that God is Father of all as their creator, the Jesus clearly demonstrated the great divide between unbelievers and the true children of God. Christ said that those who do not believe in Him are children of the devil and not God. Calling God “Father” is the privilege and assurance of those who have been made alive in Christ by the power of God working in them. “Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here’” John 8:42.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for calling us to pray, and for inviting us to pray to you as “our Father.” Give us new passion for prayer, that we may be united with you and with one another as we pray, calling upon you alone for our salvation and for the redemption of the world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Question 100

Q. 100. What doth the preface of the Lord’s Prayer teach us?

A. The preface of the Lord’s Prayer, which is, Our Father which art in heaven,” teacheth us to draw near to God with all holy reverence and confidence, as children to a father, able and ready to help us; and that we should pray with and for others.

Scripture Proofs

Matt. 6:9;

Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Rom. 8:15;

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

Luke 11:13;

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Acts 12:5;

So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

1 Tim. 2:1-2.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

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