Our Father
Twenty Two
May 25, 2025
“Our Father in heaven …”
— Matthew 6:9
The essence of prayer is relationship.
Some call the prayer in Matthew 6, “The Lord’s Prayer”; some call it the “Our Father”. Some have even suggested that it would most accurately be called, “The Disciples’ Prayer”. Whatever title we may give it, what remains most important is that we hear it for the beautiful prayer it is and learn from it what Jesus intended us to learn from it. Every branch of this prayer comes out of the truth that our God is a good Father who sees all, rules all, and cares intensely for us. We are his family, his children. This prayer grows out of the vine of relationship that we hold with our Father and our family.
Charles Spurgeon wrote in his sermon, “The Fatherhood of God” that “Sonship is a thing which all the infirmities of our flesh, and all the sins into which we are hurried by temptation, can never violate or weaken.” ¹ This must be understood foundationally. We are children and God is our Father — not just “my” Father, but “our” Father — and thus we are family.
As his children, we bear his name and represent his character. We find provision at his hand and rest our hearts in contentment. We are heavenly agents on a great ambassadorial mission, speaking for our Father, the great King. We carry the power to forgive and release others from their debts to us. Our salvation comes from our Father and we find our portion in him. This is the one we pray to; this is the one we call holy.
We are not praying to hear ourselves pray like the pharisee followed by his train of self-lauding, self-righteousness who ended up really only praying to himself. And we are not like the prophets of Baal who begged, pleaded, and cut themselves to be heard by a far-off, non-existent god. We are children of the King, royals whose every need is known by our majestic Father, even before we speak it. This is what we pray from; this is the relationship we pray out of.
Not only do we have a heavenly Father who knows what we need before we ask him, but we have a caring Father who answers our need in the best possible way —for his view is from heaven, un-marred by earthly perspective; he does what is best for us in the long run. And he is unlike our earthly fathers, many of whom did the best they could but did fall short. He is our “heavenly” Father — unique, holy, able, and completely wise.
From the first line, predicated on a relationship of intimacy, flows the rest of this prayer. We imitate our Father as dearly loved children. We are cared for. We strive to walk as obedient children. As our Father has compassion on us, so we have compassion on others. We hold the hand of our Father’s tight grip through all trial and temptation. And even though our Father knows all things, we still pray, “Our Father in heaven …”
Monday
May 26, 2025
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
— Psalm 29:2 (NIV)
I asked the Lord a question this morning while writing today’s reflection, “Does my life reflect who you are? Do I live consistently with what I value in prayer?” How would you answer that question for yourself? When we say, “hallowed be your name”, we are essentially asking our Father to let his name be kept holy, to be treated with reverence, and we play a part in that. As dearly loved children, we are called to imitate our heavenly Father, giving him the glory due his name. As children of the light, may our lives accurately reflect him so that the world will regard holiness as a quality belonging to our Father and see him for who he truly is. You bear his name; wear it well.
What is one area in your life that could be changed to improve your representation of the Lord? How does prayer help your heart to desire such change?
What part does understanding Scripture correctly play in our lives giving him glory? How could you improve your study and understanding of Scripture?
Tuesday
May 27, 2025
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
— Philippians 2:8 (ESV)
Jesus brought the kingdom of God to earth and executed the Father’s will perfectly. We are agents of that kingdom, ambassadors of heaven. His kingdom is in our midst. One day, the kingdom of this world will become the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ and all rule and reign will be absorbed into his kingship. But right now we are in the “already but not yet,” and while here, we pray, “Not my will be done, but yours.” This is the kingdom attitude and the kingdom dynamic flourishes in this attitude as it is embraced in sincerity and truth. Now we hope for the full manifestation of God’s promised rule; now we live as obedient children. But one day our hope will be turned to sight coming on the clouds!
Think about and describe one aspect of the kingdom dynamic. How do we see his kingdom manifested now in the lives of people?
What is your role in his kingdom? What is one way you find out what is pleasing and acceptable to the Lord?
Wednesday
May 28, 2025
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
— Philippians 4:13 (BSB)
Can I share a secret with you? You can face anything in whatever circumstance you find yourself because the one you are in relationship with, your Father, has provided everything you need to face it. His wise provision suffices. His divine power supplies. We look to him and are fed. The living bread from heaven offers us one of the greatest gifts we could ever know — himself. He is the bread come down from heaven, the daily manna. Our contentment is not satisfied by abundance or depleted by lack. Our contentment rests in knowing that he, as a good Father, supplies that which we truly need, that which is good for our souls.
What do you struggle with most: having too much or having too little? What steps could you take to find contentment in your current situation?
Why do you think Jesus used the word “daily” to describe the bread the Father provides for us? What is the danger in not being satisfied with what God has provided by his hand?
Thursday
May 29, 2025
Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
— Ephesians 4:32 (BSB)
There are no loopholes in true forgiveness. The cross makes no room for such spurious behavior. At the cross we find full forgiveness. How could we offer less to others? We are the forgiving forgiven, freely receiving and freely giving. Unlike the slave whose debt was canceled, we forgive as our Lord has forgiven us. Every debt, all our debt, past, present, and future, has been canceled. And in this way, we are to treat others. We do not forgive TO BE forgiven; we forgive because we ARE forgiven. Lord, may we, from our hearts, with eyes that see your full forgiveness for us, fully forgive one another.
Does your forgiveness of others come after making sure they understand how much they hurt you? Is reprimand a prerequisite to forgiving someone?
Do you know that as a child of God (whom you call Father) that all of your sins have been forgiven? What do you do when you face times of doubt about his forgiveness for you?
Friday
May 30, 2025
And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else.
— James 1:13 (NLT)
Discontent is temptation’s mooring, but contentment is a port of safety. When we pray the Lord, “lead us not”, we are not saying that he might. This request is an expression by contrast to emphasize what he would never do: drop us into temptation. What we are asking him to do is to draw us up and away from the evil one and to himself. We are saying, “In you is my salvation. In you, is my desire fulfilled.” The next time you feel yourself being pulled in by temptation, in whatever form it may take, pray the Lord, “Draw me away from this sordid thing into the most sweet and fragrant blessing of your nearness.”
How does discontentment open the door for temptation’s grip? How can we stop ourselves from being pulled by sin’s allurements?
What did Jesus say we must do that we may not enter into temptation? Will we ever be free from the lure of sin in this life?