Recently as I was praying, following the Lord's Model Prayer found in Luke 11:2-4 as I normally do, I was captivated by the thought of God being my Father. When I began to consider the Model prayer in the light of us talking with God as our heavenly Father, it opened up my heart in awe and worship for the God who reigns in heaven who calls me His son. How exactly is God our Father? Well, let's consider the role of an earthly father. Though the comparison is obviously not equal, there are some traits that earthly fathers have that wonderfully describe our Father God.
First, an earthly father has responsibility. His home is under his watch care, and he has the burden of providing for them. Paul tells Timothy in 1_Timothy 5:8 that a man who doesn't provide for his own has denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel! In context, this is dealing with widows in a man's family; how much more does this truth hold for a man's immediate household! My Father is responsible for me. He brought me into existence, since I was begotten by the word of God (1_Peter 1:23). Belonging to him, he is responsible to feed and cloth me (Matthew 6:31; Luke 11:3). He is responsible to discipline me (Hebrews 12:6-7). And he loves me unconditionally, ready to receive me when I repent after I've sinned (cf. Luke 15:20).
Second, an earthly father has authority. Though it doesn't settle well in our modern society, a man is to be the head of his home (Ephesians 5:23). The responsibility he has equips him with the authority to see that his responsibilities are carried out. God has the authority over me, just as I do over my children. He tells me where to go and when (cf. Acts 16:6-10); the church of which I am a member is his doing, not mine, 1_Corinthians 12:18 (though I heartily came here without much prodding!); he has the right to govern my relationships, telling me who I can fellowship with and who I am to separate from (Romans 16:17). The boundaries he has set for me, and the decisions he has made for my life are for my good and his glory (Romans 8:28).
Finally an earthly father must be longsuffering and forgiving. Often, it may seem difficult to have to constantly watch, train, correct, and discipline, but that is what a father does. Others may have little patience and not understand a father's actions. When I was younger, I was easily bothered by parents who allowed their babies to constantly cry in restaurants. “Why don't you take them somewhere else? They're disturbing my meal,” I thought. Now that I'm a father, it doesn't bother me. I now understand something of a father's love, which is comprised of longsuffering. Now, let's consider our heavenly Father in this light. He certainly is longsuffering with his own children – probably more so than many of us are with our children. His love for them is greater than ours, and he is willing to suffer their mistakes and cries, all because he is working those for their good and his glory (Romans 8:28). When his children come crying to him, what does he do? Does he send them away angrily? Of course not. He lovingly receives them, listens to their needs, and gives grace accordingly (Hebrews 4:16).
Why are these blessings realities? Because of the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, who died on Calvary at the hand of his Father, who judged him in the place of sinners. Jesus kept the law of God perfectly, and being God's perfect lamb, suffered the wrath of God when he poured his anger for sin upon Christ (Isaiah 53:1-12; John 3:16). As a result all who come to Christ for salvation are birthed into the family of God and have a new Father who loves them with an everlasting love.
Prayer is a wonderful blessing, one that we often don't appreciate as we should. The opening words, though, of the model prayer Jesus gave, Our Father which art in heaven... reminds us that prayer isn't just a blessing; it's a family privilege. Remember that the next time you pray. God isn't an impersonal God who has little desire to help his creation. Rather, he is a loving Father who eagerly awaits to hear from his children when they commune with him.
Rejoicing in Christ,
Pastor John Nichols