OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVEN 1.- OUR ‘Our’ means we’re dealing with plurality. Jesus calls His Father, “Our Father.” The Father of Christ is the Father of all the redeemed children of God. We realize that we are not left alone in this world. The Father watches over us and has given us brethren who also walk in the name of the Lord. Even if we pray individually, we are always brought to the remembrance that we form part of a bigger family. Jesus could have said, “My Father”. But He was talking to the disciples. Jesus said to the religious hypocrites, “You neither know me, nor my Father: if you had known me, you should have known my Father also” (John 8:19). He didn’t speak to the Pharisees in these pluralistic terms. That, in itself, shows that we are favoured of God. ‘Ours’ is something that we all share in common; and rightly can it be said that all the born-again sons and daughters of God may begin to pray, ‘Our Father.’ 2.- FATHER Some teach that Jesus brought the revelation of God as a Father, but that is erroneous. The Old Testament professed the fatherhood of God. Isaiah 63:16 reads, “You are our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us.” Nevertheless, this element of God’s fatherhood speaks of familiarity, love, reverence and authority. Jewish children were taught to respect their parents; not to walk all over them with cheek and bad attitudes. Disobedient children were sentenced to death by stoning! Father-figures are to be loved, but also to be honoured and respected. If our earthly fathers who, by their seed, brought us into being are worthy of honour; then how much more fear and reverence are due to the Father of all fathers- the One who not only created humanity but all other things? Shall we not walk in submission to this royal and sublime Father? Not all obey this Father because not all are His children. “But,” object some, “is not God the Father of us all?” There are two answers to that protest: yes and no. He is the Father of us all in creation; but He is not the Father of us all in redemption. That makes it all the much sweeter when we call Him Father, “Our Father.” 3.- WHICH ART IN HEAVEN To think that an angel may take note of us is a brilliant thought. Why would a celestial being care for the things of the earth? Surely, if we were in glory, worldly occurrences would have no appeal to us. But what love is this! Behold, our Father, which is in heaven, can be sought and found in prayer. Is this not the most marvellous truth? He has not left us abandoned. The fact that He is in heaven makes salvation all the more glorious. How can it be that our Father should take notice of us? His is a kingdom that is greater than this present order in which we live. He is wholly untouched by a stained world and by filthy enemies of the Gospel. He is altogether righteous and holy, and all of heaven erupts in His praise. In fact, do you know what it is that makes heaven the place it is? Because God is there! It is His presence that makes heaven to be heaven! He makes heaven heaven! If He did not dwell there, then heaven of all places would be the coldest and most miserable. Nonetheless, as He chooses to abide there, so the place is full of divine splendour and glory. He reigns and His subjects carry out His gracious and perfect will with loving obedience. Rightly then is that special place called heaven. John Gill comments, “Not that He is included in any place, but that the heaven of heavens is the place where He most eminently displays His glory; and this may teach us to look upwards in prayer, and seek those things which are above; and also, that this earth, on which we dwell, is not our native country, but heaven is, where our Father dwells.” Do you look up? Do you pray? Do you delight in declaring, “Our Father which art in heaven?”
Posted on: Thu, 17 Oct 2013 03:30:47 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015