Our Father
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” Matthew 6:9
In the beginning God created both male and female. Genesis 1:27 state “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” These two were the first humans and from them procreation began. After Adam and Eve creation, all other humans come through the birth process.
One birth process is physical, but our creation is spiritual. We are indeed human flesh. “Every drop of blood in an infant’s body is the contribution of the male parent,”- M. R. De Haan, M.D; but our spiritual essence or being is derived from a living soul that comes only from God; without the soul the body has no life . . . God is “Our Father.” He is the life giver and lover of our souls-we belong to Him! And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Genesis 2:7.
Therefore, when the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray in Matthew chapter six, and He began the prayer with “Our Father.” We can surmise that the disciples were having a paradigm shift, they knew God as Jehovah- Creator- the One who causes to become, now they would be able to have a greater understanding of God from the prospective of a loving and intimate Father. Every born-again believer has God as our Father, and thankfully, we also have the blessings of access, intimacy, and identity in Him:
- Access to Him – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. God’s unconditional love, and amazing grace provides access to eternal life to all who will believe on the name of His only begotten Son; Jesus paid it all on Calvary’s cross, He was the spotless lamb whose perfect blood took away the sins of the world; “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.“
- An intimate relationship with God – “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” James 4:8. We are not only able to come boldly before the throne of grace, but God also wants us to share our hearts, our joys. And even our fears and worries with Him.
- Identity in God – we are His beloved children, every born-again believer, bare His name! “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” Because our identify is with God and He is our Creator, and Father, we can rest assured that because we belong to Him, our identity is sealed in His care until the day of redemption; we are the beloved children of God! and He knows our name!
Let us find peace, joy, and love in the amazing grace of God. We have access, intimacy and identify in and through Him alone, and praise God, we have been given the privilege to call Him “abba” Our Father which art in Heaven, the Almighty Creator, Provider, Protector, Divine Leader, Forgiver and Eternal One true and living God!
Blessings and peace be with you now and forever!