November 13 - LD 46, Day 2: Our Father Who
is in heaven
by Rev. G. Van Baren
Read: Psalm 115
The name
"Father" is appropriate to the petitions made. The name
"Father" reminds us of the parent-child relationships we enjoy.
Earthly fathers are expected to make adequate provision for their children.
Fathers provide food, clothing, and shelter for them. They also provide
protection against storms and dangers from people who might want to harm their
children. Most children will quickly turn to their fathers for provision and
protection.
That earthly
relationship is but a picture of the relationship of the child of God to his
"Father Which art in heaven." Jesus teaches
us to use this address to show us what we ought to ask of our heavenly Father.
Children may not ask for anything or everything, but only for the proper things
as Scripture presents them.
Scripture uses
"Father" in either one of two ways. "Father" sometimes has
reference to the First Person of the Trinity. There are the three Persons in
one Being. The First Person of the Trinity eternally
generates the Second Person, Jesus, Who entered human flesh to provide the way
of salvation by paying for our sins. Jesus, however, does not teach us to pray
exclusively to the First Person of the Trinity.
Our Father in heaven is
the Triune God. We address Him not through individual Persons of the Trinity,
but to the Three (Persons) in One (Being). The Triune God must answer our
petitions. We pray to the Father, through the Son, and by the work of the Holy
Spirit.
As is true throughout
the prayer, the Christian is conscious that he prays in the communion of the
saints: “OUR Father”. He prays with the whole
The address of the
prayer is a beautiful way of emphasizing our close relationship to God. It is
almost inconceivable that one so small, and such a rebel, is able to address
the Infinite God as "Father." But it is true, because of the perfect
work of Christ on the cross whereby He satisfied the justice of God for the
sins of His people. Then the Triune God can and does receive us unto Himself.
Deut 33:27 speaks of the eternal God as a refuge, and underneath are the
everlasting arms. We have a Father who is both able and willing to provide for
His children with every necessary good.