Our Father

Our Father

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Matthew 6:9

One of the glorious aspects of our relationship with the God of Heaven is that it is a familial relationship. This carries with it a number of implications. We want to dwell today upon one of those implications. If we can call God, ‘Our Father,’ it means that none of us is an only child, rather, it is an indication of a family relationship, not just with God, but with Christ, Who called God His Father. It also means that we are related to everyone else who has this same family relationship with God and with Christ. We are members of an immeasurably large family. This is a family comprised of all of the redeemed of all ages. It extends from Adam and Eve to the last soul who will ever embrace Christ as the Gospel freely offers Him. There is no possible way for us to know, within this scene of time, who our brothers and sisters are. Some of them have yet to enter the household, even though they were chosen in Christ, ‘before the foundation of the world.’ We are the spiritual descendants of Abraham and are, ‘as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore.’ We are that ‘great multitude, which no one could number of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues.’ Ours is an extensive family, a glorious heritage and an eternal fellowship. We glory not in our bloodlines, but in the Blood of Christ. Because of Him, His Person and His Work, we can pray, with confidence, ‘Our Father.’

Our Loving Father,
we rejoice that You have made us members of Your family.
We praise You, that there comes the day,
when we shall gather together around the
Throne of Grace and be truly one in Christ.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning