When Jesus ended a period of prayer, one of his disciples came to him and asked him to teach them to pray. On that occasion, he taught them some great things about prayer, but before doing so, he gave them a “model” prayer. He said, “When you pray, say; ‘Father, hallowed be Your name’” (Lu. 11:1, 2).
We fail to see the power and importance of the opening words of this model prayer. The God of Heaven and Earth, the God that parted the Red Sea, Jesus says that in prayer we can address him as “Father.” The Jews would not say God’s name, would not even speak the word “Jehovah.” Jesus comes along and teaches us to call him our “Father.” Prayer gives us a unique relationship to God. In prayer God becomes a loving father listening to his children. How wonderful!
After the model prayer, Jesus emphasized that we are praying to an attentive father who is ready to give if we will just ask; that we are serving a God who is ready to give “good gifts” to his children (Luke 11:9, 13). As we honor our fathers on this Father’s Day, let us not forget that we are blessed with the greatest Father!
-Dennis Doughty
