THE GIFT OF OUR FATHER
When Jesus was asked by His disciples for Him to teach them to pray, Jesus gave the disciples what we know as “The Lord’s Prayer.” Jesus started his direction for prayer by saying this:
“Pray like this: ‘Our Father...’”
Throughout Jesus' ministry years we have record of Jesus communicating in prayer to “His Father.” It makes sense that the “Son of God” would address “God” as His Father since Jesus is the “one and only” Son of God. Even John 3:16 teaches us that, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son...” A son addressing his father as “his father” makes complete sense.
Here is the kicker that connects us to Our Father also. Jesus directed us in The Lord’s Prayer to address God as “Our Father” too! Is God really “Our Father?” It makes sense that Jesus would talk to God that way, but what gives us the open door to address God as “Our Father?” Only children have the right to address their Father as their Dad. Do we have that prerogative?
According to Jesus we do! The apostle Paul connects the dots in Galatians 4:4-7.
“But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.”
God the Father sent Jesus the Son to buy our freedom and adopt us as His own children!!! Read that statement again because it is critical to know as a Jesus follower! Through Jesus’ death and resurrection we have been adopted by God and are now His true children! We are now Heirs of God’s family! Can you believe that??? This is incredible news for you and I. God has given us a new identity as a member of His family - His children!!! Our identity and our sustenance now comes from our new family as we live out our lives as adopted children with God Our Father!
Here is one truth that is even better, listen to what Jesus says as praying to God Our Father in John 17:23 - “I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.”
Did you see the bolded end of that sentence? This is amazing! God the Father loves us (His Children through Jesus) as much as He loves Jesus! The writer of Hebrews sums it up perfectly in Hebrews 2:11 - “ So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.”
It doesn’t get any better than this! Not only is God Our Father, but God loves us as much as He loves Jesus, and Jesus calls us His brother and His sister!!!
Now that’s good news!!!! You are truly loved!!!
Pastor Don Erehart
