Who wouldn’t love an invitation like this… “Ask what I shall give you.” Most especially when these words come from the lips of God.
Wisdom was Solomon’s choice, and God both commended and rewarded his selection.
Fast forward to the twelve disciples, living and learning in the shadow of their rabbi. From Jesus. Only once in their three-year journey does scripture record a specific request from them… “Teach us…” they said; they pleaded; they begged.
And it was the classroom of prayer that they longed for. Conversations with God 101.
Teach us to pray.
Had they lowered the standard from Solomon? Did they misspeak or wrongly request? Quite the opposite. They knew well that it was in prayer that Jesus found wisdom. It was on His knees that Jesus found strength and resolve. In intercession Christ forgave and healed. Quite the opposite.
And Jesus obliged… He answered and He rewarded, just as God had done in 1 Kings with Solomon.
And he said to them, “When you pray, say:
“Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.” (Luke 11:2-4)
Jesus told us what to say, but make no mistake, He also told us who we were saying our prayers to.
Father.
Our Father. (Matthew 6:9)
Jesus declares our position as well as our language. We have a Father. He’s Our Father.
We declare Him holy and just and good and hallowed. We acknowledge that He is a King with a Kingdom.
He provides. Daily.
He forgives. Graciously.
He expects. Willingly.
He guides. Powerfully.
As Our Father.
Jesus added no footnote, no disclaimer, no parenthetical clarification – (this is just hypothetical language; for metaphoric use only).
No, Jesus gave us the authority and privilege to pray like He did; to His father. To Our Father.
We have a Father. Against the backdrop of epidemic fatherlessness; we have a Father.
And He’s good. He’s love. He’s God.
Perfect. Powerful. Merciful. Generous. Father.
It was in the inspired request of the disciples that Jesus introduced us to His Father; Our Father.
Down the avenue of prayer… we have access to what Solomon sought. Not from an aloof deity, but from our Dad; our Father. The King.
Father’s Day. Our Father’s Day.
From the lips of Jesus to the hearts of His people. A Father. The Father. Our Father.
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