Matthew 6:9a
~4 min read
“…we must not repeat this prayer as a mindless exercise…”
Christians must learn to pray, and who else can teach us better than Jesus Christ in Matthew 6:9-13 known as the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus said, After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. He did not say, “Pray these exact words,” but rather pray like this way or along this line. Thus, we must not repeat this prayer as a mindless exercise but to pray with understanding and faith in our hearts.
There are six petitions in this prayer beginning with God first followed by men; thy name, thy kingdom, thy will (God), and then give us, forgive us, lead us (man). It is right to begin our prayer with the glory of God and then to be followed by our needs.
There are two families in this world; those who have God as their Father, and those who have the devil as their father (c.f. John 8:32-44). Before conversion, the sinner is following the ways of the devil and he is a child of God’s wrath (c.f. Ephesians 2:1-3). But by God’s grace and mercy, and through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, he is adopted into His family and becomes a child of God. Therefore, he is able to approach God and call upon Him as his heavenly Father.
Dear children, have you believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, the only One who can save you from your sins? If you have, then you can pray and call upon God, our Father which art in heaven. Consider what it means to pray and call upon God as our heavenly Father:
- Having God as our Father is a mark of our faith.
- Having God as our Father means we have the indwelling Holy Spirit (Galatians 4:6, Romans 8:15).
- Having God as our Father means He will help, teach, guide, direct, provide, love, care and pick us up when we fall (Matthew 6:25-32).
- Having God as our Father, we are assured of His forgiveness (Luke 15:21-24).
- Having God as our Father, we need not be fearful for He will never forget nor forsake us, and no one is greater than Him.
- Having God as our Father means we are not the only child, for He has other children who are our brothers and sisters. That is why we pray, Our father.
- Having God as our Father which art in heaven assures us that He is always watching over us.
What a blessing that we can pray and call upon God, our Father which art in heaven!
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