Our Father rises above
“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven,’” — Matthew 6:9
I don’t know if your relationship with your father was anything like mine. Father’s these days come in all shapes and sizes as far as their methods in caring for their children’s needs.
Some try to keep a balance on how much a child receives. Some are a little looser with their money and give whatever their child wants. Some don’t provide anything extra than the daily bread needed to live. Some, unfortunately, don’t give because they are not around either by death or choice.
So depending on whom your father was, might influence you when you think about calling God your Father. But, Jesus commands us to pray to our Father in heaven NOT because he is just like our earthly fathers, but because his method of giving to us rises above them all.
No matter what method your father used in his care of you, it was not even close to perfect. Fathers all make mistakes, but that is where our Heavenly Father shines.
Our God is perfect in every way and doesn’t make mistakes. He is the one who created us with his own hands and therefore knows exactly what we need better than we do.
As sinners, we can get clouded on the issue of want vs. need. God never does, and he will not let us have something that we don’t need because it could harm us.
Sometimes what we want to happen like: getting more possessions, having a loved one live a long life, or keeping our own health, can actually be bad for them or us when it comes to our faith. God who knows all things knows what is best for us and because he is perfect, we know that what he gives us will be good and at the right time.
No matter whom your father is or how he cared for you our God rises above them all as being the best because he gave us something our earthly fathers could never give: a home in heaven. And so we begin the Lord’s Prayer fittingly by calling on Our Father Who Art in Heaven knowing that he will answer our prayers in the way that is perfect and best.
Happy that my Father in Heaven is taking care of me, just like you.
Jacob Hanneman is the pastor of Shepherd of the Plains Lutheran Church in Fort Morgan. In-person worship is at 9 a.m. Sundays.
Online worship can be found at www.shepherd oftheplainslutheranchurch. com.