Our Father - Reflections on the Lord’s Prayer
“Abba! Abba!” My friend's child called out to him that evening after dinner.
It does something to you, hearing the word ‘Abba’ used in everyday life.
As I sat at the dinner table with my Israeli friends, I thought about this common word. Almost boring, unspectacular. Yet, when Jesus taught his disciples to pray, he changed the way people related to God.
God was referred to as Father in the Old Testament (Isaiah 63:16) but Jesus used the everyday informal word for ‘father’.
Those listening understood God as Father, but this was new. A new intimacy, informality of calling God ‘Abba’, the same word they would use to call their earthly fathers. It must have caused a stir!
In that one phrase, Jesus invites his disciples to relate to God the same way he does. How incredible is that?
Today we get to share in this same relationship. Grafted into God’s family by Jesus’ work on the cross, we can call God ‘Abba’ with the assurance of intimacy.
But if I’m honest, some days I wonder if God hears my prayers, or if I’m being irreverent for coming to him with such ease & casual-ness.
I wonder if that actually comes from a still developing understanding of being co-heirs with Christ. It seems almost ridiculous to be called a sibling of Jesus Christ. And yet this is the profound invitation given to us.
What can we learn from Jesus in the Lord’s Prayer?
Hallowed be Thy name
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven
This is the heart of the Son - that God’s name be praised and His will accomplished.
Perhaps in prayer, we first need to come before God with thanksgiving, with praise, and the humility of a child to defer to the Father’s will.
Rather than childish-ness, we want to grow in maturity like Jesus did. To see Abba rightly, as the Creator God, sovereign over all. And to yield to His will with great delight, not just to get what we want, but to see the Father pleased!
From this child-like yieldedness to Abba, we bring our requests before Him!
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
Provision, repentance, forgiveness, mercy and deliverance - the Son comes to his Father for strength to live each day. It's an exemplary dependence.
We can pray not as orphans, but as sons and daughters belonging to Him. There’s an assurance and confidence to approach Abba with our needs.
May we receive this invitation of Jesus - to be children of God crying out ‘Abba!’
Listen to Awaken Generation Music’s 2023 live album, Fire On The Altar now.
Written by a collective of songwriters based in Singapore, the album reflects the cry of our hearts: He is worthy! Finally, after two years of Covid restrictions we return with an energetic live album complete with a full choir and a wind and string section. From rousing anthems that declare the worthiness of God, to the intimate songs of devotion, we pray that ‘Fire on the Altar’ will draw you into true worship of our great God.