“Our Father in heaven.” —Matthew 6:9
Throughout the Old Testament, God is referred to as Father only fourteen times, always regarding the nation of Israel. Jews in Jesus’ day understood that God was the Father of their nation collectively, but they had never dared to call God “our Father” personally. He was too high and holy for that.
But then Jesus taught His disciples to pray “Our Father.” He used the Aramaic word for father— abba—which is tender, familiar, and warm. To the people of this time, it was amazing anyone would have the audacity to talk to God in this way! And it was unthinkable to act as though He had an intimate relationship with God.
But Jesus wasn’t acting. And He revealed to those startled people a relationship with God they had never experienced.
Not everyone can pray, “Our Father”—only those who are His children through faith in Jesus Christ. Through Christ and His death on the cross, He has opened the way for us to have a relationship with God as our Father, giving us the freedom and boldness to approach God with our requests.
Make it Personal
Do you approach God as your Abba, Father, or do you approach Him as someone who is distant and far off?