PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 6:9-15
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven…’” (Matthew 6:9)
A paternity test is taken to determine who the biological father is.
The word for Father in this prayer is pater, not abba.
Abba is a child’s name for pater (daddy), while pater is the role (father).
Pater is my source of life, the one I owe my life and existence to.
In this simple prayer, Jesus shows how our Pater takes care of us.
Pater provides for our daily physical (bread) and spiritual needs (forgiveness).
Not only do we owe our life to Pater, but we can trust our life to Pater.
But this relationship is not one-sided; we also have a role to play.
As Pater’s children, we honour his name by seeking his kingdom and doing his will.
And that will is to be like Pater, to care and forgive like Pater.
We are all family together, we share the same Pater, we belong together.
We show that we are Pater’s children by being like Pater on earth.
If we do not love, care, forgive and protect, we are not like our Pater.
This is our paternity test, to see if we are eager to be like our Pater.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for reminding me of who my Pater is, and who I am as Paster’s child. Help me as my brother to be like Pater, like you, in loving our whole family.
Love God and Love my neighbour! Jesus teaches forgiveness and we are to practice it: “forgive other people when they sin against you” – because that is what He does and that is what loving God also means – that I love Him by loving my neighbour – following His example. It means I have to be ready to forgive and not seek revenge when someone wrongs me! That is hard to do. Lord help me to have the kind of love that is gracious and forgiving!
My Father cares for me.
My Father looks after me.
I need to imitate my Father.
As He loves me and takes care of me so I too need to love others.
I need daily to live the fruit of the Spirit. God needs to live in me.
Others need to see The Light of the world also shining in me by my words and deeds.
1 Grace and truth shall mark the way
Where the Lord His own will lead,
If His word they still obey
And His testimonies heed.
2 For Thy Name’s sake hear Thou me,
For Thy mercy, Lord, I wait;
Pardon my iniquity,
For my sin is very great.
3 He who walks in godly fear
In the pat of truth shall go;
Peace shall be his portion here,
And his sons all good shall know.
4 They that fear and love the Lord
Shall Jehovah’s friendship know;
He will grace to them accord,
And His faithful covenant show.