“This is how you should pray: Our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.” Matthew 6:9
Over this week of prayer and through the next few blogs we will take a closer look at the Lord’s prayer that Jesus taught. It’s interesting that Jesus tells us to refer to God as father.
My father was Harald Throness – he died in 2014 and would have been 98 tomorrow. He and mom juggled a family of five children – it was a busy household. All of us follow the Lord today. Dad also had a long pastoral career noted for church growth, church planting, a Christian school, financial rescue for churches, and visionary leadership. He left Chilliwack Alliance to lead our struggling flagship church downtown Vancouver – I went with him as his assistant. We had many great conversations as we commuted together to Surrey. Dad has my love and respect.
We are not told to address God in prayer as sire, your highness, excellency or the like – all of which would be true of God. Instead, we address him as a good father. God is a family man – we can relate to this picture. Not just your father or mine, but father to Christians all over the world – from time past to time future. People in our four fields of focus as well as Alliance churches all around the world call him Father.
In fact, Jesus called him ‘Abba’ = daddy. It is poignant to be in Israel and hear children calling their father ‘abba.’ A term of endearment – closeness – safety and security. A good father provides, corrects and loves. This is who we pray to.
He is our father - in heaven. It will be our home one day where we will live with him forever. He has prepared a place for you and wants you to be with Him. Heaven is a family place.
But we also never forget that his name is hallowed – holy. He is our Abba, but He is also the creator and sustainer of the universe. All knowing, eternal, living outside of time, changeless and all powerful – utterly pure. We live a balance of seeing God as lover of our soul but also master of all. He is both at the same time. We love but we also respect.
Remember this during this special week of prayer. Just a reminder that the chapel will be open Tuesday to Friday from 9-4pm. There will be stations for prayer available for you if you wish to be here at the church.
“Therefore, brother and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water” Hebrews 10:19-22.
Pastor Leon Throness
