By addressing God as Father, Jesus brought God near and made Him more accessible. He has made it personal by putting it in the context of relatioship. We have been given the privilege of coming to our Creator as His children. Then Jesus adds the phrase “who art in heaven”. Why?
Maybe it’s because Jesus knows that we tend to take things too far. Yes, God is our Father and we can enjoy an intimacy with Him that comes from being His children. But, Jesus reminds us that the Father is still the God of Heaven…King of kings…Almighty…Sovereign Lord. The phrase together gives us an important balance in our view of God. We can be familiar with God but we must also have a reverence for God that lifts Him up. It is the respect that the Bible calls the “fear of the Lord”. God is God and He is worthy of our worship as our Lord and Savior. Jesus, in this model prayer, makes God approachable while maintaining the holiness of He who sits on the throne.
Sometimes we can bring God down to a human level and make Him our “buddy”. Our time with God becomes a “get together” instead of an act of worship. Certainly we are blessed with the honor and privilege of coming into the presence of the Almighty God. The Scripture tells us,
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
But, even in this verse, we are reminded that we are approaching a throne. Addressing God as Father does not make Him our equal. God is NOT human just as we are NOT God. Our prayers can become much richer when we remember that balance. John tells us alittle about heaven when he writes,
“In a loud voice they (thousands of angels) sang, ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5:12)
We should run into God’s presence because He is our Father and we should bow before Him because He on the throne in heaven.
Today, as you pray through the Lord’s prayer, remember that the One who you are bowing before is not only your Father but your God…worthy of your worship.
“Our Father…who art in heaven”