It is fascinating that one can diligently search the entire Old Testament and never once find anyone addressing God as “Father” yet Jesus urges us to do so. Jesus said, “When you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father which is in secret; and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly.” Matthew 6
Jesus saw God as a father eager to meet with us because He has the answers to our problems. Jesus doesn’t counsel us to go to a church prayer meeting where we might be tempted to pray for the other listening ears prying into our secrets. He does not counsel us to surround ourselves with “prayer warriors” but instead to go by ourselves into our secluded place deep within ourselves. It is there we will find our Father waiting.
Jesus goes on to tell us not to bother with some prayer formula because God is not an ego driven deity who needs to be buttered up before we make a request. God already knows what we need and He is eager to respond. He is waiting for an honest, simple relationship. This is where the promise gets good. You will not come away empty handed. “But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
I wish we knew more about Joseph. He must have been a special man who role modeled for a little boy in a carpenter shop the depth of a father’s love.
Written by Roger Bothwell on November 4, 2003.
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