9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. (Matthew 6:9-13)
Although God was referred to as “our Father” thirteen times in the Old Testament, Jesus’ frequent use of this title brings a whole new understanding of our relationship with God. Jesus referred to God as His Father over 150 times, and He spoke of God as being “our Father” thirty times. This infuriated the religious Jews of Jesus’ day. They considered it blasphemy to call God their Father because they understood that to mean they were equal with God. (John 5:17,18.)
This title has become so common in the church today that many times we don’t perceive its real significance. The revelation that we are instructed to call God “our Father” reveals the kind, gentle, loving nature of our God. (1 John 4:8.) Paul amplifies this by using the term Abba Father (Rom. 8:15), which is an affectionate term that a young child would use for their father. Abba corresponds to our English word daddy.
Jesus tells us what our relationship with God is and that we are to praise Him for it. It’s a relationship that goes beyond any human relationship we could ever have on earth. It’s a relationship of belonging to a Father who loves us because we are His, no strings attached.
Today when things get tough or when you need someone to celebrate with you, run to your Father God. Drop all pretense and formality and call Him “Daddy.”
