The one we worship as God, in prayer and praise, is also the one we call “our Father.” This God is not unapproachable or unknowable, and our worship of him is not coolly transactional or sweaty with fear. We worship our Father who loves us as his children, and no one shows us what this looks like more than the eternal Son of the Father, Jesus Christ.
The Father we worship is close to us.
The Son says, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matt. 6:8). Jesus reminds us that the God we know knows us, he knows our lives, and what we’re going through. He says, “Your father who sees in secret” (Matt. 6:4, 6) to remind us that even when we are alone, we are never without out Father. At times, we might imagine that God has bigger problems to worry about than our little ones. But in reality, our Father knows us and he cares.
The Father we worship cares for us.
The Son says, “Which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matt. 7:9–11) Our Father knows what we need (Matt. 6:32) and he knows how to care for us. If human fathers have the good sense to watch over a child, do we not think God knows how to take care of us?
The Father we worship calls us to grow into the full stature of his Son.
The Son says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:44–45). This Father is close to his children and cares for them, but not to pamper them or to get in the way of their growth. He is not content with a household of infantile children or sophomoric adolescents. He wants our good which demands his bringing us up to look like himself, that is, to look like his Son, Jesus Christ. As he says, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt. 5:48).
The Father we worship is close to us.
The Son says, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matt. 6:8). Jesus reminds us that the God we know knows us, he knows our lives, and what we’re going through. He says, “Your father who sees in secret” (Matt. 6:4, 6) to remind us that even when we are alone, we are never without out Father. At times, we might imagine that God has bigger problems to worry about than our little ones. But in reality, our Father knows us and he cares.
The Father we worship cares for us.
The Son says, “Which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matt. 7:9–11) Our Father knows what we need (Matt. 6:32) and he knows how to care for us. If human fathers have the good sense to watch over a child, do we not think God knows how to take care of us?
The Father we worship calls us to grow into the full stature of his Son.
The Son says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:44–45). This Father is close to his children and cares for them, but not to pamper them or to get in the way of their growth. He is not content with a household of infantile children or sophomoric adolescents. He wants our good which demands his bringing us up to look like himself, that is, to look like his Son, Jesus Christ. As he says, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt. 5:48).
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