According to our Lord Jesus, those of us who are His disciples must always begin our prayers this way: “When you pray, say; Father” (Luke 11:2). That is, the very first word to flow from our hearts and our mouths when we pray should be the simple designation “Father.”

You will remember that we are currently walking through Luke’s version of ‘The Lord’s Prayer,’ which was likely spoken by Jesus on a different occasion than the version of the prayer that we find in Matthew 6:9-13. While there are some differences in the two versions (Luke’s is shorter, for example), both begin the same way. In Matthew 6:9 Jesus says, “Pray, then, in this way: Our Father.”

What should we make of this word “Father”?

I would imagine that just the mere mention of this term brings to mind many thoughts, memories, and emotions. We, understandably so, think immediately of our own fathers. For some, this is a most pleasant exercise. For others, it is disturbing and disappointing. We’ve all had different experiences with our fathers.

But when Jesus uses this term to speak of the One we are to address in our prayers, His intention is not that we think of our earthly fathers. Rather, we are to think of the very first “Father,” our eternal God Himself, who graciously bids us to seek Him out in our prayers.

Packed into this word “Father” is a veritable goldmine of truth, and deeply comforting truth at that! And on Sunday we will descend into that blessed mine and extract the infinite treasures of the magnificent Fatherhood of our gracious God. I can’t wait to open the Word with you!