“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” (Hebrews.10:24-25)
I remember being in high school where every Monday at morning assembly, 1500 boys very blandly chanted out the Lord’s Prayer. Besides the momentary excitement at the mention of “daily bread”, the whole exercise wasn’t particularly inspiring. However, when you remove the memory that Maths usually followed the end of our school boy prayer recital, there is actually so much power and truth laden in Jesus’ teaching of how we should pray.
I have been most struck recently with the first two words of this prayer. “Our Father”. Jesus was very intentional about all he did and said, and these two words aren’t mere introductory comments, but rather contain deep theological and practical ramifications for all of us who call ourselves Christ-followers.
Our FATHER
Firstly, he directs us to approach God as our Father. This may slip your notice at first glance but in the Jewish culture of that day, it would seem almost irreverent and somewhat heretical to address God, the Maker of Heavens and Earth in such a glib manner. But what Jesus was actually doing, was inviting us into a deeply intimate and loving relationship with a Father, His Father, who desired to relate to us as His children.
OUR Father
This is revolutionary on its own, but when coupled with the word “our” that precedes it, we start to understand that although we have personal access to the Father through Jesus, we are also added into a family. As soon as Jesus prayed, “our Father”, He cancelled out the option of doing this Christian walk alone. Because of our individualistic western culture that prizes individualism, we have become easily suckered into shaking off the communal aspect of following Jesus.
Today, take stock of how much weight and importance you put into relationships with other fellow Christians. Make a list of what you find hard or frustrating about pursuing Jesus with other people, and then write a second list of why you feel Jesus would stress doing life with other Christians not just as vital but actually a non-negotiable.
Gabe Phillips
