8/12/12- Our Father

⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, (Matthew 6:9)

He defends the cause of the fatherless.  (Deuteronomy 10:18)

When Jesus saw this [the disciples forbidding the children to see him], he was indignant and said, "Allow the little children to come to me and do not forbid them." (Mk. 10:14)

(Jesus and the little children- Carl Bloch)

WSC Q. 100- What does the introduction of the Lord's Prayer teach us?
A. The introduction of the Lord's Prayer, which is "Our Father who art in heaven" teaches us to draw near to God with holy reverence and confidence, as children draw close to a father who is able and ready to help us, and that we should pray with and for others. 

Thoughts: God cares for those who cannot care for themselves.  He cares for the fatherless and the widow.  The word "fatherless" not only means the orphan, but it could also incorporate those who have earthly fathers, but whose earthly fathers have abandoned them or do not show concern for them. When we have bad fathers, mean fathers, cold fathers, selfish fathers, sinful fathers- God defends the cause of the fatherless against them.
    So this is one reason why churches need to have children and child care as a priority for outreach and care.  It used to be said of Presbyterian missions that wherever a presbyterian mission station was started, a children's school was started as well.  We need to get back to that missionary attitude and reach out to the children of our community. 

Prayer: Help me Lord, to have a tender heart for the children around me, as you did.  

7/31/12- God our Father

⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray:“‘Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name, (Mt. 6:9)

SCQ. 100 What does the preface of the Lord's Prayer teach us?
A. The preface of the Lord's Prayer, "Our Father in heaven", teaches us to come near to God with full, holy, reverence and confidence, as children come to a father who is able and ready to help us.  It also teaches us to pray with and for others. 

(Michelangelo- Sistine Chapel- Vatican)

Thoughts: Any language of God will be limited, and in this case, no father can fully represent the fatherhood and love of God.  Yet, the idea of a perfect father is not to be given up easily.  Jesus' point in not only allowing but encouraging us to call God "Father" is so that we may know of the personal care of God, and that we should trust in God as a child trusts in their father.  God is not so far removed from us that He cannot help or care.  Yet in calling God "Father" versus the pagan "mother" of almost all the surrounding cultures and religions, Jesus is pointing to the subtle separation in creation.  Creation is not God- we are not linked to God simply by our being- forming from His womb.  There is no umbilical cord to cut. Pantheism and panentheism are denied, but so is deism and atheism.  God cares for us though we are separate from Him.  While God is like or similar to a mother (Isa. 66:12), scripture never calls God mother or feminine, and to portray God in that way goes against how God is portrayed in scripture.  God is separate from us- in heaven.  He is the good father- where earthly fathers fail.  He is the father in a different place and so deserves our reverence.  But since He is our Father- we can approach the holy one with confidence.

Prayer: Father, help me to trust and call on you- finding you my provider, sustainer, and help.

[Modern Translation: Q. 100. What does the beginning of the Lord’s prayer teach us?
A. The beginning of the Lord’s prayer (Our Father in heaven) teaches us to draw near to God with
completely holy reverence and confidence, as children to a father who is able and ready to help us. It also teaches that we should pray with and for others.]