Lesson Fifty-Three: Children of a heavenly Father
53.1 Jesus said,
And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions (babble) as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. Matthew 6:7-8
53.2 Prayer should not be seen as an attempt to control God, or manipulate Him. Underneath the vain babbling of the heathen Gentiles and even of the Jews themselves was a wrong concept of God. The heathen tried to tire out their gods with endless babbling. Of course they would fall into that trap since their gods could not hear or answer prayer anyway. But the Jews who copied them were also wrong. They thought that such babbling would force God to hear them. Their concept of God was wrong.
53.3 They needed to know God as their Father. Picture a child coming to its father. Would the child use many words to impress the father? Or would the child ask in simplicity and trust? "For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask him."
53.4 The Old Testament contains many verses that speak of God as "Father."
I said, You shall call me "My Father" and not turn away from Me. Jeremiah 3:19
You, O Lord, are our Father; Our Redeemer, from everlasting is your name. Isaiah 63:16b
As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him. Psalm 103:13
But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, ... And all we are the work of Your hand. Isaiah 64:8
They shall come with weeping, And with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, In a straight way in which they shall not stumble; For I am a Father to Israel. Jeremiah 30:22
A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation. Psalm 68:5
53.6 Jesus always made God personal. He said, "...your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask him."
Unlike earthly fathers our Father in heaven is perfect. He knows what we need before we ask. His heart towards us is always true, upright, and sincere. His love never fails. His mercy endures forever. He is a great big God who can do anything. If we know Him as this kind of father, we are happy to welcome Him and own Him as our Father -- our Daddy. Vain repetitions would seem completely silly to us. Instead we come completely boldly before His throne of grace -- and find grace to help in time of need.
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." Romans 8:15
Discussion:
Memory Verse: For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." Romans 8:15