Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 11: 1-13 "OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN..." Luke 11:2"
Day 132 – Luke 11
Text: Luke 11: 1-13
“OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN…” Luke 11:2
How do we apply the concept of the “Fatherhood of God” in prayer? An excellent example of how we may plead the Fatherhood of God may be found in the book of Isaiah. Two passages from Isaiah may be cited as examples of how we may apply the concept of God as Father,
“Doubtless You are our Father
Though Abraham was ignorant of us,
And Israel does not acknowledge us,
You, O Lord, are our Father,
Our Redeemer from Everlasting
Is Your Name.”
Isaiah 63:16
“But now, O Lord,
You are our Father;
We are the clay,
And You are our Potter,
And all we are the work of Your hand.”
Isaiah 64:8
PLEADING THE HEART OF GOD AS FATHER
What was Isaiah appealing to when he pleaded the “Fatherhood of God”? The context of Isaiah 63 reveals the fact that the prophet was appealing to God’s Heart as Father to Israel. We read the following moving plea,
“Look down from Heaven,
and see from Your habitation,
holy and glorious.
Where are Your zeal and Your strength,
The yearning of Your heart
And Your mercies toward me?
Are they restrained?”
Isaiah 63:15
Isaiah, as a prophet of God had seen glimpses of Israel’s future. He saw the plan of God, and he trembled at the fate that awaited the nation. He knew that Israel would be destroyed by its flagrant disregard for the Lord and His Laws.
There could be only one way out for a gravely sinning nation! Yet, how does one plead for a grossly sinful nation? To what does one appeal? Isaiah, in his knowledge of God, and in his wisdom, felt that there was only one way to intercede effectively – to plead the Fatherhood of God!
He understood and believed in the Fatherhood of God. He believed that not only was God glorious in his habitation in heaven, and mighty in zeal and strength, there was a gentler side of God. In the Being of God, there was a special “yearning of God’s heart”. There were “mercies” that were consistent with his knowledge of God as Father. What father would not have special yearnings towards his children? What father would not exercise mercies to his beloved children?
As we learn to say, “Our Father in Heaven…” let us be reminded of how Isaiah pleaded the Fatherhood of God. He is in Heaven, surrounding by all that is glorious and holy. However, He is ever our Father, and He has special yearnings (that is, “feelings”) toward us, and He is ever merciful. Let us pray with confidence in the merciful feelings of God toward us!
YIELDING OURSELVES TO GOD
The second passage, Isaiah 64:8 teaches us that we would do well to yield ourselves to God whenever we cry out to Him in prayer.
It is wisdom to yield ourselves as “clay in the potter’s hand”. Isaiah knew only too well just how much the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord. It had chosen its own pathway. It had essentially rejected the Lord and His Word. The nation of Judah had chosen idols instead of worshipping their Covenant-God!
Pleading the mercy of God was the only way to pray! But what is the next step after we pray for forgiveness? Isaiah suggested that we should yield ourselves to God, as clay yields itself to the potter’s hand! He couldn’t have used a more apt imagery!
The prophet Jeremiah was once told to visit a potter’s shop-house (Jerermiah 18). There God spoke to Jeremiah,
“O house of Israel,
Can I not do with you as this potter?”
Says the LORD.
“Look, as clay is in the potter’s hand,
So are you in My hand,
O house of Israel!”
Jeremiah 18:6
Jeremiah was taught a deep lesson that day! God was absolutely sovereign! God may indeed be likened to a Potter who has absolute sway over the lump of clay in his hands!
PRAYING IN UTTER HUMILITY
What an important lesson the Lord Jesus taught His Disciples. They were to remember that when they prayed, they must be aware of the Majesty and Greatness of God. Nevertheless, He may be approached in prayer, for He is Merciful as well.
Proper humility must always be maintained, simply because we must remember that we are indeed but clay! May we yield ourselves to God, pleading His tender mercies!
Webmaster’s Note:
If you are seeking a deeper level of understanding of prayer, please check out Pastor Charlie Tan’s excellent weekly articles on The Theology of Prayer , which includes a more indepth study of The Lord’s Prayer and how it applies to our prayer-life.