Our Father in Heaven - Luke 11:2

The beloved physician Luke wrote how Jesus' disciples asked Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples”, and in chapter eleven and verse two of his book Luke shared how Jesus said, “When you pray, say, Our Father which are in heaven, Hallowed be your name” where we read:

And he said unto them, When you pray, say, Our Father which are in heaven, Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

The verse reads, “And he said unto them, When you pray, say, Our Father which are in heaven, Hallowed be your name.” Luke began with the words, “and he said unto them” or “and Jesus uttered, declared and proclaimed to His disciples”, “when you pray” which means “at the time and moment you, disciples, make orations, worship and supplicate to God”, “say” or “utter, declare and proclaim”, “Our Father” which refers to “our, which denotes plurality, progenitor and originator who is God” “which are in heaven” which means “who is positioned and stationed within the region above the sidereal heavens where the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings”, “Hallowed” or “consecrated, dedicated, pure, free from guilt of sin, holy and sanctified” “be your name” which means “exists everything which the name covers including the thoughts or feelings of which are aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing and remembering”. Luke shared how Jesus instructed His disciples to address God as “Father” who is “positioned” within the “region beyond the sidereal heavens” and whose “name” is “Holy and Sanctified”.

The verse goes on to say, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.” Luke continued with the words, “your kingdom come” or “God the Father your reign, rule, dominion and kingship appear, arise and come into being”. “Your will be done” or “God the Father your choice, wish, inclination and pleasure be performed, produced, be made and come into existence”, “as in heaven” which means “in the same manner and likeness within the region above the sidereal heavens where the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings”, “so in earth” or “even so, also and indeed within and upon the arable land, ground, country, land enclosed within fixed boundaries, region or territory”. Luke shared how Jesus told His disciples to “pray” that His Father God's “dominion, rule and reign” would appear and that His “desire and pleasure” would be performed upon the “earth” in the same way it is performed within “heaven”.

When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus instructed His disciples to include others in their prayers by using the word “our”. He gave the title “Father” to the One to whom we are to “pray” which denotes a loving and caring originator of our lives as well as the One who sustains them. He also presented the “address” for the one to whom we are to “pray” - “who is positioned in heaven” where God rules and reigns over everything that is made, and He encouraged His disciples to acknowledge the “holiness and sacredness” of God's “name”. Jesus continued by telling His disciples to ask that “God's kingdom” or “rule, reign and dominion” would “come into existence” upon the “earth” and that His “pleasure” would be “performed” on “earth” in the same manner as it is in the “heavenly realm”. In other words, God desires to have a “synchronization” between “heaven and earth”, and because He knows what is best for mankind, when He rules in their lives through a relationship with His Son Jesus, they align with His purpose, plan and pleasure on the earth. May all who read these words carefully consider all the words in Jesus' instruction for prayer and seek the Lord for His purpose and plan within their lives.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus continues by saying, “Give us day by day our daily bread”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".