Insulting the
"Father"!
Of the billions of people in this world only five can call me
their "father". These are the five children God has given to my
wife and me. 1*. As
their father it has been my privilege and responsibility to try to
provide for their well-being.
There have been times I have had to suggest they go to someone
better qualified because I was unable to help them with their
particular problems. I was not insulted by them going to others
when I was unable to give them the help they needed.
I have a Father who has never had to refer any of His children to
someone else who was better qualified, or stronger, or wiser, or
kinder than He is! I am speaking about my Heavenly Father, the
Almighty God. "Nothing is impossible with God." 2*.
It would be an insult to Him if I was to take my
prayer requests to someone else. God tells us, "I am the Lord, and
there is no other; apart from Me there is no God. ..I am the Lord,
that is My name! I will not give My glory to another or My praise
to idols." 3*.
So, when Jesus' disciples wanted to know how to pray, it was not
surprising that He taught them to pray only to God. Because of
their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour they were
entitled to call God their "Father", 4*. and make their requests from Him.
5*.
It is a great insult to God when people pray to Him and then pray
to others; and even sometimes boast that their prayers to others
are "never known to fail"!! How do you think the one true God feels
when some who claim to worship Him will say ten prayers to someone
else for every one prayer to God the Father! All they are doing is
insulting the "Father"! 6*.
Who were Jesus' followers to pray to about their daily necessities
of life? "Father… give us each day our daily bread." 7*.
Who were they to pray to about forgiveness for their sins and to
ask for the grace to live like Jesus and have victory over evil and
temptation? "Father…Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive
everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation."
God will never say "No" to any request for forgiveness of sins
through faith in Jesus the Saviour. 8*. But there will be other requests to which "No"
will be His wise answer.
If you truly believe in God you will not doubt His wisdom and power
even when His answer is "No"! You will find rest and peace by
trusting in His love day by day. 9*.
When God answers "No" to some prayer of mine I will not insult Him
by taking my request to someone else; as if there are other gods
who might treat me better than my Heavenly Father!!
Many after saying this prayer will then turn to others to seek
forgiveness for their sins and grace for their problems of life!!
What an insult to God, and what lack of faith!
Read Jesus' lesson on prayer for yourself in Luke chapter 11,
verses 1-4.
Bye for now,
John Nixon, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
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Bible quotations from N.I.V.
1 See Psalm
127:3.
2 Luke 1:37.
3 Isaiah 45:5. 42:8.
4 Luke 11:1-2. Romans
8:1-17.
5 John 15:7, 16.
6 See Exodus 20:3. Romans
1:18-25.
7 Luke 11:3.
8 Romans 10:13. John
6:37-40.
9 Proverbs 3:5-6. Romans
8:28-32.
