Early in the morning, I have a habit of walking and praying. The streets in our neighborhood are quiet at that time, so there aren’t many distractions. The Lord’s Prayer is the framework for my prayers.

“Our Father…” I began this morning. And I got stuck there. Stuck in a good way. I realized in that moment how I have gotten so accustomed to talking to the Creator of the universe so casually!

Is that what Jesus intended when he instructed his disciples to pray, “Our Father in heaven…”?

Those are amazing words if you think about it. Our Father. Not “my” Father, but “our” Father! I began thinking about the many places in the world where I have brothers and sisters like you—and the hundreds of millions more—who legitimately claim God, our Creator, as their Father.

What an absolutely enormous, delightfully diverse, wonderfully unique family to be a part of! I found myself thinking about how many languages our Father understands—simultaneously!

Obviously there are some things about God’s nature we can’t comprehend. But what an honor to be invited to call as Father the Creator of the earth, sun, moon, and stars, even the galaxies!

Our Father’s only begotten Son, Jesus, took this ‘family identity’ thing very seriously. He made it clear that from his perspective we are fully in the family.

Remember at the end of Matthew 12, when his mother and brothers came looking for him. Jesus was told they were outside wanting him. “‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ He asked. Then Jesus stretched out his hand toward his disciples and said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’”

That’s us, my friends! That’s us! It’s not a title we can earn. Not a family we could work our way into. Maybe that’s why I got stuck on that phrase this morning. It’s just such an amazing gift, a blessing none of us deserve—to be able to call the Creator of the universe our Father.

Through the life and suffering and death, and ultimately the resurrection of our Jesus Christ—we are blood brothers and sisters with Him. Jesus takes it all a step further when he says, “’You are my friends if you do what I command you’” (John 15:14). How’s your friendship with Jesus?

The more my friendship with and my worship of Jesus grows, the more I receive through his Holy Spirit and Word, the more I realize what a great honor it is for us to pray “Our Father…”!  

–Galen Burkholder