A Reflection On The Character Of God

When I need a reminder of who God is

Occasionally in the Old Testament, God is referred to as Father, but He is never addressed in prayer as Father. Jesus’ intimate opening to what we now call the Lord’s Prayer—“Our Father in heaven”—may have stunned His listeners. That level of familiarity made God out to be accessible and affectionate—not easy concepts for those of us steeped in formal religion.

As soon as Jesus tells us of the intimacy with God that is available to us, He stresses the utter transcendence and “otherness” of God—His holiness. “Hallowed be your name,” He says (NIV). In two brief phrases, He has captured the essence of our relationship with God. It is at once intimate and unfathomable; familiar yet mysterious. Though we may know Him deeply, we will never know Him fully.

We often take this opening to the Lord’s Prayer to be a prelude, similar to the salutation of a letter. But this particular salutation is actually the substance of our faith. It captures both the closeness of God and His unreachable distance. Meditate on its riches. The greatest commandment—to love our transcendent Father with all of our being—begins here.

Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.

Matthew 6:9