Praying to the "Father" - What Kind of Father?

What comes to mind when you pray to the Father?

There is a richness that we may never have realized before. In John 17 Jesus prays to the Father using three different names.

1. First, He calls Him by the familiar name Father: "Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You." (17:1) Again, "And now, Father, glorify Me in Your own presence with the glory I had with You before the world existed." (17:5) And again, "just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You" (17:21)
2. Second, He calls the Father the Holy Father: "Holy Father, keep them in Your name, which You have given Me, so that they may be one just as We are." (17:11)
3. Finally, Jesus calls the Father the Righteous Father: "Righteous Father, though the world does not know You, I know You, and these know that You have sent Me" (17:25)

Why does Jesus call Him by these three names?

The term "Father" reminds us that God is 'Pater' or father.

Then "Holy Father" teaches us that God is 'Hagios' which means holy. Our Father is a loving Father. Yet He is also pure, spotless, sinless, and perfect.

"Righteous Father" shows that God is 'dikaios' - righteous, or just. Our Father will answer us with absolute integrity. Psalm 116:5, Psalm 119:137-144, Jeremiah 12:1-17

How about beginning to pray to the Father using one of these ideas in your next prayers, focusing on one attribute in each prayer? The Lord as 'pater', 'hagios', and 'dikaios'. If that was meaningful to Jesus, then it can surely be meaningful to us as well.

I would suggest a prayer like this...

1. Father, You are the Father above all fathers. You love, You are good, and You discipline me for my highest good. I am so grateful because You have adopted me as Your child.
2. Holy Father, You are spotless, sinless, and perfect. I stand in awe of Your holiness. Thank You for not treating my sinfulness as a barrier to showing my love for You.
3. Righteous Father, You are just, unmoved by human opinion, and always act with absolute integrity. It is an honor for me to know You. Thank You that I can trust Your promise to be just in all Your dealings with me.

Enjoy your time in prayer with our wonderful Father!

The Lord bless you,

Malcolm