YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN. Matthew 5-7.

Official portrait of King Charles by Jonathan Yeo, revealed March 13, 2024.

Royals have many titles. Before he was crowned King, England’s Prince Charles bore many titles: “The Prince of Wales, Earl of Chester, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Lord of the Isles, Baron of Renfrew, and the Prince and Great Steward of Scotland.”

Kings and princes bear numerous titles, and no king has more titles than the KING OF KINGS (one writer online says God has over 100 names, another says 950.). But Jesus rarely uses any of those names when he preaches. He simply calls God our “Father.”

In fact, in the three short chapters that make up the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus calls God our father 17 times.

He is your FATHER.

Your Father.

Your Father.

Your Father.

“Your Father who is in heaven (5:16) … children of your Father who is in heaven (5:45) … your Father who is in heaven is perfect (5:48) …. Rewards from your Father (6:1) … your Father sees in secret (6:4)… pray to your Father in secret (6:6) … your Father knows your needs (6:8) … Our Father who art in heaven (6:9) … your heavenly Father will forgive you (6:14) … your heavenly Father feeds them (6:26) … your heavenly Father knows what you need (6:32) … your Father in heaven gives good gifts (7:11).”

The King of the Universe who is also the Creator, the Judge, the Sovereign Head of all things, and our Wonderful Counselor has many, many titles—but Jesus uses one of them over and over:

He is your FATHER.

Your Father.

Your Father.

Your Father.

That makes God family. And He loves you, He will rescue you, provide for you, watch over you. He will teach you, discipline you, forgive you, restore you, redeem you. He will fix things you break—even if you break them on purpose. What could be a more special role for God than Father?

Dear God, Thank you for being our Abba Father, or “Daddy Father.” Help us to know you and love you the way we should know and love our own father. Thank you that we can come to you with EVERY problem, and you will always be compassionate and merciful. We love you!

ΑΩ