08/09/2021
When we pray to God do we do so as if we were actually one of His children, like Jesus? When we were instructed by Christ to pray in His name did He simply mean for this to be like an identifying seal that was to be stamped onto our conversation Identifying it to be from Him, or did He mean for us to pray just as He prayed? Praying as Jesus prayed, with all of the authority with which He approached the Father, is powerful indeed, and it can only be accomplished if we truly believe that we are one of His children. Do we actually believe that we are a child of God, or is that just something we say; an honorary title we claim? Do we feel our prayers are worthy to be heard by God, or that they must be from Jesus… stamped with His seal before they are received?
“Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”
John 16:24 ESV
So when we pray, and we do so in the name of Jesus, what are we actually doing? Are we putting words in the mouth of Jesus, or claiming our true lineage, and authority, as His brother or sister. Are we believers in the fact that we are heirs and joint heirs with Him, or simply acting as messengers who are delivering this prayer under His auspices?
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”
Ephesians 1:3-6 ESV
We are adopted, and that means more than simply being taken into God’s household, it means that we are given all the same rights, privileges, and authority of a naturally born child of God. In this way it is not enough that we pray in the righteousness of Jesus, but that we too should be righteous and obedient as a fully vested child. We are meant to live as Jesus lived, love as He loved, pray as He prayed, obey as He obeyed, and blessed as He was blessed… yes, when we associate ourselves with His name it means more than wearing His clothes and pretending to be like Him… we are in every way a child of God. Identifying ourselves with the name of Jesus means we are to behave, and be treated as Jesus.
“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”
Romans 8:16-17 ESV
So how are we living our lives? Are we worthy to be identified with Jesus? When we pray and claim our lineage with Christ, are we bringing glory to God as He did, or are we an embarrassment, a wayward child? Will He say that we please Him, or do we have much to learn before that can happen? Let’s believe in who we are as God’s children, and behave righteously as we should. If we do this then we will be able to pray in the name of Jesus by praying as a son or daughter of God, just as He prayed.
“and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.””
Matthew 3:17 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Son Jesus Christ who was born, suffered, died, was resurrected, and ascended to sit at your right hand. He defeated sin and death in the world to secure our lineage as His heirs and joint heirs in you; your sons and daughters. He is your firstborn, and as such receives your inheritance as such. As your children we to receive your blessings, and love you as our Father. Hear our prayers as your loving children, and help us to behave and love you in righteous fashion; obedient to your commandments, and loving you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our Father, and our God, who loves us and corrects us as your children. Praised be your name for each of our prayers you receive in the name of Jesus, offered to you as He prayed, and made righteous by His blood that washes us clean of our sin. Merciful are you who hears your children, and provides for us in your ever present goodness. Let every word of prayer we offer be within your will, and pleasing to you. In this way may we approach you as Jesus, and glorify you as He does. Jesus taught us to pray Father, but perfect us in it through your Holy Spirit, and let our time of prayer be made complete as we follow Christ in it.
“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”
1 John 3:1-3 ESV
Rich Forbes