Talking to Both of Him

Some of the purest education, and entertainment, in my life is watching my daughters interact with their friends.  Their imagination in play and conversation has more than once left me laughing.  Their straightforward, often “too” literal, thinking, has taught me my fair share of lessons as well.

Their descriptions of people and events are often so on point that I wonder why we call things by the names we do, when the kids have come up with such better names.  One Christmas, I brought home some eggnog.  This particular variety had a picture of Santa on it.  Eggnog is now known as “Christmas milk” in the Conley household.

Once while introducing her little sister to an adult, my older daughter informed the guest that her little sister, who hadn’t began talking yet, couldn’t say hello, because “she doesn’t have any speakers yet.”

A few days ago, that same daughter, Reagan, who dubbed eggnog as Christmas milk and words as speakers, looked up from playing with her friends to let them know that I was her daddy.

They said “He’s the pastor.”

She replied, “Yeah, he’s my pastor daddy.”

Of course, I know that one day my vocation and being her daddy may create difficulty in her life as she deals with all the pressures of being a preacher’s kid.  But, this day, she was simply saying who I was.

Pastor Daddy.

This reminds me of Jesus praying.

John 17:1–5 (NKJV)

1 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,

2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.

3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.

5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

You are not just praying to a benevolent being.  You are praying to the Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Sovereign of the Universe.  

Jesus opens his prayer with His father speaking as a Son.  His prayer begins in their relationship, an exchange between father and Son.

Yet, by verse 3, Jesus calls Him (the Father) God, and then refers to His own position as the Christ.  The prayer strikes the perfect balance between familiar and royal.  The relationship of Father and Son is front and center, but the position of God of the universe is not forgotten.  Together, the two threads weave the tapestry of a powerful prayer.

Yesterday, I wrote about speaking to your Father.  In doing so, we understand that God cares about us on a deep level.

There is no prayer too small for your loving Father to care, and no prayer too big for you powerful God to handle.

Today, I want you to remember just who your father is.  You are not just praying to a benevolent being.  You are praying to the Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Sovereign of the Universe.

Not only does He care about you, but He alone possesses the power to change every situation.  There is nothing you have dreamed of that is beyond His capability.  You have no hope that He can not handle, no burden He can not bear, no past He can not cleanse, no hurt He can not heal.  You are praying to the Ruler of all Things.

Don’t pray small.  Remember who it is to whom you pray.

There is no prayer too small for your loving Father to care, and no prayer too big for you powerful God to handle.