Notice in Matthew 7:11 that Jesus says, “your Father.” Just before that, He teaches us to pray to “our Father” (Matthew 6:9). Jesus is sharing His Father with us! Along with that relationship He shares with us His sense of assurance. Jesus knew that His Father wanted to hear Him. “I knew that You always hear Me” (John 11:42). He was sure that His Father heard and answered His prayers. The reason Jesus was so certain was that He was first sure of His relationship with God. Now He brings us into the same relationship and confidence. Even when Jesus proved His superiority over death, He lovingly confirmed this to us who are yet mortal. He called His disciples “My brothers” and then said to them,
I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God (John 20:17).
The apostle John was one who received that first resurrection message. John learned the meaning of “our Father” well. More than that, he wrote to assure fellow-believers of their legitimacy. We truly are sons of God, and God truly hears His children’s prayers.
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… (1 John 3:1-2).
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him (1 John 5:13-15).
My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.
Once, a powerful president returned after a mission that secured world peace. Enthusiastic crowds welcomed him home. Presidential guards struggled to keep the people from pressing too close. Suddenly a young boy dashed forward, dodging between adults. A brawny guard picked up the boy, and said, “You can’t go there. Don’t you know who that is? That is the president himself!” Laughing, the boy wiggled free and said, “He may be your president, but he is my daddy.”
When the true Christian comes to God, yes, he is approaching the King of kings, but he is also coming to his own beloved Father. Therefore this child of God can and should come confidently, feeling sure of the Father’s warm welcome. “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22).