A Father/Son Talk

It was a nice family. Father and mother were fairly well-educated and they worked hard to make sure their children had all the things that they needed.

The children were well adjusted; they loved each other and their parents. They were part of a family that anyone would admire.

Then one day the boy, we’ll call him Joe. Joe was 16 and had a real problem. He had been invited to a party. He knew that most of the other kids would be drinking, and most likely drugs and sex would be involved.

Joe had been taught such things were wrong. Joe thought maybe he shouldn’t go since he didn’t participate in such things, but he did want to go to the party and have some fun with his friends. After all, they weren’t such bad kids.

Joe came up with an idea. He went down the street (quite a ways) and knocked on a door. When the man answered, Joe said. “I’d like to have a what folks call a father and son talk.” The man agreed, and Joe dumped his problem on the man that lived down the street. The man listed patiently and gave his advice.

Joe left happy with the way things turned out. He made up his mind that anytime he had a problem, he would use the same procedure—go down the street and just pick out a house, and have a ‘father and son’ talk.

Joe was so satisfied with the ‘talk’ that he continued them through his teens and into his adulthood. Now, what do you think of that? You probably say that’s ridiculous—such a thing never happened—and you may be right.

In a loving and caring family, the biological father loves his children and devotes his life to their welfare and happiness. But, that’s in a biological family—let’s look at the spiritual family.

When we have a need, we pray. When we pray, to whom do we pray? (Matthew 6:6) “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” (Matthew 6:9) “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”

Even Jesus prayed to the Heavenly Father. (Matthew 26:39) “And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:42) “He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.”

When Jesus disciples asked Him. “Lord teach us to pray.” (Luke 11:1) The Lord said. “When ye pray, say our Father which art in Heaven.” (Luke 11:2)

The point is: No one is to pray to anyone except God the Father! We are not to go ‘down the street’ and pray to someone else! That honor is reserved for God himself. Not even the great apostles like Peter or Paul are authorized to hear or answer prayers—much less someone else who lived 200 years ago even if some say they are now ‘saints’.

Where does Jesus fit into our prayer life? Jesus is the one who gives us the authority to pray to God calling Him Father.

(John 14:13-14) “13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”

Now, let’s go back to our teenager Joe. How would his biological father feel about his child, that he loves so dearly, going to the man down the street with his problems? I think it would break his heart. Some might even say that Joe insulted his loving and caring dad!

What does our loving Heavenly Father and His son Jesus think when we put our hopes and prayers in someone else?

Thanks for reading and God bless!