"For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father!'”
~Romans 8:15
We come next in our series on the names of God to a most tender and intimate of names - "Abba", which is translated "Father" and has a closer connotation to our American term Daddy, denoting God as being our loving, tender, involved, and intimate Father.
We see proof of this in a later portion of Romans 8, as well. Verses 35-39 declare,
"Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
Because of you
we are being put to death all day long;
we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Our God's love and tenderness towards us is immense, deep, and incredibly compassionate. Consider, for example, these additional passages:
"As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him." ~Psalm 103:13
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!" ~Matthew 23:37
Our God views us as His dearly beloved children and Himself as our Daddy, our Abba Father.
This can prove a hold up for those whose earthly fathers have left a lot to be desired, but let me assure you, dear reader, there is no similarity between your Heavenly Father and your earthly one.
Our God is holy, sinless, abounding in perfect and stedfast love and patience. He is trustworthy, the same yesterday, today, and forever, and One on Whom you can lean no matter what. It is good news that He is your Abba Father - it shows just how very much you are truly loved! Run to your Abba today, friend, and let Him touch your heart with His love and compassion.
Reflection Questions:
1) Is it easy for you to view God as your Abba Father? Why or why not?
2) Is there something you can do to make this easier?
3) How can you allow your heart to be touched and encouraged by this truth today?
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