Abba Father

.

Abba!   Father!

We love the ideal  of a father we can trust,  depend on,  and look up to.     Our earthly fathers can fail us  in their own weaknesses,  but our heavenly Father  is the one we can truly depend on  to help us  in our need.

Paul talks  about our Father / child relationship  with the Lord  in Romans 8:12-17.

So then,  brethren,  we are under obligation,  not to the flesh,  to live  according to the flesh  —  for if you are living  according to the flesh,   you must die;  but if  by the Spirit  you are putting to death  the deeds  of the body,  you will live.

For all  who are being led  by the Spirit  of God,  these are sons  of God.     For you have not received a spirit  of slavery leading  to fear again,  but you have received a spirit  of adoption  as sons  by which we cry out,  “Abba!    Father!”

The Spirit Himself  bears witness  with our spirit  that we are children  of God,  and if children,  heirs also,  heirs of God  and fellow-heirs  with Christ,  if indeed  we suffer with Him  in order  that we may also be glorified  with Him.

The Aramaic term “Abba” is the word used  to show a warm,  intimate relationship  between a father  and child.     It would be like us saying,  “Dad”,  “Daddy”,  or “Papa”.     It is informal,  very loving  and respectful.

Just as a child  who loves his father tries  to imitate his father,  so we too,  try to imitate  our heavenly Father.     We want  to be just like Him  because His love  for us  is so wonderful.     This desire  to imitate our heavenly Father  is a leading  of the Holy Spirit.    So,  Paul says,  “For all  who are being led  by the Spirit  of God,  these are sons  of God.”

That’s saying  every little urging  to imitate God’s loving ways  is God’s Spirit  leading us  and encouraging us  on our journey  to our heavenly home.     The Spirit  of God  bears witness  to our conscience  saying something like,  “Come on now.     You are a child  of the King.     Your heavenly Father wants you  to inherit the heavenly home  He has prepared  for you.     Don’t act  like a slave  to sin any more.     Be just like a child  of the heavenly King  should be.     Make your Daddy happy.”

Just as a loving earthly father  helps his little child  learn how  to walk,  our heavenly Father helps us learn  to walk  in His ways  through all of our earthly trials  and tribulations.     We do have to  hold tightly onto His hand  and trust Him  every step  of the way.     We might feel wobbly  and weak-kneed,  but our Father  is right beside us,  caring with each step.

As we walk  with our Lord,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     Abba,  Father,  it is so good  to know  that You are holding my hand.”

Love,
Margaret

.

A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

.

.

.

.