Day #65 - Abba
The Presence - A Devotional for Living in Thanksgiving, Worship and Wonder
“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.””
Romans 8:15 NIV
What name do you call your father?
I called my father “Daddy” when I was young. As I got older I call him Dad. My children usually call me Dad now, but when they were younger they also called me Daddy. Although I have one daughter that will still call me Daddy. She gets so excited sometimes and yells “Daddy” as she runs and jumps into my arms. There is nothing quite like that kind of love from a child to her daddy.
The Apostle Paul is writing to the Roman church and letting them know that when they are in Christ they have received the Spirit of adoption. The Holy Spirit given to every believer is the Spirit who makes you free so that you are no longer a slave to fear. But God gives us the Spirit of adoption to sonship where we become an heir of God. And by the Spirit we have received we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
“Abba” is Aramaic for father. Its a term of endearment that denotes a close relationship (1). God desires to bring us close to himself. To live in the presence of God is to live a relationship of intimacy as a child to a father. God gives us the spirit of adoption so that we can know that we always belong with him and we can call him a name full of affection.
Abba loves you. Abba Father, Father God, Daddy God or however you want express that term of affection, he wants you to not live in fear but live in nearness. God wants us to know him so closely and not be afraid of him. What a loving Father he is.
There can be many relationships in life where we have uncertainty about how the other person feels about us or whether they accept us or not. But God literally gives us his Spirit to help us cry out in affection, “Abba, Father.” God wants you to know where you stand with him and he has pulled out all the stops so that we can be confident before him.
On a hard day or in a difficult season, you can draw close to Abba Father. When you feel afraid, you can realize this is not God’s plan for you to live in fear but you can lean into the Spirit to receive the Father’s love for you.
With the Father you are never rejected but always accepted. With Father you have love instead of fear. With Father you always have a welcome embrace.
The presence of God is the nearness of Abba Father who loves you.
Abba, Daddy God, thank you for loving me so much. I love you. I want to know you like a child knows a father. I desire a big view of you. When I look to myself, problems feel so big, but when I depend upon you as my Father in heaven, problems seem so small and you take care of them. Thank you for giving me the Spirit of adoption. I’m done with thinking I don’t belong. I receive your acceptance and your love. In Jesus name, amen.
Love it!!!
So beautifully said Pastor John. Our Abba Father!