“Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” (Rom 8:14-16 NIV)
When I was a little girl before my father passed away, I thought there was no one like my father. I looked up to him, as if he were God. Whatever he said was gospel.
My father was a harsh disciplinarian; not to me; I was his baby. But my two sisters and my brother felt the brunt of his ire many times. He expected them to obey whatever he said and not to question him. But they still loved him and respected him. Even though my sisters suffered from his wrath at times, not to the point of a beating or child abuse, but to make his point, they still defended him when it came right down to it. After all he was their father. Nothing could erase that. In their minds he was just “Daddy”.
Our Father in Heaven is a harsh disciplinarian also. However, even though He sometimes gives us a good spanking, He does it lovingly and without anger. He disciplines us by giving us the result of our sin; the complications in life that are due to wrong decisions; wrong attitudes or wrong choices; never to lord it over us because He is the Almighty, but to show us the error of our ways. He is our Creator. He knows what is best for us. Consequently it is His call as to the severity or brevity of our punishment or discipline. But He never does it out of anger or harsh reactions to our sin.
I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is just and faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Conversely, our earthly father many times was/is reacting to our disobedience with anger and frustration. His actions are the result of not being able to deal with certain breaking of the rules or our actions which result in ourselves or others being hurt or involved in difficult situations.
Just as we ran to our earthly father when we were hurt or afraid; just as we cried “Daddy help me”, in the same way, we must learn to run to our Heavenly Father, crying “Abba Father” or “Daddy, help me.”
Rom.8: 38 -39 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Rom. 8:28 “For we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and are the called according to His purpose.”
“We cry, “Abba Father”.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we know You know when we are hurt; when we cry out to You, You respond to us as You see fit for our good. We know You are faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from the sin that so easily besets us. We come to You as Your child, when we are in pain, physical, emotional or mental anguish and we cry “Abba Father”. You are our Heavenly “Daddy” and we know that Jesus makes intercession for us to You, to help us in our distress. We thank You that You hear our prayer when we cry “Abba Father”.
In Jesus holy and matchless name, the name that is above all names. AMEN
Nell Berry nellberry07@gmail.com