When I was growing up, my friends next door called their father and mother by their first names. They called their dad Bill and their mom Hazel. That seemed really strange to me. I do not ever recall hearing one of them call them dad or mom.
Here is something else that seems strange to me. Many of us are very comfortable calling God by the name "God" or "Lord" but we may really struggle to call him Daddy, Dad, or Papa. In fact, it may even seem irreverent or even sacrilegious. The truth of the complete Gospel tells us otherwise.
The Holy Spirit explains to us in Romans 5, that as God's children, He has made us 100% acceptable to Him by making us righteous. In Romans 6, we read that we are no longer slaves of sin because of our new identity in Christ. Next in Romans 7, it becomes clear that we are not under law but under grace alone. With that in mind, we read the really good news in Romans 8:15, "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 word "Abba" is an Aramaic word which communicates the intimacy of a father who delights in his child, such that the child also delights in his or her father. Abba Father then means Daddy Father. Jesus said the same about His relationship with God the Father in Mark 14:36 and it is repeated again in Galatians 4:6.
As God's deeply loved children, let's take a step of faith this week and call Him Daddy, Dad or Papa. It is a step into deeper intimacy with Him.
Live Free In Christ,
Mark Maulding, President and Founder
www.GraceLifeInternational.com
All Content Copyright © 2012 Mark Maulding
