We Can Cry “Abba, Father”

Hi there people of God. I hope we are all set for the new week with renewed strength and alertness. We will proceed on our adventure exploring God’s amazing grace as we look through the epistle to the Galatians:

“And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” Galatians 4:6 (King James Version)

My 4 year old daughter sometimes spends the day with me at the Clinic where I practice. I usually have to ensure she is comfortable in some other section of the clinic while I attend to the clients. At different occasions she has come to the consulting room to ask after me. She never asks for “Dr Olowojolu” even though she knows that’s my name. Similarly, after church services she walks into the Pastors’ Office and she never asks for “Pastor Yinka”. She always asks for “daddy”. She obviously has an understanding of the relationship we have and this makes her address me in such a simple sincere loving way. She does not use formal appellations or titles like “Dr” or “Pastor”, just a simple “daddy”- an expression that conveys an intimacy of relationship and depth of filial association.

Galatians 4:6 tells us that as a consequence of our adoption as His sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying “Abba, Father”. Verse 15 of Romans 8 says something similar to this too. “Abba” is an Aramaic word with interesting connotations. It is a word used to refer to one’s male parent. Along with its companion word “Imma” (referring to the female parent), it formed part of a growing child’s first vocabulary. These are words of endearment and innocent intimacy from the lips of an infant. Just like when my daughter calls me “daddy”.

This was exactly the term Jesus used in addressing God while He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane in Mark 14:36. In that time of great agony, Jesus addressed God with such a term of sincere devotion and intimate love. According to a compilation of writings of some ancient Jewish rabbis, that term was never used by slaves or servants in a household to address the master of the house. It was only used by the children or the freemen, those who had been set at liberty.

With our adoption into His family, God sends His Spirit into our hearts producing in us a deep feeling of endearment; a strong sense of intimacy and belonging to God as our Father. This is true of every believer in Christ Jesus. This reality should spur us to express our hearts to Him in prayer, thanksgiving and worship. Just like Jesus. This should be the platform on which we relate with God daily. Just like Jesus. Not like cowering slaves scared and terrified of their wicked master. Rather it should be as liberated sons of God with affectionate desire and appreciation of the immense love our Father has for us.

This week I have chosen the song “Abba Father” by Planet Shakers. 

Remember God’s Spirit is in us and we can cry “Abba, Father”-yet another facet of God's astounding grace! Have a very lovely week. 

"Abba, Father" by Planet Shakers