Abba, Father

Date: July 20, 2023

I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional. 

B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Voice and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study the Key Words or Phrases
S - Summarize and Share

You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?

B - Bible Verse: "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)

L - Listen for God's Word and pray: "Heavenly Father, as I delve into Romans 8:15, help me to listen attentively to Your voice. May Your Spirit reveal the deep truths hidden in this verse, and may I be reminded of the incredible privilege of being Your adopted child. Thank You for being my loving Father, and may my heart resonate with the cry, 'Abba, Father.' In Jesus' name, amen."

E - Explore the History and Meaning: The Apostle Paul wrote the book of Romans, and in this chapter, he highlights the wonderful assurance and freedom we have in Christ. In verse 15, he explains the differences between the spirit of slavery that leads to fear with the Spirit of adoption that brings us into an intimate relationship with God as His children.   He’s telling us that as believers, we have not received a spirit of slavery that makes us live in fear and bondage. Instead, we have received the Spirit of adoption, which allows us to call God our loving Father. Through Christ, we are no longer distant from God; we have been brought into His family with all the privileges of being His children.

S - Study the Key Words or Phrases: 

Spirit you received: Refers to the Holy Spirit dwelling in believers after accepting Christ.

Slaves: Represents being under the bondage of fear and sin.

Adoption to sonship: Describes the wonderful reality of becoming God's children through faith in Christ.

Abba, Father: Aramaic terms for "Father" used to express an intimate and affectionate relationship with God.

S - Summarize and Share: 

Sometimes life can feel like we're trapped, scared, and living in fear. But that is not the life God has in store for us. No way! When we accept Christ, the Holy Spirit takes residence in our hearts, and that changes everything.

See, we're not slaves anymore. We're not stuck in that cycle of fear and bondage. Instead, God adopts us into His family, and we become His beloved children. Can you imagine that? The Creator of the universe, the King of kings, is our loving Father!

And it gets even better. We can cry out to Him with a deep sense of intimacy, like little children calling out "Daddy Daddy!" It's a term of endearment, a beautiful way to express our love and trust in Him.

I don’t remember my father, he passed away when I was only 4 years old from a heart attack and my mother never remarried. So God has been the only Father I’ve known, and that in itself is pretty amazing. He’s been there for me through every up and down, guiding me with His tender loving care. 

There is no need to live in fear or insecurity anymore. We all have been adopted into God's family, and that means we have access to His love, protection, and guidance every step of the way.

Next time life feels overwhelming, just remember this verse. Remind yourself that you're not a slave to fear; you're a beloved child of God. Embrace the freedom and love that comes from knowing your Heavenly Father. He's always there for you, ready to listen to your heart's cry.

Bible Cross References

John 1:12 - "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."

Galatians 4:6-7 - "Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba, Father.' So you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir."

1 John 3:1 - "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"

Ephesians 1:5 - "He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will."