And By Him We Cry, "Abba, Father."
Date: July 18, 2024
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 in NIV (Romans 8:15) 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."
L - Listen for God's Voice and pray Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for adopting us as Your children. Help us to fully understand and embrace our identity as Your sons and daughters. Remind us that we no longer need to live in fear, but can approach You with confidence and love. May we experience the joy and freedom of being Your beloved children. In Jesus' name, Amen.
E - Explore the History and meaning Paul wrote this letter to the Christians in Rome around 57 AD. In this chapter, he's explaining the new life believers have in Christ. He contrasts the old life of slavery to sin and fear with the new life of freedom and adoption as God's children. The term "Abba" is an Aramaic word for father, conveying intimacy and trust, like saying "Daddy" in English.
S - Study the Key Words or Phrases
"Spirit you received" - Refers to the Holy Spirit given to believers.
"Adoption to sonship" - God legally making us His children, with all the rights and privileges of natural-born children.
"Abba, Father" - An intimate term for God, showing our close relationship with Him.
S - Summarize and Share
This verse always makes me emotional. You see, my earthly father passed away when I was only 4 years old. I don't have memories of calling anyone "daddy" or experiencing that special father-child bond in my early years. So when Paul talks about calling God "Abba, Father," it touches a deep place in my heart.
It reminds me that in Christ, I have received something I've longed for my entire life - a Father. Not just any father, but the perfect, loving, ever-present heavenly Father. It's almost too wonderful to comprehend that the God who created the universe wants me as His child.
The idea that I can approach God and call Him "Abba" - which is like saying "Daddy" - brings tears to my eyes. It's an intimacy I've never known personally, but always yearned for as a child. To think that I can crawl into my heavenly Father's lap, so to speak, and find comfort, love, and acceptance is truly life-changing.
This promise of adoption can fill a void in your life. It means you’re not an orphan anymore. You and I have a Father who will never leave us, who delights in us, and who wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives. We don't have to fear abandonment or rejection because His love for us is unchanging and eternal.
When the verse says, "The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again," it speaks directly to my heart. So many times we have that feeling of being insecure and afraid. But now, we don't have to live in that fear anymore. We have a Father who protects us, guides us, and gives us a sense of belonging we've never had before.
This promise changes everything for me. It affects how I see myself, how I face challenges, and how I view my future. I'm not alone anymore. I have a Dad - the best Dad anyone could ever have. And so do you.
Lord, thank You for adopting me as Your child. Help me to fully embrace this new identity and to experience the depth of Your fatherly love. May I live each day in the joy and security of being Your beloved child, and may this transform how I relate to You and to others.
3 Bible Cross References:
Galatians 4:6-7
1 John 3:1
Ephesians 1:5
Question for the audience: On a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being "rarely" and 5 being "very often," how often do you think about or feel your identity as God's adopted child? Type your number in the comments below. Let's encourage each other to embrace our identity in God's family!