Inspired by...: Inspired by . . . Day 27: His Name, Father

Inspired by . . . Day 27: His Name, Father

God our Father

Abba, Father

Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father” {Matt 6:9}, and the Spirit of God taught us to cry, “Abba, Father.” an intimate Aramaic term similar to “Daddy.” The Creator of the universe cares for each one of us as if we were His only child.

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" Rom 8:14-15

I know for some, the concept of a father is not a happy one. However, if you’ve been following along at all this month, you know that God is nothing like our earthly fathers. He is infallible, perfect, wise and good in all that He does.

Jesus talked A LOT about His Father. He came in His Father’s name, to do His Father’s will. Jesus came to reconcile us with the Father.

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. Eph 2:13-21

Jesus made it clear that there was only one way to the Father.

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Joh 14:6

Yet, even Philip, who knew Jesus in the flesh didn’t seem to understand.

Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know Me, Philip? Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own authority, but the Father who dwells in Me does his works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. Joh 14:8-11

Once we have believed that Jesus died for us, we have free access to God. We don’t have to go through a man, make a pilgrimage or offer a sacrifice to access the throne of grace. Our heavenly Father is available to us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether or not we have an earthly father, we all need a heavenly Father. Our Father knows us intimately. He knows what we need, when we need it. Sometimes He wants us to first acknowledge our need and ask Him before we receive it, and other times He lavishes His blessings upon us before we are even aware of our need. Either way, He can be trusted to supply our every need.

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Mat 7:7-11

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. Mat 6:31-32

When was the last time you sat on your heavenly Father’s lap? For what did you ask Him?