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Abba Father, Daddy
All God’s Children
This goes out to all of God’s children!
As my children grew up over the years, we would have opportunity to explain to them the thing of family. Our home was always open, maybe I should say our car was always full as we more often seemed to be traveling from one ball field to another. It didn’t take long to realize our expectations of our family were not the same in other’s families.
And that’s ok. In our home, it was understood what and why we acted and responded in certain ways. Soon it became just as clear to our kids that everyone around our table were not part of our family. Therefore, they did not abide by the same standards as did we. Makes sense, right?
Every one of the people we’ve had in our home (or car) have been met with and treated with the same worthiness and loving hospitality as the next, and because they were youth, the same caring shield of authority while in our care. Yet, they didn’t live with the same expectation we had of our own children nor did we love them as we love our own.
Not Part of the Family
Simply, they were not part of the family.
The outside world gets this wrong in Christianity, too. We are not all God’s children. Though He created us all in His image and desires a relationship-by way of the great cost and sacrifice of His Son, Jesus- just being born into this world does not buy us into the family of God.
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:12-13
Abba Father
Maybe this is a term of endearment, Daddy, as some scholars have said. Or, possibly it’s a reverent respect to exactly who God is: FATHER, FATHER.
Did you ever see the movie Dead Poet’s Society? To show their unconventional professor a proclamation of their great respect, several of the patrician young men rise in turn, each one standing tall atop their desks: left foot, stomp; right foot, stomp.
One by one they turn toward him as he continues his forced departure. His hand on the door knob, their beloved teacher pauses to turn back for one last glimpse of his boys. As he does, with great emotion and trembling they echo one another in their endearing final salute: O Captain! My Captain!
O Captain! My Captain!
O Captain! My Captain! is taken from a 1865 poem, whose title is the same, written about President Lincoln’s death penned by Walt Whitman. Then and any time its lyric is borrowed, though written as a funeral song, the standing theme is one of deep respect.
Jesus calls out to Abba Father
And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
Mark 14:36
Father, Father
In the New Testament, Abba is always followed by Father. It’s an endearing, respectful, call to our Heavenly Father: Abba Father= Father Father, likewise, Daddy Father.
Part of the Family
And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”s
Galatians 4:6
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!”
Romans 8:15
Adoption
Adoption, not slavery. Freedom, not bondage. Praise Abba Father!
Unlike all the wonderful people who’ve at some point graced my life by their presence, to know God is to be part of His family. We have the honor of calling Him, Daddy: Abba Father.
Going way back, I remember the song lyrics: I’m so glad to be part of the family of God. I wonder if anyone still sings that song?
Long ago the Gaithers recorded it on 8-track, (sorry if I lost some of you here!) and it was one my parent’s favorites to play in the car, rendering my brothers and I their captive audience.
I’m so glad I’m a part of the Family of God,
Family of God by The Gaithers
I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I’m part of the family,
The Family of God.
First comes our adoption into God’s family, and then we call Him Daddy; Abba Father.
I hope you know Him, and if you don’t, please reach out to someone in your church, a friend, or just start reading in John 3 and talk with the Lord. He wants to be your Abba Father, too.
