“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).
Abba.
Daddy.
That’s what Abba literally means.
That Christians called God “Father” was shocking enough. What creatures dare call God their father? Gods are supposed to be feared, revered, honored. God is called Lord, Master, King, Mighty One, Exalted One. But, you don’t call God Father! Who do you think you are?!?!
And yet, not only do Christians call God, Father, but we have the audacity to call him Daddy – abba.
Why, that’s just scandalous!
We take God being our loving Father and daddy for granted because that’s the way we’ve always known him. But this was not always the case. It’s only because of what Jesus accomplished for us through the cross and the empty tomb that we – who are sinners deserving of God’s wrath and judgment – have become sons and daughters of God. We have been adopted into God’s family.
The late Tim Keller writes, “The only person who dares wake up a king at 3am for a glass of water is a child. We have that kind of access.”
Abba.
Daddy.
That’s good news!
Praxis: Faith in Action 