As Father’s Day approaches, I’ve been taking time to reflect on our heavenly Father’s role in our lives. With the many names of God and their significance, (e.g. Jehovah-Jireh – The Lord Will Provide, Jehovah Ro’i – God the Shepherd), there comes a certain peace from the title of “Abba – Father.”
The term “Abba” is only seen three times in the New Testament . One of which is Paul discussing when an individual becomes a Christian. Romans 8:15 says, “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!’”
I love the visual representation of adoption in this passage. Adoption is the embodiment of true love: we are chosen by our Father to join his family. The passage goes on in verse 16 and 17: “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”
Not only are we now given an eternal family, we are also given a home in God’s kingdom. The chapter ends with a beautiful reminder in verses 38 and 39: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
This passage reminds us that with our adoption there will still be trials in this life. A father’s role is guidance, protection, and support. With our adoption as sons and daughters, we are reminded that through it all, we have all of this encompassed by the love of our heavenly father.
References: Engle, K. (2021). What Does “Abba” Really Mean? Logos. 2021, Logos.com
