Abba



Romans 8:12-17
12So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
13For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
15For 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!”
16The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

In my wanderings though the faith I came across this illustration about appropriating the freedom Jesus’ death and resurrection purchases for us. It would be great if I could remember who originated it, but I can’t. It’s still a great analogy.

Jesus came into the world completely innocent of all sin and remained that was His entire life. His substitutionary death on my behalf opened the door of the prison that sin had built for me. Sadly, there are many who are living inside of an open jail cell when they could leave at any time. Instead of appropriating the freedom and salvation that has already been won for them they instead choose to spend their lives living inside of that prison cell. As Paul puts it, they continue to live according to the flesh. In this passage we are invited to move out of that cell into a life lived in the Spirit, thus marking us as God’s adopted heirs.

Incredibly significant in this verse is the name given to God the Father – Abba. This is a term of endearment. We would say “Daddy” or “Papa” today. It isn’t the same Greek word we find at the beginning the Lord’s Prayer where the address “Our Father, who art in heaven”. That word indicates more in terms of parentage. Abba also indicates fatherhood but it is far more intimate and personal. When that jail cell is abandoned we run into the arms of our Daddy, that person who has all kinds of strength, protective power, and unconditional love for us. This is the Person into whose lap we crawl when frightened or confused. And He takes us up into His arms because His passionate love for us is overwhelming. It is His joy to hold us thus.

Much could be said about the concept of God as are Abba and entire books have been written bringing this truth to light. It is a marker of our relationship with God that is worthy of mediation and appropriation. Truthfully, I’m still working on it. In fact, because of our discussion of some of the practices that help us keep our mindset on God, this two word phrase is worth turning into a breath prayer. Set aside 5 minutes for yourself. All you’re going to do during those five minutes is think about your “Abba Father”. As you breathe in, say “Abba Father” and as you breathe out, repeat the name. I can already guarantee you it will be a long five minutes. Maybe we should all start with 2 minutes. Or even 1. No matter how long you can sustain the meditation, you will be blessed. Ask God to help you begin to understand what it means that He is your “Daddy”. As Him to help you stay out of the prison cell and in His arms. See what happens.

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