Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had. 2 They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set. 3 And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world.
4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.†7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.         Galatians 4:1-7 (NLT)
I’m about to celebrate another birthday. That comes around every year at the same time. My mother knew what she was talking about when she told me that after the age of 40, time seemed to speed up and birthdays came faster and faster. I’ve had enough birthdays that I know that I am running out of birthdays that are counted in this world. I don’t say that to be sad or fatalistic. It is a fact. This fact makes spending time with my Father so very important.
Do I know my Father God? To really know someone I have to spend time with them. I get to know Abba by listening to Him and others who have known Him longer than me, people that I trust. I read all I can about my Father. I ask my Father questions. There is nothing that I cannot ask Him.
Do I introduce my Father God to others? If my Father is someone that I love and respect, then I will want others to know Him too. Some people may not know what an earthly father is like or have a very negative view of who and what a father really should be to a child. I can help people to know who our Abba is by sharing what I know to be true, my testimony about what He has done in my life. Nothing difficult or fancy, just the truth.
Do I listen to what my Father God says? Children are often reluctant to listen to their parents. I didn’t want to listen because I thought my parents were too out of touch to really know what was going on in my life. As the years went by, I learned that my parents weren’t as dumb as I thought! And by the time I had children, I found myself repeating some of the same sage advice – “Why do you have to do that? Because I said so!!!â€
Father God is the perfect parent. His love is never conditional. He is always there to talk to and always listens with compassion, considering what is best for me.
I am going to spend time with my Abba this weekend. We’re going to talk. I plan to spend a lot of time listening – except when I’m telling Him how much I love Him!
Abba Father written & sung by Cindy Rethmeier (Vineyard Music)
