HIS GOSPEL IS PEACE DAY 18

 

December 18, 2024

 

Romans 8:15

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!”

 

What comfort these verses hold for us. In the Old Testament there are many titles for God, Creator, LORD, or Shepherd all of them great names with powerful meanings. In the New Testament the name or title for God that stands out is the name "Father." Jesus taught us to use this name for the God of Creation. Jesus was decribing for us the intimacy and familiarity that we can have with God.

We are invited, one might say even commanded to call God, Father. Think about it the person through whom we are brought into the family of God, Jesus, tells us this is the way to address our Creator. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, he did not say, “When you pray, say, "O Omnipotent Power" or even "Lord God Almighty." No, he said to them, “Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven…" (Matt. 6:9). 

To call God “Father” is to live in the space which Jesus created for us. Through Jesus death on the cross and resurrection from the tomb we have been liberated from all condemnation, and, more good news, we are also led by the Spirit of God as daughters and sons, children of our Father-God (Rom. 8:14).

Our verse today tells us that we are more than servants of God, more than even friends of our Heavenly Father, for "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." 

Because in Christ, God has become our Abba, our Father. Do we get the implications of this? We do not live before God as slaves to fear, trembling before the God of creation. No, we stand with boldness and confidence before the Our Father in heaven, as children, his sons and daughters, co-heirs with Jesus. Hear that? Our Heavenly Father loves us as he loves Jesus. Our Father sees us as he sees Jesus. Our Father cares for us just as he cared for the Christ child.

What a comfort it is to know that we are not guests or strangers in our Father’s house, but his dearly loved children.