“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 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.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” (NIV)

What do you think when you hear the word, “Father?” Since we all come from vastly different experiences, I can imagine a variety of responses, from loving to painful. Now, think of the word “Father” in the Godly sense. Does that change your response? Again, since we all come from vast differences in our spiritual walks, I can imagine a variety of responses, from trusting to doubting.  

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If you're on the doubting side of response, what would it take for you to move toward the trusting side?  

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Hold that thought.

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There is a scene in an episode of M*A*S*H that, to me, illustrates the essence of our Godly Father. Surgeon BJ Honeycutt arrives in Korea during the Korean War and is picked up at the airport by veteran surgeon BF Pierce (Hawkeye). BJ is fresh from the USA in a new uniform, with a fresh haircut, shined shoes, and no idea what to expect. On the way back to camp, they get shelled while talking with an infantry patrol. Soldiers are hit, so Hawkeye and BJ jump right into the role of helping the wounded. In the process, BJ, having already lost his new hat, falls in the mud, completely ruining his clean uniform. BJ then tries to help one soldier and after turning him over, sees carnage to the human body he's never seen before. Obviously, the soldier was violently killed instantaneously. The sight is so shocking and the event so foreign and sudden, that BJ is overwhelmed. He crawls away on his knees, where he vomits. Hawkeye comes to BJ and comforts him by kneeling beside him and putting a hand on his back. Then, without saying a word, Hawkeye rises and extends his hand. BJ looks up to Hawkeye, and it's this beautiful moment in which I realize that together, BJ will get through the hell that is war. Hawkeye helps BJ up, and the two get back to work assisting the wounded.

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Just like the people in Paul's time, who wrote today's text just under 2,000 years ago, we all have earthly Fathers. As in our time, Paul knows that experiences with our earthly fathers are as different as we are different. Some fathers are great, some not so. Regardless, none of us have had a perfect earthly father. But in these verses, Paul addresses the perfection of a relationship with the Heavenly Father.

How do we gain a heavenly Father? All people are God's creation, but not all people are children of God. Once we accept Christ as our Savior, we receive and are led by the Holy Spirit and are “born again” (John 3:3). We become children of God and now have a Heavenly Father. We are adopted into “sonship” and become rightful heirs to God's Kingdom. It was common in Roman and Greek culture to bestow the same privileges to an adopted son as to a natural son. That is what Paul is saying here: God has given you permission to call Him “Abba, Father.”

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“Abba” is an Aramaic word that means “Father.” It was a common term that expressed affection, confidence, and trust. “Abba, Father” doubly emphasizes the intimate relationship of a Father with his child. Despite your experience with your earthly father, as a child of God you have a perfect and loving Heavenly Father – One you can put complete trust and faith in, One you need not fear.

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How can you believe this? Paul goes on to say the “Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.” Or to put it another way, God will talk to you, just like He did to help me see the essence of Him in that scene from M*A*S*H. When I face trials in life, our Father, like Hawkeye, is there to comfort me, help me up, and work together with me to see it through.

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What about you? I'll step back now and let God, the Creator of the universe, personally speak to you in His own way. Is that enough for you to trust in Him? If you haven't already, declare Christ as your Savior and enjoy an everlasting relationship with our Father as a child of God.

Lord, thank you for adopting me into sonship. Thank you for granting me the privileges bestowed upon me as a born-again child of God. Thank you for giving me permission to call you Abba, Father. But most of all, thank you for walking this life beside me – nurturing, comforting, correcting, and loving. In You I put my trust and faith. May I always hear Your voice. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior, Amen.