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.
-Romans 8:15
The topic of fatherhood has been floating in my head. Yesterday we celebrated Father's Day and I must confess that it has been awhile since I've experienced fatherhood being held in such high esteem. Through Facebook posts, fathers being acknowledged in worship and a wide array of other forms of fatherly acknowledgements, I noticed fathers being honored. I enjoyed the sense of intimacy.
In two weeks we will be honoring a different breed of fathers. On July 4th we will be honoring the work of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. Please take time over the next two weeks to brush up on your U.S. history in order to remember the sacrifices they made on our behalf and the freedom we enjoy.
Jesus taught us to call God Abba. The word Abba is the Aramaic word for father. The word has a type of hologram quality for me because at the time when you pray Abba there is an intimacy like praying "Daddy." At other times, praying Abba has more of a "Father" quality of obedience and reverence. At other times, the prayer beginning with Abba is both intimate and obedient.
In Paul's letter to the Romans, he is offering both the promise and the hope of crying Abba. I found myself crying Abba this morning as I read that 65 million people were displaced by war in 2015. I cried Abba when I read about the Venezuelan food riots. I cried and prayed Abba last week when I heard of the Orlando massacre.
Yesterday in worship our opening hymn was This is My Father's World. As a congregation we affirmed God as Abba when we sang:
This is my Father's world. O let me ne'er forget, that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet!
To God be the glory.
Prayer for Today
Abba, we lift up to you our broken world. Pour your healing Spirit out upon your people, we pray and set free the captives, find homes for the homeless and heal the grieving hearts of those who mourn. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
