(Gal 4:6) And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"
Abba. Some think of the word as the title of a Swedish pop group that was big back in the ‘70s. But if we switch over from the Swedish to the Scripture connection we find the word means “father” or “papa.” It’s a term that expresses warm affection and childlike confidence. It has no perfect equivalent in our language, so the word has kept consistently on the charts as a duo act, always being followed by the word “Father.” The term is mentioned three times in the Bible:
(Mark 14:36) And He said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will." Jesus is the first one to use the term Abba. The shadow of the cross lays upon him. He’s crying out to His Father as any son would do in distress.
(Rom 8:15) For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." An adopted child under Roman law was guaranteed all legal rights to his father's property, even if he had been a slave. He was equal to all other biological sons of his father. It was not permitted for slaves to use the title of Abba in addressing the master of the family to which they belonged. Only legitimate (including adopted) sons could do so.
(Gal 4:6) And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" How often the former slave would need assurance that that his former position in life was over. Would he ever be disowned? The feeling would be that it’s almost too good to be true. The adopted son would not feel worthy of such an exalted state. But the truth is the truth. He had been adopted and by Roman law the status was irreversible. He would never be sold into slavery again. He would be a legitimate heir and would carry on the family name.
Isn’t it amazing that we can call Almighty God and the Creator of the universe “Abba, Father?” (1 John 3:1) Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Jesus even encouraged us to address God as our heavenly Father. Luke 11:2) So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven . . . God desires us to have an intimate relationship with Him and doesn’t want us to view Him as an austere, far off Deity having to be placated. We are brought close through the work of God’s Son on the cross!
Sometimes we may relate to God based upon our relationship with our earthly father which can be good of bad. But I hope you see your high position as an adopted child of God and will know how much He loves you. May you feel secure in the fact that you are His child forever! You may never record a hit but you’re on the top of His chart. Let’s sing praises to our Abba, Father!
Louie