Abba, Father

Today’s Verse:

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. ~Romans 8:15

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One of the blessed privileges of salvation is our spiritual adoption into God’s family. Spiritual adoption brings us into immediate and close fellowship with God as our Heavenly Father. It gives us all of the same privileges of being a direct descendant. It is enjoying God as our Father Who is in Heaven.

There is the enactment.

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). The privilege of sonship is solely through faith in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour. The power to place us into God’s family is completely God’s. Spiritual adoption gives us the identity that we are God’s children. It is instantaneous. It is permanent. It is powerful.

There is the evidence.

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Instantaneous with spiritual adoption is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit into a believer. The Spirit bearing witness with our spirit is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Holy Spirit gives us a desire and hunger for the things of God. The Holy Spirit comes alongside of us and instills peace in our hearts. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and inadequacies in our life. The Holy Spirit produces His fruit in us when we walk in the Spirit. When we put to good use the gifts of the Spirit, others in the local church are encouraged and blessed.

There is the entreaty.

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” Abba is a term of endearment. It is like addressing our earthly father as “Daddy.” Spiritual adoption enables us to come to God with all of our needs. He is our Father Who is in Heaven. He hears our heart cry when we go through loneliness, suffering, distress, and crisis. He is God our Helper when we need Him. He is God Who answers our prayers. As earthly fathers, we are quick to respond to the cries of our children. We know that if one of our children is distressed, we need to be there as soon as possible. Our Heavenly Father knows our need even before we call on Him. Even when we do not have the words to describe our need, the Holy Spirit “maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

There is the entitlement.

“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Notice, we are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ! Like Jesus, we will have our time of suffering in this world. Part of the process of sanctification is the reality that times of trial and difficulty are God’s means of refining, purifying, and making us better. “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7). The ultimate for us is glorification in heaven. It is then we are free from the presence of sin. “Glorified together” is our Lord sharing the privilege of glory with us in Heaven.

Take time this morning to thank the Lord for your spiritual adoption and the privileges associated with it. Don’t be shy to cry out, “Abba, Father!”

Have a blessed God Morning!

Bible Reading Schedule: 1 Kings 6-7

#ChildrenofGod #HolySpirit #Romans