For years I knew my dad's nickname, "Abba" had a meaning that gave us greater insight into who God really is. I'm not sure why I waited so long to tell him. Perhaps God had to ordain the perfect time, place and moment for me to share.
That day came this May 26th. His birthday. Little did I know that would be the last conversation with my dad.
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The character of God is most revealed through His names and titles, some of which are
El Shaddai {God Almighty}
Adonai Yahweh {Sovereign Lord}
Jevohah Jireh {God our Provider}
However, when Jesus came to tear the veil that separated us from God, we could now know God in a new way.
Avi {Father}
We are told "even before he made the world, God loves us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us into Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure." Ephesians 1:4-5
Stop and consider that God decided to make US his children. The God who spoke life into existence. The God who set the stars in the heaven. The King of kings and Lord of lords delights in being our Father.
To call God Father means we can have a relationship with Him.
To call God Father means he is deeply personal in our lives, not just some "guy upstairs" or Supreme Being.
We can relate to Him on an intimate basis each and every day.
To call God Father means we can know Him.
As Father, He lavishes us with love, protects us , comforts us, guides us, encourages us, disciplines us and corrects us. No matter what our earthly father is like, our Heavenly Father is the perfect Father...the one who is ALWAYS there for us.
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I told my dad about the meaning of his nickname and that Abba refers to God as "Daddy" or "Papa."
It is a deeply personal and intimate name, an affectionate name, that gives us an even closer relationship to God. How special it is to know the God Almighty is our Abba.
"We cry, Abba Father and the Spirit of God bears witness that we are indeed children of God through faith in Jesus Christ." Romans 8:15-16
The nickname my dad had as a baby because "Robert" was too hard to pronounce was the very name he would need to cry out to sixty years later when he lay lifeless in a coma, unable to utter a word.
On June 4th, I rushed to the hospital to see my dad. He had taken a turn for the worst. Immediately I rushed to his side.
I whispered over and over into my dad's ear to cry out for His Father, His Papa, His Daddy to scoop him up into His arms so he would feel no more pain, no more tears.
"Dad, you cry out to Abba, Father! Dad, cry out to Abba! Jesus says that when we call upon the name of the Lord, he will in no way cast us out. Cry out to Abba!"
Moments later, I felt a tug on my shoulder. The doctor's needed to examine my dad and determine what to do next. He waved a flash light in front of his eyes and that's when I saw a miracle happen before my eyes.
"Look! He has brain activity!"
The doctor checked over and over again - in disbelief - checking to see if His diagnosis was true. Calling two other medical staff in to witness and confirm what he discovered, they were all astonished my dad was responding and now had brain activity. They couldn't believe it! God was glorified as the Doctor said:
"This is God's work. We can't believe this is happening, but I've done my part and know it's in God's hands."
The next day my father passed away.
As a daughter, I know I did everything God asked me to do. I used to lack courage in telling my father about Christ. But that week God gave me the precise words to say. I witnessed a miracle the day my Dad died and Lord willing, I will see him again in Heaven, with his Abba.
