Approaching Father's Day, I am writing about a Father's love. Today, a revised post from the archives remembering my father and at the end of the week, I will have my favorite guest ever!
Me and Dad, circa 1979
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.
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.
I told my dad that his nickname 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
Little did I know the nickname my dad had as a baby when he could barely utter a few sounds was the very name he would need to cry out to when he lay lifeless in a coma and unable to utter a word.
"Dad, you cry out to Abba, Father!"
On June 4th, 2010 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.
Today, I don't have my Dad to spend Father's Day with. I have my "Dad Too" who is my stepdad, but even more importantly, I have a Heavenly Father who desires to spend every moment with me. And for that, I am grateful. Eternally grateful.
May today (and every day) be the day YOU spend with your Abba, Father.
