God Is Our "Abba"

The images of God in both the Old and the New Testaments are varied and interesting. I have only written on a few of them. When studying your Bibles you will find many more. When Our Lord was wrestling with his destiny and facing heinous death on the cross, he used a most intimate term for God (Mark 14:36). Normally this would have been akin to blasphemy. The Jews dared not even speak God’s name. They were fearful that perhaps in some way they would profane the Holy name. “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy God in vain” (Exodus 20:7 KJV).

When praying or singing the faithful Jews would approach God only by calling on His attributes. They often just said, “HaShem” which means, “The Name.” However, Jesus was entitled to call him “Abba.” He addresses and prays to God as Father. When he addressed God in the Aramaic language, he called him “papa” or “daddy.”  Jesus relationship with God was as intimate as that of a father and child. No devoted Jew would have dared use this intimate term.

However, when the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray (Luke 11:1-4) he tells them to call God, “Father.” How radical! In the previous ten chapters of Luke only Jesus himself called God, “Father.” Now he is telling his disciples that they also, can approach God by the more familiar name. Imagine calling the creator of the universe, “Father.” Thus he is telling them (and us) that they may use this intimate term when addressing God in prayer. Why? .… because now they have entered into a new and unique relationship with God. God will hear and answer prayer ….. not only through the temple worship or private devotionals, but they have a new relationship with Him directly through His Son (Hebrews 9:11-14; Hebrews 10:1-22). This is an amazing teaching from our Lord. He is providing for his disciples a teaching that we as believers call upon today.

There are many great lessons in the simple prayer which we call the “Lord’s Prayer” or "Model Prayer" (Luke 11:1-4; Matthew 6:9-13). But this we know. Jesus makes it clear that we need continued forgiveness from God and one another. Prayer is a time in which we examine our own ability to feel forgiveness from God, to pray for his for kingdom to come in the hearts and minds of all people and to forgive ourselves as well as others.

What is your relationship to God? Is He your most trusted friend? Can you call Him “Father”; but  in awe of His power as Creator? He is both loving and fearsome at the same time. We as mere humans are unable to fully understand how He works in the lives of his people …. but He is there and He is waiting for us to call him Father! “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” (Galations 4:6). “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” (Romans 8:15). —Barbara Hyland, guest writer

Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets

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