Daily Affirmations - Day 1- The Father Himself Loves You: "Abba, Father"

This week's Theme: The Father Himself Loves You

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Day 1: "Abba, Father"

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit [Himself] bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God… (Romans 8:14-16 – New American Bible, Revised Edition).

Now, I dare say you have heard these words “Abba, Father” explained at considerable length at other times. And if so, you know that… Abba is the Hebrew word for “father.”

…To my mind, the word “Abba” is of all words in all languages the most natural word for father. I must try and pronounce it so that you see the natural childishness of it, “Ab-ba,” “Ab-ba.” Is it not just what your children say, ab, ab, ba, ba, as soon as they try to talk? It is the sort of word which any child would say, whether Hebrew, or Greek, or French, or English. Therefore, Abba is a word worthy of introduction into all languages. It is truly a child’s word…

I think this sweet word, “Abba,” was chosen to show us that we are to be very natural with God and not stilted and formal. We are to be very affectionate and come close to Him and not merely say, “Pater,” which is a cold Greek word, but say, “Abba,” which is a warm, natural, loving word, fit for one who is a little child with God and makes bold to lie in His bosom, and look up into His face and talk with holy boldness.

“Abba” is not a word, somehow, but a baby’s lisping. Oh, how near we are to God when we can use such a speech! How dear He is to us and dear we are to Him when we may thus address Him, saying, like the great Son, Himself, “Abba, Father.”

This leads me to observe that this cry in our hearts is exceedingly near and familiar. In the sound of it I have shown you that it is childlike, but the tone and manner of the utterance are equally so. Note that it is a cry.

If we obtain audience with a king we do not cry, we speak then in measured tones and set phrases. But the Spirit of God breaks down our measured tones and takes away the formality which some hold in great admiration, and He leads us to cry, which is the very reverse of formality and stiffness. When we cry, we cry, “Abba.” Even our very cries are full of the spirit of adoption.

A cry is a sound which we are not anxious that every passer-by should hear, yet what child minds his father hearing him cry? So when our heart is broken and subdued we do not feel as if we could talk fine language at all, but the Spirit in us sends forth cries and groans, and of these we are not ashamed, nor are we afraid to cry before God.

I know some of you think that God will not hear your prayers, because you cannot pray grandly like such-and-such a minister. Oh, but the Spirit of His Son cries, and you cannot do better than cry too. Be satisfied to offer to God broken language, words salted with your grief, wet with your tears. Go to Him with holy familiarity and be not afraid to cry in His presence, “Abba, Father.” 

But then how earnest it is. For a cry is an intense thing. The word implies fervency. A cry is not a flippant utterance, nor a mere thing of the lips. It comes up from the soul. Has not the Lord taught us to cry to Him in prayer with fervent persistence that will not take a denial? Has He not brought us so near to Him that sometimes we say, “I will not let You go unless You bless me”?

…We do cry after Him, our heart and our flesh cry out for God, for the living God, and this is the cry, “Abba, Father. I must know You, I must taste Your love, I must dwell under Your wing, I must behold Your face, I must feel Your great fatherly heart overflowing and filling my heart with peace.” We cry, “Abba, Father.”

…Yes, beloved, the Spirit of God makes you cry, “Abba, Father,” but the cry is mainly within your heart, and there it is so commonly uttered that it becomes the habit of your soul to be crying to your heavenly Father. The text … is a present participle, indicating that He cries every day, “Abba, Father.”

Go home, my [sisters and brothers], and live in the spirit of [your adoption as a child of God]. Wake up in the morning and let your first thought be, “My Father, my Father, be with me this day.” Go out into business and when things perplex you, let that be your resort—“My Father, help me in this hour of need.” When you go to your home and meet with domestic anxieties, let your cry be, “Help me, my Father.”

When alone, you are not alone, because the Father is with you. And in the midst of the crowd you are not in danger, because the Father Himself loves you. What a blessed word is that—“The Father Himself loves you”! Go and live as His children.

Take heed that you reverence Him, for if He is a father, where is His fear? Go and obey Him, for this is right. Be imitators of God as dear children. Honor Him wherever you are by adorning His doctrine in all things.

Go and live upon Him, for you shall soon live with Him. Go and rejoice in Him. Go and cast all your cares upon Him. Go henceforth and whatever [people] may see in you may they be compelled to acknowledge that you are the children of the Highest.

~ C. H. Spurgeon ~ Adoption — The Spirit and the Cry, September 22, 1878