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
Some friends of ours had gone to China to adopt a baby girl. They were part of a wave of adoptions from that land that had become very popular because of the high availability of baby girls in China. Because the government there allows families to have only one child, and most families want baby boys, baby girls, at least those not murdered by abortions, are often given up for adoption, overflowing the orphanages there. When our friends arrived back with their little girl, she was very much an attraction for awhile as she was merged into the family and took up her places as the youngest of several children. As the years went by, she was obviously very dearly loved, and was very lovable in return. One day, I watched as she wearily snuggled onto her father’s shoulder after a lively time of play, and murmured ‘I love you, Daddy’. Despite the obvious racial differences, the tender bonding of father and daughter was delightfully obvious. It is that same tender bonding of Father and child that we see in our text’s expression of Abba Father.
Like the little girl from China, we have been adopted. We were once aliens and strangers, enemies of God despite His great love toward us. But when salvation brought to us the reality of the Holy Spirit dwelling within, we came to understand and appreciate the love of our Heavenly Father for His dear children. We came to appreciate how He cares for us and desires our best for us, just like a good earthly father would do. The more we get to know Him through His Word and prayer and meditation, the more we come into the sweet appreciation of His deep affection for us. And we delight in drawing near to express our love for Him. That is the relationship that God desires for us.
The expression Abba Father is a very real term that was used in Bible times by little children expressing their affection to their father. It is no mistake that the Holy Spirit directs Paul to use it here as he relates the Christians to consider their close relationship with their Heavenly Father. Although our God is holy and must be approached with reverence and honour, we can still do so in a spirit of affection and appreciation. As the sweetness of our relationship with Him grows, the bond we have with Him becomes more precious.
Our Heavenly Father loved us before we cared for Him, and is delighted when we are led to return that love as His devoted and thankful children. – Jim MacIntosh