For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
Ab-ba. Listen to a baby and you will hear these basic early sounds. Incredibly, Jesus showed us, and the Spirit enables us, to speak to God with these basic-to-a-baby syllables of familiarity, trust, vulnerability, dependency, and intimacy. The Spirit is our guarantee that we don't have to be afraid of God. We must revere him and hold him in awe, but we can also approach him as our loving and tender Father who always listens to our hearts and seeks to bless our lives.
Video Commentary...
We've included Phil's ToGather video from four years ago as an added blessing to our verse today:
Abba Father, you are glorious and majestic. Your deeds are marvelous. Your power, O Lord, is unfathomable. Your grace, Almighty God, is incomparable. Thank you for allowing me to approach you as my always near and ever-present Abba. I seek your nearness in my life today through the help of the Holy Spirit. I pray that I will live for your glory and honor through the strength and in the name of Jesus, my Lord. Amen.
"Dear Father, Never let an idol stand between me and you. I am not stronger than you. I don't want to provoke you to jealousy. Help me to understand....."
"The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen's accusation [about their killing the Messiah and disobeying God's law], and they shook their fists at....."
Bible: Browse OT/NT Books
Comments
Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment