Romans 8:15 New King James Version (NKJV)
15 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,[a] Father.”
One of the most amazing things about God is that He is also our Father. His desire is that we would relate to Him the way a child is to relate to a father. Now that sounds great but we can only benefit from that if we fully understand who a father is. Unfortunately, many of us today have a distorted understanding of a father and his importance because the point of reference being our earthly fathers is broken and distorted.
Abba or father in Hebrew means “Source” it also means nourisher and sustainer. God is our source, He is the one who created us, we came from Him. If He is our source, then it means that without Him we cease to exist. Interestingly that is what the enemy wanted from the very beginning, deceiving Adam and Eve to detach themselves from God which leads to death because God is life and when you detach yourself from life, you die. God is the one who nourishes us and sustains us. The life that we live comes from Him. He nourishes it and sustains it. This understanding makes us run towards God and not away from Him because we know that the farther we run from him, the closer we run towards and embrace death.
The word Father also means foundation and maker.
Our God is our foundation. Everything about our life should be built on God because he is the sure foundation. He is the rock that the wise man built his house upon. Currently there is a shaking on the earth and we are recognizing that anything that is not built on God as the foundation is shaking and crumbling. No wonder Jesus would tell us to seek first the kingdom of God and all these other things will be added unto us. It does not matter how beautiful a building may be, if the foundation is faulty, then the building will be condemned and deemed not fit for human habitation because it is dangerous. The same applies to a life that is not founded on God. Jesus put it this way, “what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and then loses his soul?”
A father is a progenitor meaning that we descended from him. We are made in the image and likeness of God our father. May the revelation of who a true father is change how we perceive God and ultimately how we relate to Him.
Reflective Thoughts
What kind of relationship do you have with your earthly father and how has it informed your relationship with God?
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If a Father is the source, nourisher and sustainer, how then should you relate with God your Father?
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What misconception have you had about who a father is and how has it affected how you relate with God?
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Remember God is the perfect father and he desires a deeper relationship with you because He loves you unconditionally.
