… the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
Summary: Paul keeps working at his metaphor, adding layers of detail that help us understand how deep the Father’s love for us is.
Why did Paul make a point of telling us that the Spirit God sends into our hearts is the “Spirit of his Son?” The answer to this question has to do with Paul’s message.
Paul has been working very hard to build his metaphor. We are underage heirs who are no different than slaves. We became heirs when we were adopted. We were adopted into God’s family and God gave us the “Spirit of his Son.”
Why do we need the “Spirit of the Son?”
In the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), Jesus describes what it is like for a child to be reunited with their family. In the story, the son who had left home repents and returns home again. He expects to be held accountable for the horrible things he did to his father, but instead of retribution, the father offers open arms.
This story is not unique. All men at some time or other come into conflict with their father. Some of us experience more conflict than others. Whether the conflict is big or little, we still have to go back to our father and admit that Dad is, after all, Dad.
Underlying every conflict is a time before there was conflict.
The one exception to this truth is our Lord Jesus. Jesus always submits to his Father in heaven and submitted to his parents on earth. When it comes to family, there is no conflict with Jesus.
In the story of the Prodigal, the son comes home a broken man. Expecting nothing, the son is overwhelmed by his father’s love. In that moment, the son’s fears, shame, and pain all melt in the radiant embrace of his father. In that embrace, he is transformed. Once a hardened, ungrateful, and rebellious adult, he becomes vulnerable again, a little child looking up into his father’s face, seeing nothing but love.
All he can think to say is, “Abba, father…”
“Daddy.”
What the prodigal has rediscovered, the Son of God never left. Jesus always has that close, intimate relationship with the Father (John 1:18).
When Jesus, the “Spirit of the Son,” is in us, we feel him call out to our Father, “Abba, Father…”
In a moment, we are transformed, like the Prodigal Son, and returned to a time of innocence, held in our Father’s arms, loved beyond all measure.
All we can think to say is, “Daddy.”
Application: It is okay to open our eyes and look in the Father’s face. All we will see is love.
Food for Thought: What changes for us if our relationship with the Father becomes like Jesus’ relationship with the Father?
What I liked about today’s devotion is the imagery of a us looking into the face of the Father like a small child would look into the face of an earthy father. As followers of Christ, and through Christ, we can become more like Christ, and in that we find the true life in what it means to be a child of God.
Children often want to emulate their father. They want to “do” what their father does. Jesus demonstrated this for us, and through Christ, we can also be like this. This is more than imitation, this is being raised up in the ways of the Father. Obeying God’s Will because it becomes our will. We are not simply told what to do, we are shown what to do, and do it to honor the Father, and to remain close to Him.
John 5:19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.
John 5:30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.
Sorry, forgot to put my initials again.
Thanks Chris!
I like your point about children wanting to emulate their father. Trying to emulate God is a mind-boggling concept, but you are right, that is where our relationship takes us. 🙂
What changes? Everything. If our relationship with the Father is like Jesus’ relationship with the Father (not that we are God like Him, but that it resembles the unity with the Father for which we weee created ) it would change our attitude, heart, mindset, priorities, our application of theology, worship, service, love for others, love for God, what we say, watch and do. Nothing would be the same. The good news is someday that will be the case. Revelation 21: 1 – 7.
Thank you, Rich!
The Revelation passage is especially moving. I love the fact that God, our Father, says:
“I am making everything new!”
In Him, we are made new! 🙂
What changes for us if our relationship with the Father becomes like Jesus’ relationship with the Father?
Jesus and His Father are spiritually linked together, Spiritually united in purpose, by the Holy Spirit, with no deviation in their purpose to proclaim righteousness in their every deed.
John 10:30, I and the Father are one.”
John 14:31, but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me.
John 15:10, If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
We become part of a family. A family unlike any family on earth.
John 1:12-13, But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Ephesians 1:5, God predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will,
Galatians 4:7, So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Thank you, Ron.
Beautifully said! Truly our heavenly family is like no family on earth!