Abba, Father

Adopted by Love

Reading: Romans 8:1-17

“The Spirit you received brought about

 your adoption to sonship.

 And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” 

Romans 8:15 

There are few words more tender and powerful than “Abba.” It is the cry of children reaching for the arms of one they trust—the language of intimacy, dependence, and affection. Astonishingly, through the Holy Spirit, we are taught to call the Creator of the universe Abba, Father.

We are not guests in God’s house or strangers trying to earn a place at His table. We are adopted—intentionally welcomed into His family through Jesus Christ. William Barclay writes, “The word adoption may well sound strange to our ears in this context, but in the Roman world, where family inheritance and position were of great importance, adoption was a deliberate act of love and privilege.” We are not born into this status—we are chosen for it.

God is not a distant ruler but a loving Father. In calling Him “Abba,” we come close, not in formality but in familial tenderness. Alexander Maclaren observes, “That one word, ‘Abba,’ conveys the essence of childlike confidence and unreserved love. It brings God down to the level of our hearts.” The Spirit within us assures us that we belong.

This adoption gives us the greatest security. We are no longer enslaved by fear, doubt, or guilt. “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18). The Spirit of God fills our hearts with this perfect love, casting out the fear of rejection or condemnation. The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children—and as children, we are heirs—co-heirs with Christ. Our inheritance is not fleeting wealth but eternal glory. Though we may suffer, our hope is anchored in the promise of resurrection and renewal.

Let us live today knowing that we are fully loved, eternally secure, and intimately known. We are children of the Most High—called by name, welcomed in grace, and sealed with His Spirit.

Prayer:

Abba Father, thank You for adopting us into Your family. Thank You that we are not strangers, but beloved children—loved, secure, and welcomed. Let Your Spirit continually remind us of who we are and Whose we are. Help us to live in the freedom, intimacy, and confidence that comes from being Your children. 

In Jesus’ name, Amen.