“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.’”
Romans 8:15
Think about how God created the galaxies and all of the stars (Genesis 1:14-16, Isaiah 40:26). Canis Majoris, the largest star, has a diameter that is 155,000 times that of earth. It’s estimated that the Milky Way galaxy in which the earth resides has between 100 billion and 400 billion stars. And—can you imagine?—God calls them each by name (Psalm 147:4). We can barely begin to grasp how large and powerful God is and how small we are.
Yet despite our smallness, when we pray to this all-powerful Creator God, we can call Him Abba—an intimate term to characterize our close relationship with Him. “Abba is the first word the prodigal son utters when he returned home. It is the first word of the Lord’s Prayer, and it is the first word Jesus prays in Gethsemane. It is the first word on the cross—‘Father, forgive them’ (Luke 23:34)—and one of his last—‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit’ (Luke 23:46)” (Paul Miller, 2009).
How truly amazing that the Creator of the galaxies welcomes us to call Him Abba, Father!
Yet despite our smallness, when we pray to this all-powerful Creator God, we can call Him Abba—an intimate term to characterize our close relationship with Him. “Abba is the first word the prodigal son utters when he returned home. It is the first word of the Lord’s Prayer, and it is the first word Jesus prays in Gethsemane. It is the first word on the cross—‘Father, forgive them’ (Luke 23:34)—and one of his last—‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit’ (Luke 23:46)” (Paul Miller, 2009).
How truly amazing that the Creator of the galaxies welcomes us to call Him Abba, Father!
Scripture Focus
Luke 23:44-46
Insight
Lord, we thank You that as Creator of the vast universe, You still hear our prayers and allow us to call You “Abba, Father.” Amen
Bible In A Year
- Deuteronomy 9-10
- Psalm 84
- Acts 7
