Christian Living

Abba, Father

by Shiju Vincent
08/22/20
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“No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is the same as God and is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.” (John 1:18 TEV) “For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him.” (Colossians 1:19 HCSB) “Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” (John 14:8, 9 NRSV)

God is incomprehensible and can never be known by human understanding. Even the universe that God created is not entirely known by us. This does not mean that we should never desire or long for the understanding of the Almighty. Also, God does not want to keep Himself far away from our mind’s reach; in fact, He wants all humans to taste and see that He is a good God.

The interesting thing about God is that He wants us to know about Him as our Abba Father. The relationship between a father and his children is a very powerful one. God not only calls us His children but also treats us likewise. God’s heart overflows with His love towards us. If you have not yet tasted the love of God, the first and foremost thing you have to remember all through your life is that God IS YOUR FATHER.

We know that in all relationships, mutual communication is very important for its growth and sustainability. It is the same with God’s relationship with us. God delights to hear and talk to His children. God’s love towards mankind is eternal, indelible and unchanging. Man requires change; man requires growth. But God is perfect in all His ways. Do you talk to God? Have you heard His voice?

As a Father, God disciplines us (Heb.  12:7-11, Rev. 3:19), has compassion for us (Ps. 103:13) and provides for us (John 14:2, Luke 12:27-30, Philippians 4:19). Yes, God is not a nominal Father, but a true Father. More real than any earthly father.

But not many understand this truth. Jesus told, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” The moment we know Jesus personally, we understand how much the Father loves us. The spiritual understanding about God is given to all those who are humble and contrite in spirit. When we experience God’s great love towards us, we are free from all fear, anxiety and evil.

How can one become God’s child?

• John 1:12, 13 “But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.”


• 1 John 3:1 “Look at how great a love the Father has given us, that we should be called God’s children.”


• 1 Peter 1:23 “Since you have been born again – not of perishable seed but of imperishable – through the living and enduring word of God.”

Yes, to become God’s child you need to be born again. For this, you need to surrender yourselves completely to God, He will accept you and make you His own.

Let us now reflect on some qualities of a person who is born again.

• 1 John 3:9 “Everyone who has been born of God does not sin, because His seed remains in him; he is not able to sin, because he has been born of God.”


• 1 John 5:1 “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent also loves his child.

Yes, once we become God’s children we are able to love others and live a holy life.

“All those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’ The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ – seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” (Rom. 8:14-17 HCSB) “And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba, Father!’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” (Gal. 4:6, 7 HCSB)

Have you surrendered yourselves to the Father’s love?