For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,
but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Rom. 8:15-17 (ESV)
Heavenly Father, it’s an incomparable privilege to live as your adopted children, and call you “Abba, Father.” We were slaves to sin and death, selfishness and fear when you redeemed us. And now, as this Scripture attests, the Holy Spirit is constantly telling us how much you love us and delight in us. Perhaps we need hearing aids?
Indeed, Father, turn up the volume of the Spirit’s voice—all up the way to 11 or 12. Because many other voices vie for our attention. The world tells us we’re not enough and don’t have enough. Satan condemns us and lies to us in numerous ways.
There’s the voice of vain regrets, haunting us about past failures and missed opportunities. Our worries and anxieties blast us with “what if’s” and “if only’s. And the voice of our pride is unrelenting—telling us we deserve better and more.
BUT then there’s your blessed voice, Father. By the Spirit we hear you say, “I have loved you with an everlasting love and with cords of kindness I’ve bound you to my heart. I’ve robed you in Jesus’ righteousness, and sealed you with my Spirit.”
“Nothing will separate you from my love, take you from Jesus’ hand, or write you out of my book. Your past is forgiven; your present is my domain; and your future is beyond all you could ask or imagine. Trust me.”
Abba, Father, thank you for loving us—not as we will be, or ought to be, but as we actually are. Keep telling us it’s true because the gospel is true. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ glorious and grace-full name.
