ADOPTION: THE SPIRIT AND THE CRY
Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."
Galatians 4:6
The word Abba is of all words in all languages the most natural word for father. It is truly a child's word; and I have no doubt that our Master felt, in His Gethsemane agony, a love for child's words (Mark 14:36). I think this sweet word Abba was chosen to show us that we are to be very natural with God, not stilted and formal. We are to be very affectionate, to come close to Him and be bold to lie in His bosom, looking up into His face and speaking with holy boldness. "Abba" is not a word, somehow, but a babe's lisping. Oh how near we are to God when we can use such speech! How dear He is to us and dear we are to Him when we say to Him, like the great Son Himself, "Abba, Father."
The cry in our hearts is not only childlike, but the tone and manner of utterance are equally so. Note that it is a cry. If we obtain an audience with a king, we do not cry; we speak in measured tones and set phrases. But the Spirit of God takes away the formality, leading us to cry "Abba." Even our very cries are full of the spirit of adoption. And what child minds his father hearing him cry? When the Spirit in us sends forth cries and groans, we are not ashamed, nor are we afraid to cry before God. Perhaps you think that God will not hear your prayers because you cannot pray grandly like some other person. But the Spirit of His Son cries and you cannot do better than cry, too.
Be satisfied to offer God broken language, words salted with your griefs, wetted with your tears. Go to Him with holy familiarity and be not afraid to cry in His presence, "Abba, Father."Has He not brought us so near to Him that sometimes we say, "I will not let you go unless you bless me" (Genesis 32:26)? We cry after Him, our heart and our flesh cry out for God, for the living God.
Be satisfied to offer God broken language, words salted with your griefs, wetted with your tears. Go to Him with holy familiarity and be not afraid to cry in His presence, "Abba, Father."Has He not brought us so near to Him that sometimes we say, "I will not let you go unless you bless me" (Genesis 32:26)? We cry after Him, our heart and our flesh cry out for God, for the living God.
Abba, Father, I must know You, I must taste Your love, I must dwell under Your wing, I must behold Your face, I must feel Your great fatherly heart overflowing and filling my heart with peace. Amen.
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