Abba's Coming Home!

“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!’”  (Romans 8:15 ESV)  I have heard that Abba is a familiar term, most closely translated ‘daddy.’  That is significant to me.  Whereas ‘father’ denotes the role and position in the family, ‘daddy’ brings images of hugs, playfulness, tears kissed away and stories read.  This has greatly influenced my view of God. 

One day I was visiting a friend.  Her husband is from Israel and their home was greatly influenced by that culture, including the language.  Late in the afternoon, she instructed her son pick up his toys, because “Abba’s coming home.”  His eyes got big and his smile even bigger.  He began to pick up his toys and put them away.  All the while he sang a made up little tune.  “Abba’s coming home! Abba’s coming home!”  Every few minutes he checked back to see if his abba was here yet.  The face of this precocious little boy was always expressive.  Yet that day I witnessed an instant transformation from playful little boy to pure joy and expectation. 

We are to come to God as little children. “… Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn about) and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], you can never enter the kingdom of heaven [at all].” (Matthew 18:3 AMP)  That trust and love, as seen in our little friend, is the attitude we should have towards our heavenly Father; our Abba. 

Are you expecting Abba to show up?  In a church service or other meeting of believers do you expect Him, or do you just come to see and hear people.  We have this promise. “For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I Am in the midst of them.”(Matthew 18:30 AMP)  But, do we truly believe and expect His Presence?  If the answer is ‘yes,’ Great! If not, why not? 

What happens when daddy comes home?  I have watched my husband throw my son in the air and tumble on the floor.  Little girls invite daddy to tea parties and ask him, “Am I pretty?”  Little children love to giggle and sit in daddy’s lap for stories and secrets.  And how often has daddy not even made it through the door, before he is presented with a little one’s most recent achievement?  This may be an unrecognizable drawing, but to daddy it is always wonderful. 

Is this what your personal times with God look like?  Do you expect to hear from Him?  Do you plan to have a conversation with Him during these times?  Do you giggle and share secrets? God wishes to tell you his secrets. “The secret [of the sweet, satisfying companionship] of the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship) Him, and He will show them His covenant and reveal to them its [deep, inner] meaning”. (Psalm 25:14 AMP)  My husband and I would ask Jon, “Want to know a secret?”  To his positive response we would reply, “I love you!”  Soon he would ask us the same question and give us the same reply.  God longs show us His love in so many different ways.  He also longs to hear His children express their love and thankfulness. 

Sometimes the encounter with daddy is not as playful.  There are times that correction must take place.  But correction restores relationship. “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11 ESV)  Trust gets renewed.  Daddy cares enough to make sure I grow up right. 

Hurts and fears can be brought to daddy.  He will kiss away the boo boos And, what can calm one’s fears better than the strong arms of daddy holding you tight?   All is right with the world. 

Safety, security, fun, friend, protection, bigger than life…all can be found in daddy.  Your times can include these, all wrapped into one combined image that flashes across your mind when you hear the words, ‘Daddy’s coming!’ Spend your days with the constant anticipation that your ‘Daddy is coming! Your Abba is coming!’ 

My son and I were packing up to leave when abba walked through the door.  The exuberance with which that little boy ran and jumped into the arms of his abba was wonderful to see.  I looked to his abba’s face and found the smile was even larger.  I left my friend’s home that afternoon with a new appreciation of my heavenly Abba.  Jon and I went directly home to be sure we were there in time to greet his daddy, who would soon be coming home from work.  The scene was replayed in our home as in many other homes that evening. 

Let this scene play in your daily life.  God will greet you with that same exuberance, and His heart will melt when He looks into your expectant eyes and sees the love and anticipation there. Abba's coming home!