Many new Christians don’t really know what it means to be a child of God. Many Christians still don’t understand the concept of Abba Father.
For some with daddy issues, where you may have had an absent father, or a father who was a strict disciplinarian, or a broken home where you have never known your father, it is a difficult concept to understand… Daddy…
To understand what it means to be a Child of God, we must first understand the nature of our father.
God the Father loves us – 1 John 3:1 — How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
God is a loving God. He loved us so much that He sent His only Son to die in our place. Which parent would give up a perfect child for orphans? That is what we were before we accepted Jesus as our Saviour, we were orphans, but God loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for us, so that we could become His children.
We have been adopted by God as His children – Romans 8: 15-16 — 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.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children
John 16:27 — No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God
As for strict daddy’s, we need to learn the difference between punishment and discipline. Punishment offers no solace, no reward. It is a punitive effect. However, discipline is carried out in love, in order to grow and make us better. Discipline is another way in which God shows us His love for us.
Imagine as a parent, you don’t want to see your children hurt. So, if you tell your child not to go into the park alone at night, because you are aware that it is dangerous. But your child one day sneaks out, in his rebellion. When you discipline your son, it is not done out of anger, it is done out of concern for his safety. You were worried about it. You wouldn’t send your son to jail for the offence, but you will discipline your son, and explain to him the reason he is being disciplined.
Hebrews 12:6 — because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.
The Father provides for his children. Matthew 7: 9-11 — Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
John 14: 1-2 –Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you
Growing up your daddy probably ensured you had a roof over your head, clothes on your back, food to eat, so too, your heavenly Father will provide for you.
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? — Matthew 6:26
The father is merciful – Luke 6:36 — Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful
Our daddy in His mercy forgave us for all our sins; in fact, He constantly forgives us for our sins. God does not hold a grudge. Just as a parent will forgive their child for doing wrong and lavish them with love after correction has taken place, so too does our father keep no record of wrongs and his grace and mercy towards us are new every morning.
The father is protective of us – Matthew 18:12-14 — What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.
Our heavenly daddy is always looking out for us. He wants to protect us from the attack of the enemy; this is why he tells us to put on the full armour of God.
He even sends out angels on assignment for us – Psalms 91:11 — For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways
The father is interested in every little aspect that concerns us – Luke 12:17 — Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Matthew 10:30 — And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
In two separate accounts the bible tells us that God the father even knows the number of hairs on your head. That shows that he is not just interested in the big picture of your life, but even the minute details. He takes a personal an intimate concern over you.
Oh, what a joy to be loved to deeply, so intensely, so intimately by our Heavenly daddy. What more could you possible ask for? So go on, embrace your relationship with your daddy- the one who loves you beyond compare. Call your daddy today.