Who's Your Daddy?

If you were asked to explain/describe God, what would you say?

The saints of the Old Covenant had many names for God, but the New Covenant reveals His pure and perfect name… “Abba”

Mark 14:36 And He said, Abba, Father, all things are possible to You…

Romans 8:15 For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption by which we cry, Abba, Father!

While the Bible reveals many different names for God (all important) but the name “Abba” is the most significant name for God in understanding how He relates to us.

The word Abba is an Aramaic word and would be best translated “Daddy” or even better, “Papa”. It was a common term used by children to address their fathers. It signifies a close, intimate relationship between a father and his child, as well as the childlike trust that a young child puts in his “daddy”… It is an endearing form of address rather than a title and was one of the first words a child learned to speak.  “Abba” is most definitely not the name of a distant and mysterious God. Abba is our heavenly Father who cares for us as His precious children. Our Daddy loves each of us so much that He sent Jesus to tell us this fantastic news!

Jesus’ purpose in coming to earth was to reveal Abba (Papa) to His lost children. He came so that we might know who and whose we truly are!

Abba is for us! He has tilted the universe in our favor!!!

We need to see God as Jesus did— as Papa…

Theologians like to ask, “What was Jesus’ favorite subject?” He often spoke about the Kingdom. He often spoke about money and love. But His favorite subject by far, was His Papa.

Everything He said and everything He did was grounded in the relationship He shared with His Papa.

Towards the end of His earthly ministry He spoke this (I believe, the most incredible conversation we have recorded in Scripture) - John 17:22-26 The glory that You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that You sent Me and loved them even as You loved Me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, may be with Me where I am, to see My glory that You have given Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26  I made known to them Your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

Jesus is in the business of making the Father known. Yet many don’t know God as their Papa. Like the saints of old, they may see Him as Lord but not Abba. It’s as if Jesus never came.            

What is God like?

A.W. Tozer once said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us”.

The picture we have of God is the single greatest influence upon our life. How we define God is how we define ourselves.

For instance, if you perceive God as a terrifying punisher, you’ll most likely be fearful and guilt-ridden.

If you see Him as a semi-deaf cosmic force, you’ll most likely be a superstitious worrier.

If you believe Him to be distant or dead, you’ll act as a little god ruling your own little world.

Your view of God matters, in order for us to ever be able to share with His lost children the answer to their wandering…

So what is God really like?

To understand what God is really like, you must “know” Jesus and realize that everything Jesus is, Papa is…

Hebrews 1:1-3 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature…

Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

Colossians 1:19 For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell…

What is the Father like? He is exactly like His Son or the Son is exactly like the Father.

God is exactly like Jesus, He is not a rough outline of Him, but exactly so. Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father”

John 14:7-10 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” 8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know Me, Philip? Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own authority, but the Father who dwells in Me does His works.

Papa is for you not against you! Papa longs for you to change your mind towards Him and rest in His loving embrace. He is right now calling you home – can you hear His voice? He loves you as much now as He ever has and ever will…

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