Jesus presents God to us in many ways. There is nothing though as significant as God being our Daddy. Just in the same way as we have an earthly father, God is our Heavenly Father. Jesus depicts something special about the Father’s love when He refers to God as Abba, Father. 

Abba is an Aramaic word that literally means “Father.” It was a well known name that conveyed certainty, trust and love. The name Abba implies a relationship that has a closeness similar to that of a father and his child. It also signifies a trust that is genuine. One that is very similar to that of a young child and his “daddy”. 

The Father’s love in the Bible

There are only three instances in the Bible where it refers to God as Abba, Father:

In Mark’s gospel where Jesus prays to God in Gethsemane. This is right before he was to be taken to be crucified. He knew what was coming up and he cries out to his daddy just like any child would that wants rescuing.

He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Please remove this cup from me. However, not what I desire, but what you desire.” Mark 14:36

In Romans, Paul describes how God saves us from being chained to sin and brings us into His family. He adopts us as His children. That means we are chosen and he is our father. Our daddy. 

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15

In Galatians, Paul says something similar to what he said in Romans. Instead, this time we are given confirmation through the Spirit of Jesus that we are accepted, once again, as adopted children. Just as a child lives with a father whom he trusts, so we do with our Heavenly Father. 

And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, ‘Abba, Father.’ Galatians 4:6

The Father’s love on Earth

But what happens if we don’t have a good experience from our earthly fathers? What image does it make us have of God as our Heavenly Father? 

What if we needed to seek approval from our father? Is this the same with God? What if our dad was not around much when we were children? Will God not be around much either? 

What if our father was the one that neglected us? What if he didn’t show his love towards us? Or the opposite…what if he showed too much love? 

Our experience of what we received from our earthly father will mirror what we think of our Heavenly Father. 

Our experience of what we received from our earthly father will mirror what we think of our Heavenly Father.  Click To Tweet

The Father’s love for me

My father was not around much when I was young due to work. It seemed like he went to work before I woke up and came back after I had gone to bed. In my child’s mind, I very rarely saw him. This is what I remember. 

Although he didn’t say it much, I knew my dad loved me. He was from an era where men didn’t talk about their feelings, so I would rarely hear him tell me he loved me. I knew he did love me though. When I did see him he was like this gentle giant. 

The lack of presence in my life from my dad in my early years, coupled with the abuse I received from a male child minder, has tainted the image I have of God being my loving father. 

I find it hard to accept that God would always be there for me, no matter what. And because I didn’t see my father much, where would I find his approval? In my abuser? My abuser told me he loved me, so was this what love was like?

The Father’s love for us

The problem I am having is that I am picturing God based on my experiences. It should be the other way around. God was around before the first father on earth, Adam. He is the true father, the original, before all fathers. Any other father after God should be modelled on God. It is not God who is the model of any father. 

Any other father after God should be modelled on God. It is not God who is the model of any father.  Click To Tweet

Jesus tells the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32. The father in this story is exactly what God is like. He has plenty of grace and mercy – it is new every day and never runs out! He takes all our wrong doings and forgives us. Just like the son in the story, we can always run freely back to him no matter what we have done or what we have been through. 

It doesn’t matter what state we are in, or how broken we feel, God welcomes us back with open arms. Click To Tweet

The father never gave up on his son and welcomed him back in, even in the state he was in. This is the bit I love. God is like that with us. It doesn’t matter what state we are in, or how broken we feel, God welcomes us back with open arms. He never gives up on us!

I need to think of what God is like first and foremost. Jonathan Edwards, a British Athlete, sums it up very well:

Instead of looking at my dad and then back at God, I learned to look at God first. . . . If I didn’t start with God, then he would always be the replica rather than the original.

Jonathan Edwards

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Something to think about…

Read through Luke 15:11-32 and write down all the characteristics of the father. Apply these now to your image of God as your father. This is exactly what the Father’s Love is like, and more!

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you that you have mercy and grace in abundance and that you have your arms open wide ready for when we want to return back to you. Thank you for not giving up on us when we have turned away from you. Thank you for the true Father you really are. I pray that you help each of us in our relationships with our earthly fathers. Amen.