Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Daddy

    You know that time you fall to the same temptation, again? You know, that one you thought you conquered? Whatever it was, poor time management, selfishness, flashes of temper, maybe something worse, that time you fall down down again, just when you thought you were on top of the world?

     That is the when the truth of who you are becomes so very important, maybe the most important you'll ever know or learn. When you know you are a sinner, and you know you've failed God yet again, that is when the truth of your status with God becomes so sweet.

     Gal. 4:6-7 says, "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, 'Abba, Father'. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."

     Brennan Manning preached his most famous sermon "Abba" from this text. "Abba" is the Hebrew word which is our equivalent for "da-da", probably the simplest word a child can pronounce (after, of course, ma-ma :). "Abba" was not the word of an intellectual, strong adult speaking on equal terms to his father, asking for life advice. "Abba" was the two syllable word of an infant crying for his Father.

     That is how we can approach God. Even in our failure, even when we fall, again and again, even when we mess up and we look back over the mess that is who we are so often, we can look up, lift our hands heavenward, and cry out "Abba, Father". "Daddy".

     We are sons of God. Despite my sin, my failure, despite all the times I've given in and surrendered to my flesh, despite all my short-comings, I am a son of God, a cherished, loved, cared for child of the King. And He loves us more than we can imagine.

     So, fellow sinners, that's where our hope can lie, even in the most depressing of times. Even when we come face to face again with the mess that we can sometimes be and often are, our hope is in the mercy, love, and grace of a long-suffering, compassionate Father. Thank God!

11 comments:

  1. Awesome, awesome post. I'm going to put this next to my "Why" reminder.

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  2. Oh, how many times I have cried out to my heavenly Father because of yet another failure and yet another time of falling into the same old sins and once more I am reminded that I am his child and he still loves me!
    Thanks for sharing! Good post!

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    1. Thanks for reading! Nice to see you around again!

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    2. Yeah! Its nice to be around again. Even though school has started back and keeps me pretty busy most days, it gives me a much more consistent schedule and I feel like it is more easy for me to handle than the past several weeks of insanity. I don't know how some people do it who basically live there life with a gazillion times more stuff than even what I was doing. ;)

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    3. Life just feels crazy sometimes! At least school offers you a semi-consistent schedule! What year of school is this for you? And what is your major?

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    4. Junior year and my major is History of Ideas. Its kind of like a liberal arts major, but I am studying lots of Ancient Greek literature and philosophy this year, but from a Christian perspective. I also will be studying several of Augustine's works and right now am going through his book on the Trinity. It is only my first week in, but I am semi-excited about it all. It is actually kind of a big step of faith for me because I honestly have no idea why I am here studying some of this stuff and going to school for this particular major because some of it is stuff that I have never had any interest in learning and I have never been a good comprehensive reader, yet we have to do a lot of reading for all my classes. So I am not altogether sure all of what God has in store for me here, but neither has he allowed me to leave so I really believe he wants me here for a reason even if I can't see what that reason is.

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    5. Very cool! That's interesting! I'm interested to see how God uses that degree and what you learn from your study of it.

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    6. I am interested to see how God uses it in my life, as well. It has actually been an issue of serious conflict, frustration, and pain in my life recently and I am having to learn to walk in faith through it because I have tried to leave, but some how I can't, so I am trying to learn to trust him and know that he has a good purpose for me being here for at least right now. And I know that I will struggle with this throughout the year, but I am thankful I serve a faithful God who loves me dearly and knows what is best for me and has a purpose and plan for my life.

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    7. I'm glad you told me this, cause know I have something more specific to pray for you for. :) I knew you had mentioned life was crazy at this time, but I didn't know anything specific.

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    8. Haha! Yes, this is a big factor. Of course, there are lots of other things too, but this was the major thing on mind lately.
      Thanks for praying. I super appreciate that!

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