Abba-Father

Take Hold & Allow Him to Take Charge {Ephesians 5}

12:00 AM



The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:24, that we are created anew to be like God in true righteousness and holiness which is why Paul goes on to say in chapter 5, “Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children.” (5:1) I think everyone can relate to mimicking our parents, for like it or not, I believe all of us have caught ourselves saying something that sounds exactly like our parents sometime in our adult life! OR as parents, we’ve caught our children mimicking us while playing and wondered, “Do I really sound like that?” But what exactly does it mean to be like God? And  imitate Him?

Did you ever hold an infant in your arms and watch how they study your features? All their senses are in tune to you!  I remember as a brand new mom in the hospital being encouraged not to wear any perfume or fragrance, for my child would be seeking to become familiar with my scent! It’s the same with us as God’s children; we need to consume ourselves with God. We must somehow find the times to shut out the world throughout our day and focus on our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul goes on to list a few ways we should be like Him.

Imitate His love towards others:
In verse 2 Paul writes, “Walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.”
If we want to know what God is like, we have to study Jesus, for Scripture says He, “...is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance...” (Hebrews 1:3) So, if we are going to be like God and imitate His love, we will act as Jesus did. Paul also tells us that the “sweet-smelling fragrance” of love will be evident in giving of ourselves. (I like that.)

Imitate God by allowing His light to shine through you:
Beginning in verse 8 Paul writes, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light  (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)  and find out what pleases the Lord.” Do you remember studying your parents so well that you knew what would please them and what would cause their err? Can you remember just the tone of their voice would instantly cause you to wondered, “O no! What did I do!?”
Scripture tells us that, “...God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5) It follows, then, that if we are to be like God, His light will shine through us. Jesus also told His disciples, “You are the light of the world... Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

Paul also reminds us that the fruit of God’s light is goodness, righteousness and truth. All three of these virtues flow from the attributes of God, for God is good (Psalm 25:8, Nahum 1:7), He is righteous (Romans 3:26) and He is true (Numbers 23:19, Psalm 31:5, Hebrews 6:18). It’s this light which makes things visible, and expose the deeds of darkness around us.

Imitate God’s Love, Reflect God’s Light and Walk in His Wisdom:
Beginning in verse 15 and following Paul tell us that we need to, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,  making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.  Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,” (5:15-18). I believe Paul gives us the secret here in verse 18 on how all this can be possible for all of us! He tells us to “be filled with the Spirit”. Allowing Him to come take control.

I remember going for a walk with my dad as a young girl and trying to keep up with his long, quick strides. I was forced to take two to three steps for his one, and he seemed to be walking so briskly! I even tried to stretch my legs to equal his strides, but I couldn’t keep that up for very long either. Until finally, I think my father caught onto what I was trying to do, and he reached down and took my hand and slowed his pace just a bit, which made it so much easier for me to keep up and the rest of our walk became so much easier and enjoyable! I believe our heavenly Father does the same for us! He knows left on our own, it will be challenging to keep up, so He reaches down and gives us His Spirit to help us keep up with Him. Take hold and let Him take charge and I can pretty much guarantee that the rest of your journey will be better than before!

Abba-Father

He is Our Abba Father {Romans 8}

12:30 AM




Some of you know I was raised in a dysfunctional home. Most of the time my father was away, so I hardly remember any special moments with him.  When I turned 15 my parents divorced so this brought a broader distance between us. Of course, I was left with so many questions and a deep desire to be loved. By the age of 22 this yearning came to an end and a great part of the questions were answered! Psalm 40 can describe what happened (I’ll only focus on the first 3 verses):
“I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; And He inclined to me and heard my cry.
He brought me up out of a horrible pit [of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock, steadying my footsteps and establishing my path.  He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear [with great reverence] And will trust confidently in the Lord.” That was 33 years ago, and let me tell you, since then, Romans 8  has had a great impact on my life!

In the first verses, Paul describes how important it is to recognize that in our walk with the Lord we continually have to fight against our flesh which was for many years directed by the law.  “The law can do many things. It can guide us, teach us, and tell us about God's character. But the law cannot give energy to our flesh; it can give us the standard, but it cannot give us the power to live pleasing to God.   But now it is not so: Paul tells us that not only are we saved by the work of the Spirit, but also we must walk by the Spirit if want to grow and pursue holiness in the Lord. We cannot be like some among the Galatians who thought they could begin in the Spirit but then find spiritual perfection through the flesh (Galatians 3:3)”. (Bibleorg)

Now that we are in Christ we do not continue to live according to our old nature, but according to the Spirit which is in us!  At first it might be difficult, but the Spirit will begin to deal with us and convict us. The power for the Christian walk is the Holy Spirit. We will never be alone, because He promised it: "I will be with you to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).
By having the Spirit of God in our lives we will experience a life of peace (vs.6). However, for those who live in the flesh, that is, sinful minds, death results because they are hostile to God’s laws.
"It does not say, 'As many as are driven by the Spirit of God.' No, the devil is a driver, and when he enters either into men or into hogs he drives them furiously. Remember how the whole herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea. Whenever you see a man fanatical and wild, whatever spirit is in him it is not the Spirit of Christ." (Spurgeon)

.How does the Holy Spirit lead us?
- We are led by guidance
- We are led by drawing
- We are led by governing authority
- We are led as we cooperate with the leading.

 Where does the Holy Spirit lead us?
- He leads us to repentance
- He leads us to think little of self and much of Jesus
- He leads us into truth
- He leads us into love
- He leads us into holiness
- He leads us into usefulness

Paul wrote: “For all who are allowing themselves to be led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear [of God’s judgment], but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons [the Spirit producing sonship] by which we [joyfully] cry, “Abba! Father!”- Romans 8:14-15

Yes, we have now become His children, and now He is our Daddy! Isn’t that awesome?
"In the Roman world of the first century A.D. an adopted son was a son deliberately chosen by his adoptive father to perpetuate his name and inherit his estate; he was no whit inferior in status to a son born in the ordinary course of nature." (Bruce)
 
Paul continues to explain: "The Spirit Himself testifies and confirms together with our spirit [assuring us] that we [believers] are children of God.  And if [we are His] children, [then we are His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His spiritual blessing and inheritance], if indeed we share in His suffering so that we may also share in His glory.” (8:16-17)  What a privilege and an amazing promise: we are fellow heirs with Christ!
Our life in Christ will not always be easy (“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses…” vs .26 ), but we have our Daddy who will always be with us to help us fulfill His perfect will and purpose for our lives (vs.28); He will always be for us (vs. 31) AND NOTHING will ever separate us from His  LOVE!

I am a living witness of all this and I can’t thank Him enough for His Faithfulness! On June 2013 I received a telephone call from one of my half-sisters (my father re-married after the divorce and raised 3 children), telling me that my father was diagnosed with a terminal cancer. From then on I phoned him on a regular basis, and eventually he surrendered his life to Jesus! For the last 3 months of his life we had the opportunity to share over the phone many things. We knew nothing about each other, but it was especially wonderful for me to share the unfailing love of our Heavenly Father!, I praise our Daddy that on October 2013, he gave my husband and I the opportunity to fly to see him in the hospital. I was by his bed, holding hands with him and praying for him and his family, a few days before our Daddy took him Home with Him. This was something I had never imagined!! His Plans, His Ways are Perfect and His Faithfulness endures forever!

Let me ask you: Are you waiting to come back to your Daddy? His arms are open to you!
Blessings!!