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Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Tuesday,
November 7, 2023
Horses along Trout Run Road that runs adjacent to Kraybill Church Road. Those white vinyl fences are pretty but sure are prone to mildew, especially on the north side!
"Abba,
Father!"
Message
summary: How
often do we
express thanks
to our
heavenly
Father for our
spiritual
adoption? I am
not merely
speaking of
general
thankfulness
but rather a
specific
thanksgiving
for His
extravagant
act of grace
in adopting us
into His
family.Today
let us
heartily
express thanks
for His love
toward us and
acting on that
love by
adopting us,
and receiving
us as His sons
and daughters!
"For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father'" (Romans 8:15). I find it helpful to change the pronouns to personalize this text, "For I did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but I received the Spirit of adoption by whom I cry out, 'Abba, Father'."
I'm
no longer a
slave to fear
Oh, I am a child of God
Oh, I am a child of God
Years
ago Brooksyne
watched a TV
program about
international
adoptions that
was very
touching.
Ester, who is
adopted from
Guatemala,
watched the
program with
her. I was
working in my
home office at
the time and
when the
program was
over Ester
came into the
room where I
was working.
She had that
serious look,
indicating she
wanted to
receive a hug.
When I did so
she said,
"Thank you for
adopting me."
That sure stirred my heartstrings and is something that is of great value which I store in my emotional storehouse many years later. This expression of thankfulness meant a lot to me and I draw strength from it whenever I consider it.
But I consider another lesson from this. How often do we express thanks to our heavenly Father for our spiritual adoption? I am not merely speaking of general thankfulness but rather a specific thanksgiving for this act of grace of being adopted into God's family.
That sure stirred my heartstrings and is something that is of great value which I store in my emotional storehouse many years later. This expression of thankfulness meant a lot to me and I draw strength from it whenever I consider it.
But I consider another lesson from this. How often do we express thanks to our heavenly Father for our spiritual adoption? I am not merely speaking of general thankfulness but rather a specific thanksgiving for this act of grace of being adopted into God's family.
We
likely did
this often
during the
days following
our adoption
(new birth) in
the early
years, when
the striking
contrast of
our life
before Christ
was fresh in
our memory.
However the
longer we walk
with Christ
the distance
grows greater
from our
former way of
life and we
may simply
take this
marvelous act
of mercy for
granted.
The daily Scripture portion tells us what we have and have not received:
The apostle Peter describes this adoption so succinctly, "Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy" (1 Peter 2:10).
As a result of receiving this "Spirit of adoption" "we cry out 'Abba Father.'" It's very hard to convey the powerful way this would have impacted the initial recipients of the letter. The Amplified version words it like this: "in the bliss of which we cry. Abba! Father!"
There are three references to "Abba Father" in the Bible (standard translations). Two of them are in Paul's letters (today's text and Galatians 4:6). But only one of them is from the gospels and the direct words of Jesus. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus said, "Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will" (Mark 14:36).
"Abba" is a direct transliteration. In other words in the Greek New Testament the word is "Abba". Most Greek words are translated and look entirely different in the Greek. (see here for Greek interlinear of Romans 8:15).
The daily Scripture portion tells us what we have and have not received:
1)
We did not
receive "the
spirit of
bondage again
to fear".
Paul is saying
in essence…The
Holy Spirit,
whom we have
received, does
not produce a
slavish and
anxious state
of mind, such
as those
experience who
are under the
law, but He
produces
feelings of
affection,
reverence, and
confidence and
enables us,
out of the
fullness of
our hearts, to
call God our
Father.
(Precept
Online
Commentary)
2) We did receive "the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father'". Elsewhere Paul writes of our previous condition and what happens at our spiritual adoption, "without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ" (Ephesians 2:12,13). The word for adoption indicates a new family relation with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities. Hallelujah!
2) We did receive "the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father'". Elsewhere Paul writes of our previous condition and what happens at our spiritual adoption, "without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ" (Ephesians 2:12,13). The word for adoption indicates a new family relation with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities. Hallelujah!
The apostle Peter describes this adoption so succinctly, "Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy" (1 Peter 2:10).
As a result of receiving this "Spirit of adoption" "we cry out 'Abba Father.'" It's very hard to convey the powerful way this would have impacted the initial recipients of the letter. The Amplified version words it like this: "in the bliss of which we cry. Abba! Father!"
There are three references to "Abba Father" in the Bible (standard translations). Two of them are in Paul's letters (today's text and Galatians 4:6). But only one of them is from the gospels and the direct words of Jesus. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus said, "Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will" (Mark 14:36).
"Abba" is a direct transliteration. In other words in the Greek New Testament the word is "Abba". Most Greek words are translated and look entirely different in the Greek. (see here for Greek interlinear of Romans 8:15).
Abba
is an Aramaic
expression
that was used
in the family
like "Daddy"
or "Papa" is
used today.
Until the day
of my father's
death in 1998
I always
called him
"Daddy" even
though I was
in my
mid-forties. I
don't believe
I ever
addressed him
directly as
"Father"
although when
referring to
him to others
I did. Perhaps
"father"
sounded too
formal while
"daddy" was a
more intimate,
personal and
yet still
respectful
title. (Brooksyne's
note: It
was the same
with my
father, I
always called
him Daddy. In
our age group
in Lancaster
County several
we know
address their
parents as
“Mother” and
“Father”.)
Let us heartily express thanks today to our heavenly Father for His love for us and acting on that love in adopting us and making us His sons and daughters.
Let us heartily express thanks today to our heavenly Father for His love for us and acting on that love in adopting us and making us His sons and daughters.
I
have a Father
He calls me His own
He'll never leave me
No matter where I go
He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And hears me when I call
He calls me His own
He'll never leave me
No matter where I go
He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And hears me when I call
Be
encouraged
today,
(Hebrews
3:13)
Daily prayer:
Father, once
we were slaves
to sin, but
because of
Your
all-consuming
love for us,
we are now
children of
the Most High.
We shed the
former way of
life when we
lived unto
ourselves and
allowed the
malignancy of
sin to spread
like cancer.
Now we walk in
newness of
life and
gratefully
bear the name
of Christ as
His redeeming
blood flows
through our
veins. We are
renewed daily
by the power
of Your Spirit
that is within
our new
nature. Our
hearts are now
predisposed to
loathe sin and
love
righteousness
because we are
children of
the Heavenly
Father. May we
bring honor to
our identity
as a Christian
believer as we
represent the
name of Christ
in our words,
thoughts and
actions. Amen.
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, once
we were slaves
to sin, but
because of
Your
all-consuming
love for us,
we are now
children of
the Most High.
We shed the
former way of
life when we
lived unto
ourselves and
allowed the
malignancy of
sin to spread
like cancer.
Now we walk in
newness of
life and
gratefully
bear the name
of Christ as
His redeeming
blood flows
through our
veins. We are
renewed daily
by the power
of Your Spirit
that is within
our new
nature. Our
hearts are now
predisposed to
loathe sin and
love
righteousness
because we are
children of
the Heavenly
Father. May we
bring honor to
our identity
as a Christian
believer as we
represent the
name of Christ
in our words,
thoughts and
actions. Amen.
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"Jesus
Does"
Watch
on Youtube
We The Kingdom
When
I was a sinner
He saved me
From who I was
Oh I know, that's what Jesus does
That's what Jesus does
He saved me
From who I was
Oh I know, that's what Jesus does
That's what Jesus does
"No
Longer Slaves"
Watch
on Youtube
Zach Williams
"He
Knows My Name"
Watch
on Youtube
Maranatha
Singers
Further
study: What
does it mean
that
Christians are
adopted by
God?
What
does it mean
that God is
our Abba
Father?
(from
gotquestions.org)
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In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
To
donate
directly
online
click here.
(This will
open to a page
that
designates the
offering
to: STEPHEN
&
BROOKSYNE
WEBER -
700001-237376 SERVING
IN SPECIALIZED
CHAPLAINCY)
If
you desire you
can also
donate
directly
through PayPal
using this link.
This will open
to a page that
states
"Brooksyne
Weber". We
keep this
option
available due
to the
familiarity,
convenience,
for
international
supporters,
and for those
who may not
need an
official
receipt. You
can also set
up for
recurring
donations.
Thank
you,
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
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Wordpress
iHeart
radioPermissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version and a variety of other versions.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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