Abba! Father!

Today's Daily Reading is from Stasi's new book The Ladder of Love, available now — order your copy today!

Friends, God sent His Holy Spirit into our hearts to help us live in God’s love and boldly pray “Abba! Father!” Abba is a term of endearment to a father. As you know, it means “daddy, papa”— it’s a name reserved for use by a cherished child. A stranger doesn’t get to call Him that.

To his grandchildren, my husband, John, goes by the name “Poppy.” No one else gets to call him that either. Only they do. They can call out “Hey, Poppy!” and he will come running. It is a precious name, a separate name, a privileged name reserved for them. We have that same intimacy with our Father. Our Abba. Our Papa.

Timothy Keller reminds us, “The only person who dares wake up a king at 3:00 AM for a glass of water is a child. We have that kind of access.”

It is such a wild thing and almost unfathomable truth that we have the same intimacy with our Father as Jesus does. We have the same access to His heart. We have the same privileged position as His sons and daughters. We are loved with the same crazy love! We call His name and, like the waiting and eager father in the parable of the prodigal son, He comes running. Friends, God is even better than we think. His love is better. He is kinder, more gracious, more compassionate, and more loving than we can even imagine— and He desires for you to grow in knowing Him as your good and faithful, committed and engaged, fiercely-for-you Father.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1). Do you want to know God more truly as your good Father? Ask Him. Call on Him. He will come running.

Want more? Order your copy of The Ladder of Love today