As a dad of two young girls under the age of 2 I have never been so exhausted. The endless amount of washing, changing dirty nappies, cleaning, cooking, let alone all the tantrums that a 2-year-old would throw; yet I would not swap it for the world.
From the moment I found out that my wife and I were expecting our first child I was filled was so much love. Holding my girls in my arms for the first time brought tears to my eyes. I love my girls, not because they have done anything special for me, I love them because they are mine.
Having kids of my own has helped me gain a greater insight of God’s love for us. The Bible is very clear that God loves everyone. In Romans it goes on to describe God as our loving Father.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Romans 8:14-16
In this passage Paul, the author, outlines who we are in Gods eyes. Here he states that our relationship with God is not like a slave to their master, one of fear, rather, our relationship with God is similar to one between a Father and child. Here is a beautiful picture of our amazing and intimate relationship with God. Here we see God as our loving Father.
The phrase “by him we cry, “Abba, Father” is the image of an infant’s first cry to their dad. It is the Hebrew equivalent to our English first sounds ‘Dadda’. What a beautiful image of the intimate relationship we have with our God, a God who we can cry to in utter dependence, and a God who listens.
Just like my love for my girls, God doesn’t love you because you have done anything special, He doesn’t love you because you go to church or help old ladies across the road, He loves you because you are His and there is nothing you can do to stop God loving you.