We Are Our Father's Responsibility

"God called me to preach," wrote Rev. Lawrence Schaper, a minister who is now in heaven. "I never, from that day to this present time, asked Him to supply any of our needs. When I was a boy working for my father, he supplied all of my needs without my asking him; now, since I have been working for my Heavenly Father, I expected Him to supply all of our needs and He did. I believed God." Such an underlying confidence that our Heavenly Father will supply honors God.

I don't ever remember having to coax my father to buy me shoes that I needed or food when I was hungry. My earthly father knew I needed those things and happily provided them.

In Luke 11:13, our Heavenly Father promises, "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Notice the phrase, "How much more!" No good parent will withhold from his child anything he needs, and God is much more eager to supply all our needs. He will give to us on the basis of His infinite love and our need--not on what we deserve.

Abba is a word without an exact English synonym. Our best explanation is to say that it means your very own father who loves you. God the Father was Abba to Jesus. He called His Father Abba the night before He was crucified. When we are in turmoil or have any need, God is there for us as Abba and to assume responsibility for us.

My Father, give me grace to sense the wonder of calling You Abba, Father.

"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father'" (Romans 8:15).