At the Fall banquet, special guests Derek and Sonia McLeod told how the Lord brought restoration in their marriage. Sonia blessed our readers so much that we thought you’d enjoy this devotional reflection.
I like the story of how I got my name. My mother was sitting in a hospital waiting room. Nearby, a couple of ladies were talking about baby names, and one woman said she hated the name “Sonia.” When my mom heard it, she loved it. She decided to grab hold of that name for me.
Our name, or title, gives us our identity. And depending on who calls, hearing our name can bring a sense of favor and power. I love to hear my children call me “Mom.” They have my full attention. When certain people call me, I answer with enthusiasm and make them feel valued.
We can learn so much of God’s character and hear His heart just from studying His names. One of God’s names is Abba, an affectionate name for “father.”
The Jewish people of Jesus’ day would not use the word Abba to address God because it was an affectionate word meant for close familial relationships. To speak of God in such a manner seemed wrong and disrespectful. When they spoke to God it was in hushed tones of respect.
And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will” (Mark 14:36).
This scripture shows Jesus speaking to the Father in Gethsemane just before he would be on His way to suffer the brutal death on the cross. Jesus cried out, “Abba Father!”
No doubt that His heart-wrenching cry was heard throughout all Heaven and eternity. There was close intimacy and deep affection between Him and the Father. He loved His Father and His Father loved Him.
John 17 shows us an intimate conversation between Jesus and the Father. Jesus asked that when the Father completed what He had been sent to do, that the Father would keep all those who were given to Him. Jesus asked that “they”— meaning each of us—would be in relationship like He and the Father were.
Jesus and the Father were one. They had fellowship and loved one another. And Jesus desired that the Father would give us the same direct access and intimacy as He had. His prayer was that we would be one with them, like they were one. We would have the same promises, the same Spirit, and the same intimacy with the Father as was given to Jesus!
When Jesus went to the cross, we were reconciled and transferred from darkness into light. Those who have received Jesus Christ into their lives now have not only eternal life, but we also now have complete access to the throne room of God. We have been completely restored and redeemed! Our fellowship with the Father has been restored. We can be intimate with the Father.
In intimacy, wonderful secrets are shared between two in communion. As we begin to know God, our love deepens for Him. If we don’t know Him, we cannot love God.
How can we walk with God and obey Him if we don’t love Him? We can’t. Many who try to walk with God with very good intentions, walk away from Him because of great discouragement. We were not meant to walk alone. God wants to walk with us, comfort us and commune with us daily.
Unhindered affection and closeness with the Father is available to us. Like Jesus, we can run to the Father when we are in anguish or suffering. We can trust Him. He hears us, and we can be confident that deliverance will come and our prayers will be answered. He sees our hardships, our needs and our pain.
As a mother, there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for my children, even though I still fail. But our Maker, our Creator, will never fail us. He sacrificed His only begotten Son so that we can be reconciled. Because of this, we can be intimate and cast all our cares upon Him. He loves us.
Today we have access to His joy, counsel, strength, peace, hope, wisdom, love and life in abundance when we cry out, “Abba Father!”
