By; Dr. Tonya D. Lewis
From the very beginning of time, our Great God created the family unit. This unit is intended to be a loving, trusting and supportive environment for us to be nurtured in. But unfortunately, that is not always the reality of our experiences. Sin’s presence in the world has contaminated and destroyed what Daddy-God intended for us to fully experience. Thus, we have family relationships which are lacking, broken and inconsistent in providing the atmosphere that they were originally designed to provide.
As lightening bugs sporadically display their beautiful colors in the night, so is fulfillment in our various relationships experienced sporadically in this present world. We never know when that momentary experience of joy will come to an end. We never know when those avoidable decisions (persons choosing to make other choices which affects us, etc., or unavoidable reasons (health, death, etc.) will impact our lives. Oh how super-wonderful the experience of relationships could be if it had not been contaminated by sin.
However, in the midst of this, we have the PRIVILEGE OF HAVING A CONSISTENT, LOVING, DEPENDABLE AND FAITHFUL relationship with the Great High God. He is referenced by many different names. Some names reveals His power (Elohim-which means “God”, Yahweh-“The Lord”, El Elyon-“God Most High”, and El Shaddai-“God Almighty”). He is also referenced by names which reveal the tenderness of His love for and to us His precious sons and daughters. Those names being (El Roi-“The God Who Sees”, Yahweh Yireh-“The Lord Will Provide” Jehovah Rapha-“Healer”, Yahweh Shalom-“The Lord Is Peace”, and Abba which means “Daddy, Father”.
The heart of this writer celebrates the sentiments of Debbie McDaniel who conveys: Abba is the most intimate form of God’s name, showing us His character as our loving “Daddy”. He is the One who can be fully trusted, the One we can lean on, the One who cares about all that concerns us. Just as a godly father’s presence in our daily lives is one of protection, security, and unconditional love, the constant presence of our Heavenly Father is what gives us the strength and covering we need for this life’s journey.
This is one of my favorite names of God because in it He conveys His heart for each of us, as His children. He gives us the privilege of being called His own sons and daughters. He provides the way for us to call out to Him and the assurance, beyond a doubt, that He hears and will answer. In our most difficult to painful times in life, we can crawl up into the lap of our Heavenly Father, (our Daddy-God) and know that He is for us, and His arms will securely hold us.
“Because you are His sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba-Father.”” Gal. 4:6-Our Great Heavenly Father desires that men come to know and experience His offers of various relationships with Him. He is the ONLY ONE we can truly depend on as being consistent, the same yesterday, and today, and forever. (Heb. 13:8)
Outsiders of relationships cannot define the relationship between In-siders of their relationships. Just as they use various loving and respectable names to express the state of their hearts to one another, such is the case with the relationship between Daddy-God and His children. He is the Only One who is truly ASSURED OF HIS IDENTITY which allows us the freedom to relate to Him in personal relationships that blesses our individual hearts. Just as we wisely do not allow others into our personal relationships with others, neither can we allow others into our personal relationship with our God. Whichever way He reveals Himself to us that bless our hearts is respectful, reverent and acceptable to our Heavenly Father for us to reference Him as being.
So, rejoice in the fact that our Daddy-God loves us and DESIRES TO REVEAL HIS COMPLETE SELF TO US. Part of having a personal relationship with our Lord is that not only do we benefit eternally, but that we also benefit while here on earth. Therefore, seek and get to know your God. Enjoy fellowship with Him. Reside in the loving, consistent, faithful and dependable relationship which He offers. By so doing, it will fully satisfy every dimension of your soul! God bless You!
Join us for our next 1st Saturday Fellowship, 1:15 p.m. at the U S Bank Community Bldg., Crenshaw and Slauson, Los Angeles, CA, Contact Info: onefaith2007@aol.com , One Faith Fellowship, P. O. Box 56641, La, CA 90056, www.onefaithfellowship.org , (323) 481-6724
