How Can I Fear?

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”      – Romans 8:14-15

It is my understanding that when the Bible says Abba, it is similar in meaning to when we as children familiarly call our fathers “daddy.” Daddy is an informal word we use for our fathers mostly when we are younger. It is a word that we use that connotates closeness, we use it when we are young and vulnerable, getting as close to “daddy” as we possibly can. Some of us continue to use that word even when we are older – thinking of our daddies makes us feel like we did when we were small, depending on them for all our needs.

In today’s society we sometimes wonder why people cannot get close to their heavenly Father, but where was their example in childhood – the closeness of a “daddy” to make them feel safe and secure? Fathers being absent from not only their home, but from, at this point, more than likely two or three generations, but absent completely from the lives of their children – if there is no example to follow at home, if God has been completely eliminated from school curriculums – where would children have even learned of the existence of God? 

In 1987, Ron Hamilton released a song with the title “How Can I Fear?” The song was talking of not being afraid if you are a Christian because your Savior is near. Your Abba, or Daddy is watching closely over you. Does this not get to your senses – that we, as Christians have our Heavenly “Daddy” watching over us – but people without Christ have no one to turn to – no one to make them feel safe in times of trouble? Let that sink in Christians! We have support. No matter what we are going through – we have that Rock, that Daddy to comfort us. Our adoption papers have been signed and they are sitting in the courtroom in Heaven – the proof is there – we get to see it when we travel back home.

  In 1987, a second song by Ron Hamilton – “I Am Adopted” says, “ I am adopted, I’m a child of the King. God is my Father, and he own everything. He walks beside me, He’s my very best friend. Praise God, I’ll never be lonely again.”

Think about your Daddy. Think about what you have compared to someone who doesn’t have a daddy, or wasn’t raised with the influence of one. Then think about someone who has not had the privilege to know God as their spiritual Father, their Abba, their Daddy. Think – they do not have a home to go to. Spiritually lost. On the path to eternal darkness, aloneness, damnation. Think about just maybe you ought to introduce someone you know like that to your Father – could be that the adoption papers are being drawn up now!

A Child Of The King

My Father is rich in houses and land,
He holdeth the wealth of the world in His hands!
Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold,
His coffers are full, He has riches untold.

Refrain:
I’m a child of the King,
A child of the King,
With Jesus my Savior,
I’m a child of the King.

2 My Father’s own Son, the Savior of men,
Once wandered on earth as the poorest of them;
But now He is reigning for ever on high,
And will give me a home in heav’n by and by. [Refrain]

3 I once was an outcast stranger on earth,
A sinner by choice and an alien by birth;
But I’ve been adopted, my name’s written down,
An heir to a mansion, a robe and a crown. [Refrain]

4 A tent or a cottage, why should I care?
They’re building a palace for me over there;
Though exiled from home, yet still may I sing:
All glory to God, I’m a child of the King. [Refrain]

AE