“Your heavenly Father.” — Matthew 6:26
The Privilege of Calling God "Father"
God’s people are doubly His children—they are His offspring by creation, and they are His sons by adoption in Christ. For this reason, they are privileged to call Him, “Our Father who is in heaven.” Father! What a precious word that is. Here stands authority: “If I am a Father, where is My honour?” And if you are sons, where is your obedience?
Here is affection, mingled with authority—an authority that does not stir rebellion, and an obedience that is joyfully offered, never withheld, even if it could be. The obedience God’s children give Him must be loving obedience. Do not go about the service of God as slaves under a taskmaster’s toil, but run in the path of His commands because it is your Father’s way. Offer your bodies as instruments of righteousness, for righteousness is your Father’s will, and His will should be the delight of His child.
The Majesty and Love of Our Heavenly Father
Father!—Here is a kingly attribute so sweetly veiled in love that the King’s crown is forgotten in the King’s face, and His sceptre becomes not a rod of iron but a silver sceptre of mercy. The sceptre itself seems almost hidden within the tender hand of the One who holds it.
Father!—Here is both honour and love. How great is a father’s love for his children! What friendship cannot do, and what mere benevolence will not even attempt, a father’s heart and hand must do for his sons. They are His own, so He must bless them; they are His children, so He must rise up to defend them. If an earthly father watches over his children with unceasing love and care, how much more does our heavenly Father?
Abba, Father! Whoever speaks this utters a melody more beautiful than cherubim or seraphim can sing. There is heaven in the depth of that word—Father! In it lies all I could ever ask for; all my needs could ever require; all my desires could ever hope for. I have everything for all eternity when I can truly say, “Father.”