Call Me Daddy
At some point during childhood, most of us transition away from referring to our father as “Daddy,” opting instead for a more mature moniker, something like “Dad.” This change comes as a natural part of our transition from the dependence of childhood to the growing independence of adolescents.
But while we grow up to become more independent and leave home, spiritual maturity happens in exactly that opposite way. Rather than become more independent, the Spirit of God prompts us toward a greater state of dependence.
This was the Apostle Paul’s point when he wrote, “because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father” (Galatians 4:6, NLT). "Abba" is a term of intimacy and dependence. It is equivalent in meaning to our English title "Daddy."
God wants us to call Him "Daddy.” That means rather than saying, “It’s ok, Dad, I’ve got this,” the Spirit prompts us to cry out, “I need You, Daddy! He prompts us to say, “I need You in every moment.” He prompts us to say, “I need Your thoughts and Your wisdom to illumine my own.” He prompts us to say, “I need Your love, or else I am nothing.” He prompts us to say, “I need You to always be with me.”
Growing in grace means growing more dependent.
From "Daddy" to "Dad"
Do you remember when you stopped calling your dad, "Daddy"? I do.
I was about 6 or 7 years old and I remember being outside with my dad. He began a conversation with our next door neighbor, which I interrupted by calling out "Daddy!" Up until then, I had always called my dad, "Daddy."
But when I called out, "Daddy!" he gave me a funny look and he and the neighbor just chuckled, like that was baby talk. I never called him "Daddy" again.
The Aramaic/Hebrew word "Abba" is the equivalent of our English "Daddy." But unlike our relationship with our earthly father, our heavenly Father will never chuckle at us for calling Him Daddy. That's because we will never outgrow our child-like dependence on Him.
Quite the opposite. The more we grow in our faith the more we will realize our total dependence on our heavenly Father. That's why God loves it when we call Him "Abba." That's who He is and who He will always be to us.
"Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father" (Galatians 4:6).
Americans Can't Live Without Their Phones
According to the Pew Research Center, 90% of Americans own a phone:
- 67% of cell owners find themselves checking their phone for messages, alerts, or calls — even when they don’t notice their phone ringing or vibrating.
- 44% of cell owners have slept with their phone next to their bed because they wanted to make sure they didn’t miss any calls, text messages, or other updates during the night.
- 29% of cell owners describe their cell phone as “something they can’t imagine living without.”
Recent statistics also show that 70% of cell phone owners and 86% of smart phone owners have used their phones in one or more of the following ways in the past 30 days:
- Coordinate a meeting or get-together — 41%
- Solve an unexpected problem that they or someone else had encountered — 35%
- Decide whether to visit a business, such as a restaurant — 30%
- Find information to help settle an argument they were having — 27%
- Look up a score of a sporting event — 23%
- Get up-to-the-minute traffic or public transit information to find the fastest way to get somewhere — 20%
- Get help in an emergency situation — 19%
All this cell phone use equates to the average person checking their phone 150 times per day, this according to Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers's annual Internet Trends report.
A recent social media buzz point (author unknown) asked this probing question: What if we began to treat our Bibles the way we treat our cell phones?
What if we …
carried it with us everywhere?
turned back to get it if we forgot it?
checked it for messages throughout the day?
used it in case of an emergency?
spent an hour or more using it each day?
Indeed, what if we consulted the Bible instead of our phone …
The next time we wanted to coordinate a meeting?
“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee” (Psalm 63:1, KJV). “…when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 11:19).
The next time we needed to solve a problem?
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5). “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).
The next time you need direction?
“In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:6).
The next time you need to decide where you should or shouldn’t go?
“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!” (Psalm 1:1).
The next time you need help to settle an argument?
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church” (Matthew 18:15-16, ESV). “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:17-21, ESV).
The next time you need to find the most direct path to your destination?
“In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:6).
The next time you have an emergency?
“Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me” (Psalm 50:15). “He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him” (Psalm 91:15).
Let’s make the Word of God “something we cannot imagine living without!”