June 19, 2022
Greetings and blessings to all of you. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus the Son addressed God as Abba in his agonizing prayer just before His assignment to die a horrible death on the cross for us. That is an affectionate word in Aramaic for “father” similar to “Papa” in English. You may think that God should not be called that…God should remain in our minds exalted larger than life who demands the highest respect; God is to be spoken of in a hushed reverence rather than as if He was a member of the family. But it was very appropriate for Jesus to address the Father as Abba. As God’s Son, Jesus knew Him more intimately than anyone has ever known God. Jesus said “just as the Father knows me and I know the Father” (John 10:15) Through Jesus death on the cross He made it possible for us to know God as a loving, forgiving Father. At times we have the need of the arms of our Father to hold us and comfort us as all kinds of erroneous thoughts swirl around in our heads. We then have to decide are we going to give in to worry, fear and anxiety…or are we going to do a 2 Cor. 10:5 “we are to demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” This is Father’s Day. And since our heavenly Father is Omniscience (He knows everything) and He is Omnipotent (He is all powerful and do anything that pleases Him) and He is Jehovah Rapha (the Lord that heals) He is Jehovah Jireh (the Lord will Provide) etc. Don’t you want to be in a solid relationship with a Father with those attributes? We say, “I want to feel safe” “I want to have “a peace of mind” “I want to be content”. If you and I stand on the truths that our Father tells us in His Word and rest in the knowledge that our Father is in complete control of all things and everything you will have that peace, contentment and safety you seek. “Because you are sons (God) sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts the Spirit who calls out Abba Father. So, when we are in distress call on the Father and trust Him 100%. Because He says, “no weapon formed against me will not prosper.” (Isaiah 54:17) “God will fight this battle for me, if I will only be still” (Exo. 14:14), “when I am weak, He is strong” (2 Cor. 12:10,) “God reigns over the nations...God is seated on His holy throne” (Psalm 47:8) and “He will never leave you or forsake you.”
First Lady Vivian C. Currie
Pastor ALC