“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 8:15)
I follow the Lord Jesus Christ, I go where He leads me, as a good soldier should. As much as I have been taught, and with as much strength that He gives me, I obey His commandments, I obey the orders of my Commander to the fullest degree.
It took me over thirty years in my mind to be able to feel even moderately able to call my Master Father, soldiers do not take that word lightly. It is an honor bestowed, not taken, it is a blessing given, not to be taken for granted, not to be assumed.
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Eph. 6:13)
The word “Abba” translates to “dad” or “daddy,” and in the trial He has seen fit to place me in these last few weeks, I have heard in the mind given to me by my Commander a cry to my Dad, to my Daddy, for both relief and strength. It is an odd title to me, to call Him such, to call upon the Sovereign Lord of all reality in such an almost deeply personal way.
A soldier for Christ does not take this lightly, a soldier of the Most High God does not speak of the pain and suffering to his Commander, he is aware that He already knows it, for it is He who has allowed it.
“Do all things without murmurings and disputings:” (Phil. 2:14)
Complaining is not the way of one who realizes that all things work together for good, soldiers do not complain about their place in the ranks.
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1st Peter 5:7)
Soldiers of Christ do not cast their cares upon their commanding officer, but they can on their Father, but when those cares become a burden too much for us to bear, when the pain and suffering attempts to divert us, to devour us, we cry Abba, and then my friends, He enters into that trial with us. He looks you in the eyes, His tears match yours, and He says, “This too shall pass.”
The wounded cry out Abba, those who suffer cry out for their Daddy, and He hears, He rushes to their side, and although He may not ease their suffering, although the pain may not immediately abate, His presence offers the strength we need to bear it.
There is always grace available my friends, always, there is never not more grace available.
From a soldier to one who cries for his Dad is a journey of trials, and those in the frontline do not despise the one who calls Him such, for all who have been placed there have done so themselves. When it has passed, when that particular part of the valley of trials has been traversed, our Dad sets us back on our feet, our Father straightens out and repairs our armor, and the soldier of Christ begins to follow his Master once again.
But there is something new, something is different, for the one giving the orders now has obtained in our hearts a more firm foundation, the Lord of Lords and King of Kings has become completely worthy of all we are. After the trial, to this soldier the truth of Philippians 1:21 becomes more than words, more than a memory verse, more than a hope that he will be able to live up to. It becomes reality.
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
The Living God to this humble soldier is more than my Commander, more than my Father, He has allowed me to call Him my Daddy, and I am not ashamed to do so. The pain and suffering has been, is, and will be worth every moment, because He has shown me that His grace is sufficient.
