“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
Romans 8:15 (ESV)
The first time I came across the above revelation in the Word of God was two decades ago. This revelation had a very significant meaning to a young man who was grappling with the idea and reality of the effects of fatherlessness in his own life.
I got saved in First Assembly of God, Wortmanville church at eighteen years old, and while everything about church was new to me, one recurring message from the pulpit caught my attention. It was a message that emphasised the importance of fathers to the family and the importance of fathers to the growth and development of the child.
I initially rejected the message about the effects on the child without a father because I thought there was nothing wrong with me. “My mother did an excellent job,” I thought. However, the more I listened, the more I realised the truth behind what was being taught. The more I examined my own shortcomings and limitations, the more I began to understand. How could I not see it before? Maybe because I didn’t want to.
Now I am faced with a challenge against time. Now that I know how important it is to have a father, what must I do to fix this? I tried reaching out to my biological father, but that didn’t work well. Then, one night during a time of prayer, the Holy Spirit planted an idea in my mind: ‘Ask God to be your adopted father. He is already your heavenly Father and Creator, so why not?’
Having no depth or knowledge of theology at the time, I prayed and asked God to adopt me as a son, so that He would fill the gap for what I missed from my earthly father. That very night, I felt a shift and deepening in my relationship with God, and it was fulfilling.
Later, in my Christian journey, while reading the Word of God, I encountered Scriptures like my above request: (Ephesians 1:5 and Galatians 4:5). To my pleasant surprise, the idea of being adopted as a son was already initiated by God Himself over two thousand years ago through Jesus Christ. This brought me great joy as I confirmed the love of God, my Father.
He made provision for me way before I existed, and before I came to know Him, He provided salvation through the blood of Jesus. When I realised I needed an intimate relationship with a father, He became my Father in a whole new way. Although I was ignorant of the Scriptures at the time, I wasn’t at fault for ignorance; instead, His grace was sufficient.
I encourage all of us today, God can become that very thing that we lack or need. He fills the loneliness, heals the hurt, repairs the fault, and becomes who we need Him to be: a Helper, Counsellor, Friend, Teacher, Saviour, and yes, even a Father.
Prayer
I pray that we all continue to find God in every challenge, every lack, every phase of our lives, for He is right there waiting for us. Amen.
Read: 2 Corinthians 9:8; 2 Timothy 1:9
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 78:17-31; Acts 17:22-34; Acts 18:1-8; I Kings 18:16-46; I Kings 19