In this Names of God reading plan, we are learning more about God by studying the names given to Him in Scripture. Rather than having our writers share their own reflections on these passages, we’ve instead provided research-rich content to aid in your study of each day’s featured name of God, including the background of the name(s), a brief explanation of the character of God emphasized by the name(s), and a reflection question to help you dig deeper into the text.
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Father
Ab (Hebrew), Pater (Greek)
Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 32:1-6, Psalm 68:4-6, Jeremiah 3:19–22, Mark 14:35-36, Romans 8:14-17, Galatians 4:1-7
Description
When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He told them to address God as “our Father” (Mt 6:9). When He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane before His arrest, trial, and crucifixion, Jesus cried out, “Abba, Father,” using personal and relational names for God (Mk 14:36). Abba is an Aramaic word, from the Hebrew Ab, for “father.” Pater is the Greek word used for “father.”
These are deeply familial names when used to address God. Belief brings us into a close yet respectful relationship with God, the holy Creator of all things. Father is a reverential yet personal name for God.
Emphasis
The personal, familial, and intimate name for God
Reflection
What does this name teach me about God?
God wants a personal relationship with me. A relationship like that of children and their parents.
I read a quote last night by Tim Keller that says, “The only person who dares wake up a king at 3 AM for a glass of water is a child. We have that kind of access.” Because God is my Father, He sees what is best for me. I don’t want to rebel and live in a parched land. He desires for me to drink deeply from His well of salvation, grace, love, mercy, forgiveness, etc. I have THAT kind of access to Him through the Spirit and Jesus’ shed blood. I can ask Him to give me a drink from His everlasting spring of water every minute of every day.
Love this.
I love that quote- I can wake my Father up at 3 am for anything because I am his child.
I am an earthly orphan, both of my parents having passed very tragically and unexpectedly from this earth. But to know my Father in heaven loves me, wants relationship with me, and watches over me is so comforting. It makes the perils of this world so much easier.
As I read today’s reading I was reminded of a journal entry I made from a few years ago:
My youngest son is obsessed with Neapolitan Mastiffs. He loves ALL dogs, but the Neapolitan Mastiff is his one, true love. Recently as I watched him pour over a Neapolitan Mastiff book he’d gotten from the library (one he’d been waiting to pick up from on hold for FOREVER) I thought, “I wish I could get him a Neapolitan Mastiff. He would LOVE that!” Then suddenly my eyes filled with tears as I realized that’s how my heavenly Daddy feels about me. He sees the desires of my heart and He wants to give them to me. Now I’m not going to run out and get my son a Neapolitan Mastiff for various reasons. Similarly God doesn’t always give us those desires, or in the timing we want. He knows things we don’t, He knows what’s best for us or what best accomplishes His purposes or that that thing we want will tarnish and fade…. But I believe that His heart is tender towards the desires of our heart, most especially when those desires also reflect the desires of His heart. So crawl up in your Daddy’s lap and share the desires of your heart with Him. He may just be waiting for you to.
❤️❤️❤️
“Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath.” I never have to stand on tiptoe, or shout, or wave my arms around to get His attention. He is ready to hear from me, bending over to listen always, because He has made me His child.
It’s my birthday tomorrow. (I’m turning one year less than what I remember thinking of as SUPER OLD). And yet, on Sunday, at my cousin’s wedding, I sat on my dad’s lap for a bit, waiting for the next part to happen. My dad loves me. I’ve always loved my dad and there isn’t a part of me that doubts that my dad’s lap is where I belong. Even as an old grownup. He’s my dad. He’s strong and capable and I belong with him.
I have a portion of that with God. But I’m pressing in for the ‘whole shebang’. God picked me! He loves me! And he always has time for me! Yes, I belong in the arms of my Daddy God!
God is my Father. He’s in charge. He watches over and out for me. He wants the best for me. He wants me to be a reflection of him and his parenting. He disciplines and stewards me. He knows what is good for me. He’s my biggest fan, believes in me, and wants my dreams to come true. He’s my protector and defender. He fights for me, always comes for me, and always finds me. He’s my comforter and helper, my safe place, my go to. He cherishes me, adores me. He loves me. And not for anything that I have ever done for him, will do, or can do. He loves me because I belong to him, because I’m his.
This is such a beautiful personification of our Father!
How comforting to know that HE is my father.