|
About Jesus - Steve Sweetman In
Abba's Presence Dwight
L. Moody was one of the most impactful Christian evangelists of the 19th
century. He was born on
February 5, 1837, in Northfield, Massach On
one occasion when Moody was a father himself he closed his office door,
expecting to spend some quiet time with Jesus as he studied his Bible.
Within minutes his little son opened the door and walked into the
room. "What would you
like son?" Moody asked. "Nothing
daddy. I just want to be
with you," the little boy answered.
How could Moody, or any father, ignore such a heart warming
response. Moody's little son
wanted nothing from him. He
just wanted to be in his father's presence.
That would bring joy to the heart of any father.
As
many Christians know, the Aramaic word "abba" roughly
corresponds to our English word "daddy."
It's found in Mark 14:36, Romans 8:15, and Galatians 4:6.
Abba was an affectionate word spoken by young Jewish children in
reference to their father. Hebrew
tradition only permitted biological children, not slaves, to refer to
the father of the household as abba.
I
don't call my heavenly Father Daddy because I feel it's too trivial of a
designation. I have no
problem with others referring to God as Daddy as long as they
understand, which many don't, that Daddy is a consuming fire (Hebrews
10:27) who requires our utmost respect.
In its cultural setting Abba demanded respect, reverence, and
obedience. The same Daddy
who puts his loving arms around us will discipline us if necessary.
He is no "sugar daddy" as the popular term puts it.
Our heavenly Father must be overjoyed when we spend time with Him, especially when we sit in His presence and ask nothing from Him. Spending time with Him should be our priority in life as it was for King David. "One thing have I desired of the LORD, and that I will seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD and enquire at His temple" (Psalm 27:4 KJV). How much different would the New Testament temple (church) be if as individuals our desire was to sit in the presence of our LORD, "behold His beauty and enquire from Him."
Dwight L. Moody once
told a friend that you can't breathe out too many times before you have
to take another deep breath in. How true. If you ever want
to breathe out the life of the Spirit of God, you must first breathe Him
in, and that requires you spending quality time with Him.
|