So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father. Romans 8:15 NLT

Call me old fashioned, but nothing irks me more than to hear people call their parents by their first names. According to recent estimates, there are eight billion folks on earth who can call them “Bob,” or “Barbara,” but only their children can call out “Mom!” or “Dad!” Today’s verse reminds us that as God’s adopted children, we receive the privilege to call Him “Abba, Father.” God has many names in the Bible like “Mighty God” “Prince of Peace” and Wonderful Counselor,” and these all tell us what He does. But we who have been adopted into His family, can call Him “Abba.” Because of who He is to us.

Fifty years ago, I walked into a hospital room and saw my wife holding our newborn son. As I looked in amazement at his tiny, wrinkled face, God gave me much more than a new job: He gave me a new name: “Dad” When we put our faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord, we are adopted into God’s family and can begin to call Him: “Abba Father.” But in that very same instant, as God looks down at our faces, He also gives us new names and calls out “Welcome home son.” and “Welcome Home daughter!”

Have you been adopted into God’s family? You can be today! The Bible says, "But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God." John 1:12 NLT
Believe in Him and accept Him as Lord and you too can call Him "ABBA!"