Max Lucado Finds Insight in Jerusalem

By Max Lucado

Of all His names, Father is God’s favorite. We know He loves this name most because this is the one He used most. While on earth, Jesus called God “Father” over two hundred times. In His first recorded words Jesus explained, “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49). In His final triumphant prayer He proclaims, “Father, I give you my life” (Luke 23:46). In the Gospel of John alone, Jesus repeats this name 156 times. God loves to be called Father. After all, didn’t Jesus teach us to begin our prayer with the phrase, “Our Abba”?

“Abba” was, to Jesus, an everyday word, and remains so to Israel’s children even today. It is an affectionate, family word. The equivalent would be Poppa, Daddy or Dad. It is right for you to call God your Creator; indeed He is. You speak truth when you call Him your Master; indeed He is. It is appropriate for you to call Him your King, Lord and Sovereign God. But if you want to touch His heart, call Him by the name He loves to hear. Call Him “Abba.” Call him your “Father.”

Call out to Abba

This wonderful truth came home to me some years ago during a trip to Israel. A benefit of an excursion to the Holy City is that it sets the stage for discoveries. Many discoveries are on the itinerary. Many, even more, occur in unexpected moments. Such was the case for me and my daughter, Jenna.

One afternoon, as we were exiting the Jaffa gate, Jenna and I found ourselves in a throng of people. From somewhere in the crowd we heard the voice of a small child. “Abba! Abba!” We turned and looked. There was a young girl, perhaps four or five years of age. She had become separated from her family. As the people rushed past, she stopped, afraid. “Abba! Abba!”

From out of nowhere, her father appeared. By looking at his hair and clothing, I knew he was a Hasidic Jew. When he heard his daughter cry, “Abba”, he realized that she was separated from the family. I watched closely; I wanted to see what an abba would do.

He hurried over to her. Nothing was going to stop him from reaching his daughter. He immediately lowered himself to her level. He held her close. He then looked at her in the face and brushed away the tear. He gave her a firm word. He then stood and lifted her up. She wrapped her arms around his neck and legs around his waist. He held her as they descended the ramp. When he stopped at a busy street, he set her down. She stepped off the curb, so he pulled her back. When the signal changed, he led her through the intersection. In the middle of the street, he reached down and swung her up in his arms and continued their journey.

That is what an abba does. Isn’t that what God has done for us? When we wandered away, He found us. When He found us, He lowered himself to our level. He brushed away our tears. He gave us a word of correction. He picked us up and He is leading us home. You have an abba.

I know what some of you are thinking. Yeah, God does that for some people. For good people. For strong people. Not me. I’m just ho-hum. I’m just average. I’m just measly old, little old, common, ordinary me.

Really? Because I read something else. According to what I read in the Bible, you are anything but ordinary. I read that when you said “yes” to Jesus, He said “yes” to you; that when you gave Him your heart He returned the favor and gave you His.

Your Abba:

• “has blessed [you] with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3).
• You are a “new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5:17).
• You “have obtained an inheritance” (Eph. 1:11).
• You are: “an ambassador of Christ...” (2 Cor. 5:20) “…the fragrance of Christ...” (2 Cor. 2:15) that you are being “…. transformed into the image of Christ.” (Rom. 8:29)
• You used to be normal, ho-hum and average. No longer. You are not who you used to be!

You are:

• God’s child (John 1:12)  
• Christ’s friend (John 15:15)  
• a member of Christ’s body (1 Cor. 12:27)  
• a saint (Eph. 1:1)  
• redeemed and forgiven of all your sins (Col. 1:14)  
• complete in Christ, lacking in nothing (Col. 2:10)  
• free from condemnation (Rom. 8:1–2)  
• God’s coworker (2 Cor. 6:1)  
• seated with Christ in the heavenly realm (Eph. 2:6)  
• God’s workmanship (Eph. 2:10)  
• a citizen of heaven (Phil. 3:20)  
• adopted into God’s family (Eph. 1:5)  
• born of God, and the evil one cannot touch you (1 John 5:18)

You have been “…bought with a price… belong to God” (1 Cor. 6:20)

You “… cannot be separated from the love of God” (Rom. 8:35).

Seems to me that your Abba has high affection for you. Next time you feel lost or alone, take a cue from the little girl in Jerusalem. Call out to your Father. The next arms you feel will be His.