For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 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!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Romans 8: 15-16

The term “Daddy” is perhaps the best example of the word “Abba” used by Paul in the passage above. The term speaks of the intimacy of the relationship we have with God as adopted children. I remember hearing my Dad say this when I was a younger man and I can now confirm that the term “Daddy” is one that is spoken by children at times – especially when they want something or something is broken.

Paul wasn’t the first to describe God as Father (Daddy). Jesus referred to the nature of God the Father and invites us to trust that God will give us the very best when we ask.

What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Luke 11:11-13

So, as Gordon Fee writes – “the experience of the Spirit leads the believer not only to a position of justification before God, but also should lead to an ongoing awareness of the privileges of childhood—personal relationship and companionship with God himself. Being “in the presence of God” through Christ and by the Spirit (2 Cor 2:17; Eph 2:18) was for Paul a cause not for fear but for confidence.”

What if we recognized and lived out our lives as God’s children – without fear, but with confidence? That would be one example of a life that is full of the Spirit.