MONDAY 

Abba - Father

Studying the Name

Though the Old Testament provides many rich names and titles for God, the New Testament reveals Him most fully. Jesus shocked and offended the religious leaders of His day by claiming that He had a Father/Son relationship with the God whose name they feared even to pronounce. By inviting His followers to call God “Father,” He made this the primary name by which God is to be known to His followers.

Key Scripture 

“All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to Him. And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them! ” He also said: “A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets to them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living. After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing. Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. He longed to eat his fill from the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him any. When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger! I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired hands.’ So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father told his slaves, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found! ’ So they began to celebrate. “Now his older son was in the field; as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he summoned one of the servants and asked what these things meant. ‘Your brother is here,’ he told him, ‘and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ “Then he became angry and didn’t want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’ “ ‘Son,’ he said to him, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”” Luke 15:1-2, 11-32

Discussion:

Who is Jesus speaking to when He tells the story of the wayward son? What might be a counterpart audience in our world?

How have you experienced the kind grace this father extended to his son?

Why do you think the wayward son fails to offer to become one of his father’s hired servants, as he had planned?

How is grace offered to both the law breaker and the law keeper in this story?

With whom do you most identify in this story? Why?

What does the parable reveal about your Heavenly Father? 

TUESDAY - Praying the Name

Reflect On: Luke 15:1-2, 11-32

Praise God: For His generous, fatherly love.

Offer Thanks: That God is not only our King and Lord but also our Father.

Confess: Any attempts to earn your way into the Father’s good graces.

Ask God: To reveal Himself as Father

WEDNESDAY - Praying the Name

Reflect On: John 10:27-30, Deuteronomy 33:27

Praise God: For His promise to watch over you.

Offer Thanks: For the gift of eternal life.

Confess: Any failure to take the risks that faith requires.

Ask God: For the grace to see yourself as His child.

THURSDAY - Praying the Name

Reflect On: Matthew 6:9-13

Praise God: For His ability to bring good out of evil.

Offer Thanks: For the way God has already provided for you.

Confess: Any lack of zeal for God’s kingdom.

Ask God: To make doing His will your first and greatest goal.

FRIDAY - Promises in Scripture 

“God in His holy dwelling is a father of the fatherless and a champion of widows. God provides homes for those who are deserted. He leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious live in a scorched land.” Psalms 68:5-6 

“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For He knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust.” Psalms 103:13-14

“And why do you worry about clothes? Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these! If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t He do much more for you — you of little faith? So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat? ’ or ‘What will we drink? ’ or ‘What will we wear? ’ For the idolaters eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” Matthew 6:28-32 

“I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:18