Before All Else

Before all else, we are deeply loved children of our Abba, Daddy, who made us and cherishes us. Abba is the more intimate and relational form of father, like we use as children. When we step out of rules for rules sake, and enter the flow of relationship, something changes. Usually, we begin to soften in the safety of the love our Creator, our Abba, always planned. Guided by love more than restrictions, changes the dynamic.

^“14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. ¹⁵ 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.” ¹⁶ For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. ¹⁷ And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.” Romans 8 (Yes, suffering is part of the relationship. It is part of becoming more like Christ.)

The key difference between slave and heir is being, “led by the Spirit.” To be led by the Spirit we must train ourselves in the knowledge of the Word of God, the Bible. We seek to grow in our faith by spending time with other members of the family of God. We are free to learn to receive love, and to give it to others. These kinds of relationships, both horizonal with people, and vertical with Abba, mark us for eternity. Our bond with Abba also has a maternal side as well as paternal. The Lord tells us in Isaiah 49.

¹⁵ “Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! ^16a See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.”  Some translations use the verbs, inscribed, tattooed, or carved to describe how close and permanent we are to the One who made us. Tattooed on Abba’s hands, we are always visible.

I share all this because some people and some systems attempt to mold us, using us for their purposes. Most, if not all of us, have experienced that at some level in our lives. Some of us have yet to experience the freedom of this deep of a relationship. There is no shame if that is your reality. Our loving Abba, Jesus His Son, and Holy Spirit, who lives in us when we begin our relationship with Jesus, are ready to fill our gaps the moment we invite them.

In Colossians 2, the Apostle Paul is sharing again about too many rules. “¹⁶ So don’t let anyone judge you about eating or drinking or about a festival, a new moon observance, or sabbaths.¹⁷ These religious practices are only a shadow of what was coming—the body that cast the shadow is Christ.”  I love this because rules and religious practices are different from relationship. They are the shadow that forms as light shines on our eternal relationship with Christ. Before all else, Christ is real and solid, the shadows are not. Our relationship with Our Creator is before all else.

Abba, Father! Thank you for making us your cherished children and heirs, for leading us by your Spirit. I am comforted knowing I am always with you. And I am especially thankful that you are , before all else, the only real and solid substance of our lives and relationships.