Father’s Day Devotional: Abba! Father! (Romans 8:15)

· Devotionals

For June 20

A Father’s Day devotional celebrates the perfect Father we all need. Romans 8:15 (ESV) says we did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba! Father! Whatever your earthly father was like, God welcomes you as his beloved child.

Key Verse

“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!”” (Romans 8:15, ESV)

Romans 8 in Context

Romans 8 is one of the most beloved chapters in the Bible. It opens by declaring that believers in Christ are free from condemnation and closes with the assurance that nothing can separate believers from God’s love. In between, Paul describes the Spirit’s work in the lives of believers.

Verse 15 belongs to a passage about identity. Paul has just said that everyone the Spirit leads is a child of God. In the Roman world, an adopted son received his new father’s name, full legal rights, and a share in the inheritance. His old debts were cancelled. Paul uses that picture to describe what God has done for everyone who trusts in Christ.

Celebrating Fathers

Today is Father’s Day in the United States, Sunday, June 20, 2027. It is a day to thank fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, and father figures who have loved, provided, and pointed us to God. Their sacrifices often go unnoticed. Today is a good day to say thank you.

Not Everyone Celebrates Easily

For some, Father’s Day stirs pain: a father who was absent, harsh, or abusive, a father who died, or the ache of wanting to be a father. If that is you, your feelings are valid. Romans 8:15 is especially for you.

Tomorrow’s devotional is also written for anyone with a hard father story.

The Spirit of Adoption

Paul contrasts two spirits: slavery leading to fear, and adoption leading to intimacy. Through faith in Jesus, God adopts us as his children. Adoption in the Roman world gave full rights and inheritance. You are not a servant on probation. You are a child, fully belonging.

Abba! Father!

Abba is an Aramaic word for father, used warmly within families. Jesus prayed Abba in Gethsemane. Through the Spirit, we can approach God with the same trust. We are not afraid of a distant judge. We come to a loving Father.

Earthly fathers, even good ones, are imperfect. God is the perfect Father who never abandons, abuses, or forgets his children.

Fathers Reflecting the Father

Dads, your greatest calling is to point your children to their heavenly Father. Let your love, patience, and presence give them a glimpse of his heart.

If you are a father who feels you have fallen short, remember that your heavenly Father offers you the same grace he asks you to show. It is never too late to begin again with your children.

Approaching God as Father This Week

Many people pray to God as a distant authority rather than a loving Father. This week, try changing the way you begin your prayers. Address God simply as Father, and pause to remember that you belong to him. Bring him small concerns as well as large ones, the way a child would.

If your earthly father was absent or hurtful, this may feel difficult. Be honest with God about that. Ask him to heal the picture of fatherhood in your heart. You might also look for older believers in your church who can show you something of God’s fatherly care. He often uses his family to help us know him better.

Today, Try This

Thank a father or father figure today with a specific note or call. Then spend a few minutes praying to God, addressing him simply as Father.

Reflection Question

How does knowing you are adopted as God’s child change the way you approach him?

Prayer

Abba, Father, thank you for adopting me through Jesus. I am not a slave to fear but your beloved child. Bless the fathers in my life. Heal the hearts of those for whom this day is painful. Help every father reflect your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

More devotionals

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Romans 8:15 mean?

Romans 8:15 (ESV) teaches that believers have received the Spirit of adoption, making them God’s children. Instead of living in fear, they can call God Abba, Father, with intimate trust.

What does Abba mean?

Abba is an Aramaic word for father used within the family. Jesus used it in prayer, and through the Spirit, believers can approach God with the same close, trusting relationship.

When is Father’s Day in 2027?

In the United States, Father’s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June. In 2027, it falls on Sunday, June 20.

Keep Reading

Related Posts