Calling Our Heavenly Father 呼唤天父
Dexu Xia
By [the Spirit] we cry, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15
Minutes after US President Harry Truman announced the end of World War II, a phone rang in a small clapboard house in Grandview, Missouri. A ninety-two-year-old woman excused herself to take the call. Her guest heard her say, “Hello. . . . Yes, I’m all right. Yes, I’ve been listening to the radio. . . . Now you come and see me if you can. . . . Goodbye.” The elderly woman returned to her guest. “That was [my son] Harry. Harry’s a wonderful man. . . . I knew he’d call. He always calls me after something that happens is over.”
No matter how accomplished, no matter how old, we yearn to call our parents. To hear their affirming words, “Well done!” We may be wildly successful, but we’ll always be their son or daughter.
Sadly, not everyone has this kind of relationship with their earthly parents. But through Jesus, we all can have God as our Father. We who follow Christ are brought into the family of God, for “the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship” (Romans 8:15). We’re now “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (v. 17). We don’t speak to God as a slave but now have the freedom to use the intimate name Jesus used in His hour of desperate need, “Abba, Father” (v. 15; see also Mark 14:36).
Do you have news? Do you have needs? Call the one who is your eternal home. By: Mike Wittmer
What news or needs would you love to share with your earthly parents? What can you tell your heavenly Father? He’s listening.
Gracious Father, thank You for being the one to whom I can call on in prayer anytime.
所受的乃是儿子的心，因此我们呼叫：“阿爸，父！”—罗马书8章15节
在美国总统哈利·杜鲁门宣布二战结束的几分钟后，密苏里州格兰德维尤市一间木板搭建的小房子里，响起了电话铃声。一位92岁的老妇人向客人致歉，去接了电话。她的客人听见她说：“喂，是的，我还好。是啊，我一直在听广播⋯⋯如果可以，现在你能来看我了⋯⋯再见！”过后老妇人告诉客人说：“我儿子哈利打电话来，他很棒⋯⋯我知道他会打电话来。他总是在事情结束后，打电话给我。”
无论我们有多大的成就、多大的年纪，我们都渴望打电话给父母，想要听见他们肯定地说：“做得好！”我们也许功成名就，但还是他们的儿子或女儿。
可惜不是每个人都能跟父母有如此亲密的关系。但是我们藉着耶稣，都可以有上帝作我们的父亲。我们这些跟随基督的人，被领进上帝的大家庭，因为你我“领受的是上帝的灵，上帝收养[我们]作了祂的儿女”（罗马书8章15节，新普及译本）。我们现在“是上帝的后嗣，和基督同作后嗣”（17节），便不再以奴仆的身份对上帝说话，而是像耶稣一样，在需要的时刻能亲密地呼求上帝：“阿爸，父！”（15节；另见马可福音14章36节）
你有什么事或需要吗？尽管告诉你的天父。作者： 韦陌格
你有什么事或需求想跟你的父母分享？
你想跟天父说些什么呢？祂正在聆听。
慈爱的天父，谢谢祢让我可以随时向祢祷告呼求。