“….but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”  Romans 8:15

How different is true Christianity from man-made religions!  We have a heavenly Father!

I’m reading Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiewicz, a best-selling novel for about a century.  The story is set in Rome about AD 54-68.   Christianity was in its infancy and very much misunderstood.   (Misunderstandings and lies still abound today because the “accuser of the brethren” does not like to publish the truth!)

Anyway, I want to quote a bit of this classic book (Chapter 25):

These are the thoughts of a Roman as he comes upon the Christians in worship….

“[Vinicius] had been in every kind of [pagan] temple … but this was the first time he heard people calling out to God with overwhelming love, like children crying out to a good father or a loving mother…. these people not only worshiped … but actually loved him.  No ritual or temple in any country ever showed him truly loving people….”

Contrast that to his thoughts on the pagans:

The pagans “did so [worship] to enlist their [gods’] help or to stay in their good graces.”

Why do people follow a particular religious path?   Tradition!  Many were born into it, and were kept there through fear, intimidation, or peer pressure.   Seduction!  Others are lured into false religious paths, brain-washed and kept there through fear, intimidation, or peer pressure.

Christians, on the other hand, once they are brought to the Truth, must persevere DESPITE fear, intimidation, and peer pressure from a godless society, but we are kept in Christ by His love!  We should persevere in the faith because we love Him Who loved us first!   Are you not overwhelmed by the love of God, Who stooped to take on human flesh then died on the cross in our place?   What love!

We Christians are in the grace of God because through Jesus Christ.   Moreover, we are adopted and placed into His family!  We then enjoy continual access to Our Father!  What love!

So have you told your Daddy, how much you love Him today?  Or did you only go to Him with a wish list?  How blessed we are to be children of the Most High God, to know Our Father, to pray Our Father, and, so to speak, to be able to sit on our Daddy’s lap!

I love you, Abba!