God's people are doubly His children, they are His offspring by
creation, and they are His sons by adoption in Christ. Hence they are
privileged to call Him, "Our Father which art in heaven." Father! Oh,
what precious word is that. Here is authority: "If I be a Father,
where is mine honour?" If ye be sons, where is your obedience? Here
is affection mingled with authority; an authority which does not
provoke rebellion; an obedience demanded which is most cheerfully
rendered--which would not be withheld even if it might. The obedience
which God's children yield to Him must be loving obedience. Do not go
about the service of God as slaves to their taskmaster's toil, but
run in the way of His commands because it is your Father's way. Yield
your bodies as instruments of righteousness, because righteousness is
your Father's will, and His will should be the will of His child.
Father!--Here is a kingly attribute so sweetly veiled in love, that
the King's crown is forgotten in the King's face, and His sceptre
becomes, not a rod of iron, but a silver sceptre of mercy--the
sceptre indeed seems to be forgotten in the tender hand of Him who
wields it. Father!--Here is honour and love. How great is a Father's
love to his children! That which friendship cannot do, and mere
benevolence will not attempt, a father's heart and hand must do for
his sons. They are his offspring, he must bless them; they are his
children, he must show himself strong in their defence. If an earthly
father watches over his children with unceasing love and care, how
much more does our heavenly Father? Abba, Father! He who can say
this, hath uttered better music than cherubim or seraphim can reach.
There is heaven in the depth of that word--Father! There is all I can
ask; all my necessities can demand; all my wishes can desire. I have
all in all to all eternity when I can say, "Father."
