“And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’”
Galatians 4:6

Paul describes the amazing truth that we who come to Christ by faith are freed from slavery to the law and to our own sinfulness, and are adopted by God as His children. Now Paul points to the Holy Spirit as the confirmation of this adoption.

God sends His Spirit to live in the hearts of every one of his adopted sons and daughters. The Holy Spirit is referred to here by Paul as the Spirit of His Son. He moves into our hearts and gives us the right, along with Jesus, to call out to God as a young child calls out to their “daddy.”

Abba means “father” in the Aramaic language. Because it’s easy for young children to say, like the English term dada, it’s what most young children would call their father. Without our own sinfulness and the law standing between us and God, we can live with God as little children do with a trusted father.

This verse helps show how each member of the Trinity is involved in our salvation. God the Father sent the Son to save us, and sent the Spirit to live in our hearts.

Dear God, Your Spirit creates in me an awareness that I am Yours. I now know I am no longer a slave to this world, and my heart is overwhelmed by Your grace. I love You and I thank You for bringing me into Your family. I show my confidence in You with only one word: Abba. Amen.

Contributed by Tara Boehne