Calling Our Heavenly Father

Welcome to today's encouragement from the Our Daily Bread devotional. My name is Mike Whitmer and I titled today's reading, Calling Our Heavenly Father. Minutes after U.S. President Harry Truman announced the end of World War II, a phone rang in a small clapboard house in Grandview, Missouri.

A 92-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 according to Romans 8, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. We're now heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. 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.

Do you have news? Do you have needs? Call the One who is your eternal home. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Romans 8, verses 12-21. Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation, but it is not to the flesh to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die.

But if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again. Rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship, and by Him we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit Him Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now, if we are children, then we are heirs, heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us, for the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.

For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the One who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. Let's pray. Gracious Father, thank You for inviting us into Your presence and for hearing every one of our prayers. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. Thanks for listening today. My name is Mike Whitmer and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.