Before the foundation of the world, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit eternally co-existed in perfect love. This love is the reason why the universe, and particularly humans, exist.

Through rebellion and sin, however, humans distanced themselves from God and died spiritually. But instead of abandoning humanity, God started his plan of redemption. The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in this ongoing process, and this is what leads us to today’s Scripture readings.

Jesus teaches Nicodemus (a prominent Pharisee) that people have to be born again of the Spirit of God to enter into the Kingdom of God. Jesus likens this experience to being born of the “wind”, an interesting analogy that reminds us of the exodus of Israel from Egypt. After 400 years of slavery in Egypt, Israel is stuck at the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s army chasing after them. In Exdodus 14:21 we read that God sent a strong wind to part the Red Sea and “birth” Israel through the waters into their new identity as a freed people, created to worship God and glorify him in the promised land. Similarly, Romans 8:15 says that believers have not received a spirit of slavery unto fear, but the spirit of adoption by which we cry “Abba, Father”.

When was the last time you literally cried “Abba, Father” in your personal prayer time?

Just like Jesus, we get to call God the Father “Abba” (which means “Daddy”) – what a privilege!

All we have to do is look to Jesus on the cross with eyes of faith. In him is our healing, our redemption and our adoption as sons and daughters by his Holy Spirit.

I want to challenge and encourage you to become more aware of the Holy Spirit in your daily life and to cry out “Abba, Father” more often.