God's people are doubly his children. We are his offspring by creation, and we are his sons and daughters by adoption in Christ. This is why we have the privilege of calling him "Our Father in heaven."

Father! Oh, what a precious word that is!

Here is authority: "If I am a Father, where is my honor?" If you are children, where is your obedience? Yet here is affection mingled with authority—an authority that does not provoke rebellion, an obedience demanded which is most cheerfully rendered, which would not be withheld even if it could be.

The obedience 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. His scepter becomes not a rod of iron but a silver scepter of mercy—indeed, the scepter seems to be forgotten in the tender hand of him who wields it.

Father! Here is honor and love. How great is a father's love to his children! What friendship cannot do, what 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 defense.

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 has 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."