A Magnolia's Heart Beats

Thankful Thursday - Daughter of the King

Laurie, from Women Taking a Stand, is hosting this week. She has chosen a great theme for Thankful Thursday. We are daughters of the King.

He Reigns

"But you, O God, are my king from of old; you bring salvation upon the earth." ~ Psalm 74:12 (NIV)

"On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." ~ Revelation 19:16 (NIV)

The Lord reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords. There is no other God but Him. I rejoice at His power and sovreignty and might. I am humbled by His holiness and brought low by the grace He gives.

The Greek word for King is basileus. It means:

1) leader of the people, prince, commander, lord of the land, king

My Father, the King

"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." ~ Romans 8:15-16 (NIV)

The Greek word for Abba is, suprisingly to me, abba. The outline of Biblical usage is:

Abba = "father"

1) father, customary title used of God in prayer. Whenever it occurs in the New Testament it has the Greek interpretation joined to it, that is apparently to be explained by the fact that the Chaldee "ABBA" through frequent use in prayer, gradually acquired the nature of a most sacred proper name, to which the Greek speaking Jews added the name from their own tongue.

Abba is of Aramaic origin. 'Ab is a noun which means: father.

Now Father, or patēr, in Greek, means:

1) generator or male ancestor
a) either the nearest ancestor: father of the corporeal nature, natural fathers, both parents
b) a more remote ancestor, the founder of a family or tribe, progenitor of a people, forefather: so Abraham is called, Jacob and David
1) fathers i.e. ancestors, forefathers, founders of a nation
c) one advanced in years, a senior
2) metaph.
a) the originator and transmitter of anything
1) the authors of a family or society of persons animated by the same spirit as himself
2) one who has infused his own spirit into others, who actuates and governs their minds
b) one who stands in a father's place and looks after another in a paternal way
c) a title of honour
1) teachers, as those to whom pupils trace back the knowledge and training they have received
2) the members of the Sanhedrin, whose prerogative it was by virtue of the wisdom and experience in which they excelled, to take charge of the interests of others
3) God is called the Father
a) of the stars, the heavenly luminaries, because he is their creator, upholder, ruler
b) of all rational and intelligent beings, whether angels or men, because he is their creator, preserver, guardian and protector
1) of spiritual beings and of all men
c) of Christians, as those who through Christ have been exalted to a specially close and intimate relationship with God, and who no longer dread him as a stern judge of sinners, but revere him as their reconciled and loving Father
d) the Father of Jesus Christ, as one whom God has united to himself in the closest bond of love and intimacy, made acquainted with his purposes, appointed to explain and carry out among men the plan of salvation, and made to share also in his own divine nature
1) by Jesus Christ himself
2) by the apostles

How intimate, yet holy, our Father is. As Creator God, He holds the stars in the Heavens and the stars in my eyes. I am captivated by His holiness yet how personable He is. He is our Father God.

What a privelege to be called children of God.

Many people have a hard time identifying with God as a loving Father, especially if their earthly father was less than loving in word or deed. I have mentioned before that my earthly Daddy was an alcoholic (recovered now)and was emotionally and verbally abusive. Despite my rebellion in my teen years, one thing I knew clearly when I was younger and know even more now is that I was and am loved. There was no lack of love in our home.

One of my earliest memories is of me being sick one hot summer day and Daddy coming in from the garden after picking butterbeans. He sat down for a minute before he hit the shower and I hopped up on his lap and nestled my chin into the folds of his neck. He may have been sweaty and grimy and a little stinky after working so hard all day, but he was all I wanted. I needed comfort and love and just to be held. Tears are pooling in my eyes as I type this because I remember that just a few months ago, when I had that awful bronchitis and sinus infection and ear infections and respiratory virus and ached from head to toe, my Dad came up and I told him I was sick. Instead of backing away like I had the plague he let me get my hug. I was held then and I was held now. If I was smaller I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I could have nestled up to him without him fearing catching what I was had. Why? Because that's what Daddy's do.

Our God is the same, yet even much better. We can run to Him and nestle up to Him and just be so comforted and loved. We can be held by the King of the Universe. How AWESOME is that?! He loves us *that* much!

Who We Are in Christ

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." ~ Romans 5:1-2 (NIV)

Oh, how thankful I am to be the Daughter of the King. Christ Jesus gave us the justification through our faith in Him. We have actually gained access to His grace by our faith and because He loves us! What an honor!

The Greek word for access is prosagōgē. It means:

1) the act of bringing to, a moving to
2) access, approach
a) to God, i.e. that relationship with God whereby we are acceptable to him and have assurance that he is favourably disposed towards us

Can you imagine that He died just for you?! Death on a Cross! Death could not hold Him and He rose again. Now we rejoice in the hope of eternal life with Him.

Questions for Reflection: Do you make the most of your access to your Heavenly Father? Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior? If not, email me at sisterchick1@yahoo.com and let's chat.

Verse for the Day: "But you, O God, are my king from of old; you bring salvation upon the earth." ~ Psalm 74:12 (NIV)

Prayer: Father, what a privelege to call You Father. Thank You for loving us so much that You sent Your Son to die for us. I praise You that we have access to You through Him. I cannot express enough my gratitude at the comfort, love and peace You give. I just don't have the words. My heart is full to bursting, Lord, and I praise You for giving me the privelege of being the daughter of a King. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

A - Approach God with confidence. "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." ~ Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

C - Connect with God in prayer daily. "Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!" ~ Psalm 66:20 (NIV)

C - Choose to learn more about God's love for you and His ways through reading His Word. "I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word." ~ Psalm 119:15-16 (NIV)

E - Expect to spend eternity with the Father who loves you so much. "Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life." ~ Jude 1:21 (NIV)

S - Seek to honor God as your only King and Father. "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen." ~ 1 Timothy 1:17 (NIV)

S - Share His love with others, encouraging them to know the Lord. "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." ~ Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

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