6 Words That Will Change Your LifeSample

Almost 65 years ago, the Korean War was raging and Toney was tapped on the shoulder to go fight for his country.  As a sergeant in the Army, he fought valiantly. He was captured by the North Koreans and held as a Prisoner of War at Pyok-Dong. When Toney was finally released, he came back to his home town of Sacramento as a celebrated war hero. 

Like so many military men, over the years, he turned to the party life. One day while out on the town, he met a girl named Shirley. They partied. She got pregnant. He found out and got transferred 2,000 miles away. 

When he died a few years later, all he had to show for his life was a brokenhearted family, a dusty Bible, a few old medals from the war, and a son he’d never met…me. 

I’m the illegitimate son of Sergeant Major Toney Woods. I’ve never seen my father’s face. I’ve never heard my father’s voice. 

But don’t you dare feel sorry for me. Because I have been adopted into God’s family! And, if you’re a believer in Jesus, you have too!  

In Roman culture, at the time of the writing of the epistles, if you were an adopted son, you would receive all the blessings, riches and rights as the natural sons in that family.  

In the same way, we receive all the same blessings, riches and rights as Jesus. Now we can call God “Abba, Father.” Abba is the Aramaic equivalent of "Daddy". The same sovereign, holy King of kings and Lord of lords is our Papa, too. 

In my mom’s last days, she asked me, “Do you remember what you used to say to the kids in the neighborhood who would make fun of you for not having a dad?” I said, “No.” She responded, “You used to say ‘God’s my daddy!’” I told her, “Ma, I don’t remember saying that, but I remember feeling it from the moment I put my faith in Jesus.” 

About eight years ago, I got a strange e-mail from some lady in Sacramento. It simply read, “I think I may be your sister. Is your dad named Toney Woods?” I responded in the affirmative. 

We met in Sacramento, and it was an instant family reunion. Marilyn was my sister, and I found out I had another brother and another sister.  

You, too, have another family. God is your Father, Jesus is your big brother, and we as believers are God’s children- brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Let’s enjoy our fellowship with each other and honor our heavenly Father together. Then let’s get out and invite others to join the family too, through faith in Christ. 

Do you think of God as your Father? If not, drill down into those feelings some. Then invite God the Father to more fully reveal that aspect of His character to you.