We’ve all ordered pizza over the phone. It wasn’t something new or unique when I called Papa John’s this evening. Twenty minutes later I was walking in the door ready to do battle. The price they quoted me on the phone was quite a bit more than the sign on the door that said, “Any Large Pizza – $10.” But wait; they didn’t have my order. It was then that I realized I hadn’t called Papa John’s. I had called Papa Gino’s. How I wish I had called Papa John’s. Their pizza was so much cheaper.
Now back into the truck and on my way to Papa Gino’s, Frank Sinatra started to sing, “My Embraceable You”, which of course contained the line, “Come to papa, come to papa do.” My grandchildren call me “papa” as they also call their other grandfather “papa.” I even heard a sermon where the preacher said Jesus referred to His father as “papa.” There are just too many papas around.
Or are there? Is that even possible? If God loves me as much as I love my sons and their children then I’m okay. I’m in a very safe place. I couldn’t help not thinking of Romans 8 where Paul says, we “received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.”
The word “Abba” is well translated as “papa.” This personal fatherhood of God is a very New Testament idea. Jesus wanted us to know what God is really like. There really can’t be too many papas.
Written by Roger Bothwell on May 20, 2010
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org