Daddy’s Girl

When our kids were little, we sang to them and with them—a lot! Rachel especially enjoyed singing, since she couldn’t move her body around to explore and play as the other children did. So, she would sit on my lap with her little nose pressed up to mine and her tiny round-framed glasses making her eyes look huge, and we would talk and sing.

We quoted Bible verses. We sang Sunday school songs. We learned nursery rhymes. We recited the ABCs, the numbers up to 100, and even the books of the Bible. Rachel also had a whole arsenal of songs and rhymes that she had learned in pre-school: Baby Beluga (probably the precursor to Baby Shark!), 5 Little Monkeys, How Much Is That Doggy in the Window?, and more.

But Rachel’s favorite—really everybody’s favorite—was “Daddy’s Girl.” It has simple words, and it shares a simple tune with “God’s Word Shall Never Fail,” if you happen to know that one. It works with just about any name, and goes like this:

“Rachel Ann is Daddy’s girl,

Daddy’s girl, Daddy’s girl.

Rachel Ann is Daddy’s girl,

Yes, yes, YES!”

Of course, I would change the words and sing, “Rachel Ann is Mommy’s girl.” Well, Rachel would sing along happily with me, unless her daddy was nearby. Then she would giggle and shout and shake her head vigorously. “No! I’m Daddy’s girl!” She knew my response would be mock indignation and a good tummy tickling, which she loved!

Recently, the words to this sweet little song came back to my memory as I read these verses:

“As God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall by My people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (II Cor. 6:16b-18)

What an incredible statement! Taken in context, we see that God declares that those who believe in Him are His people. As Christians, we really are Daddy’s girls!

But as I studied the Greek words in these verses, I was surprised to find that the word for “Father” is not abba. Rather, it is the word pater. In our English vernacular, it’s just like it sounds, the difference between daddy and father.

While we use the words interchangeably, there is a distinction in their meaning. Jesus used both terms to address God in His garden prayer, just before His crucifixion. Abba was the title most often used of Jesus in prayer. It indicates that the petitioner is asking for something from Him. Just as children ask their daddy for things that they need, trusting that he will provide them with whatever is necessary, so we too can ask God to meet the deepest needs of our hearts. It denotes a close relationship, comfortable enough to express our desires and share our hearts with Him.

Pater, on the other hand, indicates one who looks after another in a paternal way, who has infused his own values into others and whose teachings motivate and govern the mind of his child. This explains perfectly why Jesus would call upon His Pater in the hour of His most dire need - He wanted to submit His will to the Father’s will, His desires to the Father’s desires. “Not my will, but Thine, be done.” (Luke 22:42)

While we tend to focus on physical needs like food, shelter, and clothing, God knows what is the most important need of all. And He was willing to send Jesus to the cross to meet that need for you and for me. And Jesus, in obedience to His Father, was willing to make that sacrifice for us, opening the way for us to become God’s children, too. We become “heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:17). What unfathomable love and grace!

This is why the world calls us “Christians” or “little Christs.” Believers ought to look like their Heavenly Father. Every thought, word, and action ought to be motivated and governed by the will of God, which is expressed to us in His Word. Our minds must be filled with His teachings, His authority, and His values. Our imitation of Jesus should be so thorough, so accurate, that no one can deny He is our Father, our Pater. And the trust we exhibit in God to give us what is best should be so complete that He is obviously our Daddy, our Abba, as well.

As Christians, believers in God’s Son and Word, we are “exalted to a specially close and intimate relationship with God, and therefore, no longer dread Him as a stern judge of sinners, but revere Him as our reconciled and loving Father” (Definition of pater, Blue Letter Bible). That sums it up beautifully. We respect Him because we love Him, not because we fear His judgment.

In His goodness, God has given us four proofs that we are His. For what good father would deny the expression of his love for his children?

First, God dwells in us. The Holy Spirit makes His home in us and with us, and His role is critical in our daily walk. We are given new life, direction, confirmation, help, understanding, illumination, and conviction—all from the Holy Spirit.

“But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.” (Rom. 8:11)

Second, God walks in us. This means that as we live a life of dependence on God, we will live out the actions, words, and attitudes that please God. Are we representing Him clearly and correctly to the lost world around us? We can do these things by the power of the Holy Spirit which dwells within us. (See #1.)

“And I will set My tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.” (Lev. 26:11-12)

“I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20)

Third, He confirms that He is our God. Your God. My God. We can claim possession of Him, His grace, His love, His goodness. He cares for us personally, eternally.

“For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death.” (Ps. 48:14)

“And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” (Is. 25:9)

Fourth, we are His people, those of the same stock, language, tribe, and nation. We weren’t always His, but He has bought us with His blood and changed us into His image, moment by moment, step by step. He has done this not because we are worthy, but because He is. And He loves us.

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21)

“As he saith also in Osee, I will call them My people, which were not My people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.” (Rom. 9:25)

“Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Tit. 2:4)

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” (I Pet. 2:9-10)

“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.” (Rev. 21:3)

Whatever you may be facing today, however you may be feeling, may I encourage you to crawl into your heavenly Father’s lap. Nestle into the gentle, caring hands of your Abba. Press in close. Listen to the heartbeat of your Pater, and trust what He has for you today.

For you are your Daddy’s girl.