Several verses reached out and grabbed me by the scruff of the neck this morning. (That works whether I am a cat or a dog… ) Like a lot of people, I have a very hard time relating to the concept of God as a father, because my relationship with my earthly father is so lacking.

Rom 8:15 For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption by which we cry, Abba, Father!

Received
λαμβάνω
lambanō
lam-ban’-o
A prolonged form of a primary verb, which is used only as an alternate in certain tenses; to take (in very many applications, literally and figuratively [probably objective or active, to get hold of; whereas G1209 is rather subjective or passive, to have offered to one; while G138 is more violent, to seize or remove]): – accept, + be amazed, assay, attain, bring, X when I call, catch, come on (X unto), + forget, have, hold, obtain, receive (X after), take (away, up).

A prolonged form… a process, to keep on receiving, not a one-time shot. And there is activity there, “to take” but not passively or violently. Just a gentle reaching-out to take what is being handed to me.

Cry
krazō
krad’-zo
A primary verb; properly to “croak” (as a raven) or scream, that is, (generally) to call aloud (shriek, exclaim, intreat): – cry (out).

Croaking is such an unpleasant word; the very word even sounds harsh. We croak when we are parched or sick. So here I am, crying out, pitiful in my need, asking Daddy for help. Well, He gave me the right to do that…

Rom 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.
Rom 8:17 And if we are children, then we are heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; so that if we suffer with Him, we may also be glorified together.
Gal 4:7 So that you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, also an heir of God through Christ.

but I can see that this aspect of my relationship with God is going to be a journey, not a destination. I’m going to keep on asking for his love and reassurance and guidance and discipline. And more. And MORE!

No, nothing kinky happening around here. I read Romans chapter 1… Paul describes himself as “doulos,” a servant. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia says “doulos” has

a variety of meanings, all implying a greater or less degree of inferiority and want of freedom: (1) The most frequent usage is as the equivalent of “slave”

That’s a hard concept these days. We work “with” not “for” our bosses. Slavery is still happening in every country including America (yes, that’s correct – I’m not kidding) but most people don’t know it. So why would anyone sign up for slavery, and what does it mean in this context? Obedience has been a recurring theme for me lately.

Do you not know that to whom you yield yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves to him whom you obey; whether it is of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness. But thanks be to our God that you were the slaves of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. Then being made free from sin, you became the slaves of righteousness. Romans 6:16-18

Obedience defined by Strongs:

hupakoē
hoop-ak-o-ay’
From G5219; attentive hearkening, that is, (by implication) compliance or submission: – obedience, (make) obedient, obey (-ing).

So obedience is a two-step process. Attentive listening, followed by compliance. Can’t obey a command you don’t hear. Martin Luther said concerning spiritual liberty and servitude

love is by its own nature dutiful and obedient to the beloved object. Thus even Christ, though Lord of all things, was yet made of a woman; made under the law; at once free and a servant; at once in the form of God and in the form of a servant.

John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible states about Romans 1:1 -

“A servant of Jesus Christ”; not a servant of sin, nor of Satan, nor of man, nor of Moses and his law, nor of the traditions of the elders, but of Jesus Christ; and not by creation only, but by redemption, and by powerful efficacious grace in conversion; which is no ways contrary to true liberty; nor a disgraceful, but a most honourable character; and which chiefly regards him as a minister of the Gospel:

Bondage doesn’t sound too bad. Quite liberating, actually.

I’ve noticed that the dynamics in my relationship with my cats seem to parallel my relationship with God. I love nothing better than for my cats to come to me of their own accord, climb up in my lap – even when I’m working! – and just purr, because they’re happy to be near me. And I know from my bible studies that my wish for the cats is much like God’s wish that I love Him and desire to be near him. And when I am closest to Him, I am happiest. So, why the heck won’t the cats come to me, when they LOVE to be petted and scratched? When I gladly supply all their needs, why don’t they show some gratitude? Beats me… right now my relationship with God is firmly on the upswing. I’m enjoying more interest in Him, in the Bible, than I have for a long time. I find myself looking forward to church. But all it takes is to skip one day of study and devotion, and the next day it feels ten times harder to get back… Here’s hoping I finally lose the “cattitude” and behave more like a dog.