Tuesday, June 3, 2025  

---

Today's Scripture
Romans 8:14–17

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ — if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. (NRSV)

---

Reflection

I wanted to be the boss’s son. Specifically, I wanted to be Randy’s son.

I was a high school senior, working part-time at Ioco Pop Shoppe, a self-service gas station, collecting cash, selling smokes, and stumbling through calculus homework between customers. I was often paired with Evan, boss Randy’s real son, who came to work late, snuck $20 bills from the cash register, and took breaks when his girlfriend visited.

When boss daddy Randy came by to check on us, he would demand I mop the toilets. Randy would then smile with pride at son Evan, say what a good worker he was, and together they would leave for a long lunch.

In today’s scripture lesson from Romans, Paul tells me I am the boss’s son. God’s son.

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God,” Paul declares. This Spirit invites each of us to be God’s son or daughter. We have each “received a spirit of adoption.”

This is such a deep, familial transformation that it allows us to cry out, “Abba, Father!” Abba is an Aramaic term of endearment, intimate and tender, like “Daddy” or “Papa.”

Imagine that: the Creator of the universe invites you and me — a former self-service gas station attendant — into a relationship so personal that we can call God Daddy and be heirs and “glorified with him.”

I quit the gas station job when I left for college in the summer. I just Googled Ioco Pop Shoppe, Randy and Evan; the company went bankrupt and closed years ago.

---

Prayer

Heavenly Abba, Daddy, Papa, thank you for adopting me and giving me the best possible inheritance — the ability to love and be loved. Amen.

---

Written by Phil Calian, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

Devotion index by date | I’d like to receive daily devotions by email