God as Our Understanding Identity and Purpose

Devotional

Day 1: God as Our Source

Just as a bottle pours water into a glass, God is the ultimate Source, and we are His resource, receiving everything we are and have from Him. Our identity and purpose flow directly from Him, and we are called to recognize that nothing in us is self-originated; all that we possess—our gifts, our life, our very being—comes from the Source who is our Father. [00:14]

John 14:9 (ESV)
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”

Reflection: In what area of your life do you most struggle to see God as your true Source, and how can you intentionally acknowledge Him as your Provider today?

Day 2: The Meaning of “Abba”

In the Hebrew language, “Abba” means “Source,” not just “Father,” reminding us that God is not only relationally close but also the origin of everything we need and are. This understanding deepens our relationship with God, moving us beyond a distant or formal connection to one of dependence and trust, knowing that our lives are sustained by His continual outpouring. [00:14]

Romans 8:15 (ESV)
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

Reflection: How does viewing God as your Source and not just your Father change the way you approach Him in prayer today?

Day 3: Jesus Reveals the Father

When Jesus said, “He that has seen me has seen the Father,” He was declaring that He perfectly represents the Source, making the invisible God visible and accessible to us. Through Christ, we encounter the fullness of God’s character, love, and power, and are invited to experience the Source personally, not just conceptually. [00:51]

John 14:9-10 (ESV)
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.”

Reflection: What is one way you can look for and recognize the character of God the Father in the life and teachings of Jesus today?

Day 4: Our Identity as God’s Resource

We are not the Source but the resource, designed to receive from God and pour out His life, love, and power to others, just as the glass receives water from the bottle. This identity calls us to humility and stewardship, recognizing that our role is to reflect and distribute what we have received from God, not to claim it as our own. [00:14]

2 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV)
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

Reflection: Who in your life needs to experience God’s love or encouragement through you today, and how can you pour out what you have received from Him?

Day 5: The Oneness of Jesus and the Father

Jesus’ claim that seeing Him is seeing the Father affirms His divinity and the unity between the Son and the Source, challenging us to trust in the sufficiency and authority of Christ. This truth invites us to deeper faith, knowing that in Christ we have direct access to the fullness of God, and that our relationship with Jesus is a relationship with the very Source of all things. [00:51]

Colossians 1:15-17 (ESV)
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Reflection: How does knowing that Jesus is the perfect image of the invisible God affect your confidence in following Him and trusting His words today?

Sermon Summary

In exploring the relationship between God the Father and His children, the illustration of the bottle and the glass brings clarity to the concept of source and resource. Just as the water poured from the bottle into the glass means that whatever is in the bottle is now in the glass, so too are we, as God’s children, filled with His very nature. In the Hebrew understanding, “Abba” means source, not just a paternal figure. God is not simply a distant authority, but the very origin from which we draw our identity, purpose, and life itself.

This understanding addresses a common theological question: if Jesus calls God “Father,” does that make Him less than God? The answer lies in recognizing that Jesus was not diminishing Himself, but rather affirming that His very being and mission flowed from the Father as the source. When Jesus said, “He that has seen me has seen the Father,” He was declaring that the essence of the Father is fully present in Him, just as the water in the glass is the same as the water in the bottle.

This truth has profound implications for our daily walk. We are not merely distant creations, but direct recipients of God’s life and character. Our value and purpose are rooted in being God’s resource, continually filled and sustained by Him. Understanding God as our source transforms how we see ourselves, how we relate to Him, and how we live out our faith in the world.

Key Takeaways

1. God as Source, Not Just Authority God is not merely a distant ruler or judge; He is the very source of our being. Just as the water in the glass comes directly from the bottle, our lives and identities flow from God Himself. This means our worth and purpose are not self-generated, but received from the One who created and sustains us. [00:14]
2. The Meaning of “Abba” In the Hebrew context, “Abba” signifies more than just “father” in a biological sense—it means “source.” Recognizing God as Abba invites us to see Him as the origin of everything we need, not just someone who oversees us from afar. This deepens our intimacy with God and grounds our trust in His provision. [00:14]
3. Jesus Reveals the Father’s Essence When Jesus refers to God as Father, He is not claiming inferiority but expressing unity of essence and purpose. The relationship between Jesus and the Father is like the water in the glass and the bottle—identical in substance, distinct in expression. This affirms the divinity of Christ and the closeness of the Trinity. [00:31]
4. Our Identity as God’s Resource We are not random orphans in the universe; we are God’s resource, filled with His life and character. This truth calls us to live with confidence and humility, knowing that our abilities and calling are not our own, but gifts from our Source. It also challenges us to pour out what we have received into the lives of others. [00:14]
5. Seeing God Through Christ When Jesus says, “He that has seen me has seen the Father,” He invites us to look at His life, character, and actions as the perfect revelation of God. To know Christ is to know the Father, and to follow Christ is to live in the fullness of God’s presence. This shapes our discipleship and our understanding of God’s heart for us. [00:51]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:14] - The Bottle and Glass Illustration
[00:31] - Addressing the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Question
[00:51] - Jesus Reveals the Father
[01:10] - Understanding “Abba” as Source
[01:28] - Our Identity as God’s Resource
[01:45] - The Unity of the Father and the Son
[02:05] - Implications for Our Daily Life
[02:22] - Living from the Source
[02:40] - Pouring Out into Others
[02:58] - Confidence in Our Calling
[03:15] - Seeing God Through Christ
[03:32] - Closing Reflections

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading

- John 14:8-11 (ESV)

8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

- Romans 8:15-17 (ESV)

15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Observation Questions

In John 14:9, what does Jesus mean when He says, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father”?
According to Romans 8:15, what is the significance of calling God “Abba! Father!”?
In the sermon, what does the illustration of the bottle and the glass represent about our relationship with God? [00:14]
How does the sermon describe the difference between God as a distant authority and God as our source? [00:14]

Interpretation Questions

Why is it important to understand “Abba” as meaning “source” and not just “father” in a biological sense? How does this change the way someone might relate to God? [00:14]
What does it mean for our identity and purpose if we are “God’s resource” and not just His creation? [00:14]
How does Jesus’ statement, “He that has seen me has seen the Father,” help us understand the unity between Jesus and God the Father? [00:51]
The sermon mentions that our value and purpose are not self-generated but received from God. How might this challenge common ideas about self-worth and achievement? [00:14]

Application Questions

The sermon says that God is our source, not just our authority. In what areas of your life do you tend to see God more as a distant ruler than as your source? How could this perspective shift change your daily walk? [00:14]
When you pray or worship, do you approach God as “Abba”—your source and provider—or more as a judge or boss? What would it look like to deepen your intimacy with God as your source this week? [00:14]
The bottle and glass illustration shows that what is in the source is also in the resource. What qualities or character traits of God do you want to see more of in your own life? How can you open yourself to receive more of God’s nature? [00:14]
The sermon challenges us to pour out what we have received into the lives of others. Who is one person you can intentionally encourage or serve this week, sharing what God has poured into you? [02:40]
Jesus reveals the Father’s heart and character. Is there an area of Jesus’ life or teaching that you find hard to accept or imitate? What step could you take to follow His example more closely? [00:51]
The idea that our value and purpose come from God can be freeing, but also challenging. Are there ways you have tried to create your own worth apart from God? What would it look like to rest in your identity as God’s child and resource? [00:14]
The sermon says we are not random orphans in the universe. When have you felt alone or purposeless? How does knowing you are God’s resource change how you see those moments? [01:28]