God’s Children

October 16th – Mark 9:37

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Mark 9:37

It is said that you can judge the character of a person by the way they treat those who can do nothing for them. Jesus uses children to hit the point home. Children are some of the most vulnerable in our society. Those who have to humbly trust others to care for them and meet their needs. And Jesus says the way we treat and value them reveals the status of our hearts. As innocents, children have no power, leading them to depend on those greater than themselves. So true believers seek to help, teach, empower, and receive them into God’s kingdom. Not for our own power or glory, but all for God’s, as we act in faithful obedience. Because Jesus calls us all to be like little children. To have a faith that is true, humble, and completely dependent on God. And most of all, our Savior came to be last and a servant to all, so when we honor and receive a child, we honor and receive Christ Himself.

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October 14th – Matthew 18:6

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Matthew 18:6

We all have a spiritual walk, and are in different places on the path of faith. And as children of God, our Father expects us to help each other make the trek to becoming mature Christians. While it’s true that we all stumble, God gives us an extra warning against causing a fellow believer to fall into sin. In fact, Jesus says it would better to be drowned in the sea, than face Him and the consequences for making a fellow brother or sister fall in faith. So in light of the seriousness, we need to be extra careful . Careful about the examples we set, the words we say, and the teachings we share. We should be constantly aware of the weakness of others, and never encourage them to act in a way that the Bible specifically prohibits. God calls us to builders of faith, not demolition crews. Brightly shining lights on the path to righteousness, so that others following don’t lose their way.

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October 13th – 1 John 3:10

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1 John 3:10

John tells us that there are two kinds of people. Those who truly love and follow God, and those who don’t. And you can tell who is who just by looking at their lives. Because it’s a person’s actions, not their words, that show whether or not they are a member of God’s family. We all sin and fall short daily, but John says a true child of God doesn’t have a life marked by habitual, unrepentant sin. And a true child of God lets love lead him in all he does. Because the greatest command God gives us is to love Him fully and completely, and to love others as ourselves. For it was love that brought Jesus to pay the sin debt we owe. And love that made our redemption possible. So if, as children of God, love isn’t fully on display in our lives for all to see, we have a problem. Because as Christians, we should be both thinking and acting according to the nature of our heavenly Father instead of the nature of the fallen world in which we live.

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October 11th – Luke 6:35

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Luke 6:35

From childhood we are all taught the golden rule. “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” (Matt. 7:12) Easier said than done. Because no matter how well you treat people, there will be some that will still mistreat you. The truth is, in our own strength it’s impossible to treat those who hurt, abuse, and misuse us. But in the strength of the Spirit, nothing is impossible. But why is God so insistent on us being different from the world? Why does He want us being good to all people? Because if God treated us in the way we deserve, there would be no hope. For we too were once His enemy. But God has nothing but love for all of His children. And so His greatest desire is for us to turn from our sin and receive the salvation He freely offers. And we as followers of Jesus, should want the same for all of our brothers and sisters. So we are to show God’s love and mercy to both friends and enemies, in the hope that they too will repent and be saved!

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October 8th – Matthew 19:14

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Matthew 19:14

I can remember going to Sunday school and learning all of the wonderful things Jesus did for me. And at the end of each class we would sing, “Jesus loves the little children.” Although I didn’t quite understand what this meant, I happily belted out the words. Because it was pure joy to know I was precious in His sight. And that kind of innocent, childlike delight and faith, the kind that believes God can do anything, is just what our Father wants us to have. Children, in their humility, aren’t concerned with the things of the world. They aren’t worried about fame and fortune. All they know is the tender care and trust they put in the one they love. The arms of Jesus are always open to His children. He wants us to approach His throne of grace with joy, innocence, and humility. To have open, moldable hearts of a child. Hearts that believe, Jesus loves the little children of the world!

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October 5th – Revelation 21:7

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Revelation 21:7

We all recognize these lyrics. “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong, they are weak, but He is strong.” As sons and daughters of the world we are weak, sinful, and conquered. But as sons and daughters of God we are strong, righteous, and overcomers. Overcomers who don’t just have faith, they put that faith into action by dying to self and fleshly living. The ones who, through the power of Jesus, live victoriously over the power of the Enemy. For as 1 John 4:4 tells us, “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” And to those who overcome and endure to the end, God promises wonderful rewards. Rewards greater than we could ever imagine, and ones that will make all we go through in this lifetime worthwhile.

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October 3rd – John 1:12

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John 1:12

Just like we have a bill of rights listed in our constitution, we also have rights listed in the Bible. Rights given by our Creator to all believers.  And one of the greatest is the right to be called a child of God. In a literal sense we are all created by the same hand of the Lord. Yet only those who receive Jesus Christ as their Savior have the right to become adopted sons and daughters into the family of God. And once we become members of this glorious spiritual family, we are gifted certain privileges and power. A power, through the Holy Spirit of God, that gives us everything we need to lead a life of righteousness and become servants of the Gospel. For as 2 Peter 1:3 tells us, “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence”

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October 1st – Romans 8:16

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Roman’s 8:16

The genes in my family are strong, as is the family resemblance. And so we often hear from others, “We know who you belong to!” That’s how it is with the family of God. Once we receive Jesus as our Savior, there’s no mistaking who we belong to. Because at the moment we invite the Lord into our hearts and lives, immediately the Holy Spirit comes to take up residence inside of us. Before we were dead in our sins, eternally separated from our Creator. But through the power of the Holy Spirit, we become adopted heirs into God’s family. And now as we call out, “Abba, Father,” the Spirit cries out with us testifying before God that we are His. God’s beloved children reborn through the blood of Jesus. And as such, we are blessed with the indwelling of the Spirit of the Lord through whom we receive the very life of God. And who intercedes, empowers, and guides us to be the family members God created us to be.

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June 29th – 1 John 3:2

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1 John 3:2

I don’t know about you, but the older I get the longer it seems to get going in the morning. Gone are the days where I can jump out of bed and start my day without a little warm up. And so it goes with aging. From the day we are born, our bodies begin the process of decay and eventually death. But one day very soon all of that will change. For the Lord is coming for His church. And when the glorified Jesus Christ is revealed, not only will we know Him, we too be revealed with Him in glory. And that includes our bodies. We will discard these frail, sin loving, diseased, and defective bodies, for new perfectly glorified images of Christ. And all because of the great love that God shows us by adopting us into His family and calling His beloved children!

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May 24th – Acts 17:28

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Acts 17:28

The Athenians prided themselves on their arts and philosophy. So when Paul ministered to them about God, he used examples from their own Greek poets, Aratus and Cleanthes. Paul taught that as God’s children, those who abide in God, live, move, and exist in Him. We live because as Creator of all things, God is the source of all life. We move because as Ruler of our lives, our hearts, thoughts and actions are directed by Him. We exist because God alone is the giver and taker of life, and everyday He gives us is a gift. And when we live in the Lord and He in us, we have the joy and confidence of knowing God is always near.

May 24th – Acts 17:28 Read More »