MEMORISE:
”In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” – (1 John 3:10)
READ: 1 John 3:8-10 (KJV)
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
MESSAGE:
Many people claim to be God's children, however, it is only those who truly follow in the footsteps of Jesus that are genuinely His children. (1 John 3:10 ) further confirms that those who do righteousness are God's children while those who do evil belong to the devil.
Anyone who is not living in righteousness is not a child of God. A fellow who is not bearing the fruit of God will bear that of Satan. How can you continue to tell lies and still think you are a child of God? How can you change figures in the office, with the claim that you are borrowing' and will pay back? That act, of course, is stealing because you are taking what is not yours without permission. The Bible says in John 8:44;
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Beloved, please take time to think about this. If you are not living a righteous life, you should not bother calling yourself a child of God at all. In any case, Jesus Christ said in John 10:27;
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me;
You can deceive everyone now, but when judgment comes, you would not be able to deceive God because He knows His own. Jesus said He will send away all those who call Him Lord and even perform miracles in His name but still live a sinful life (Matthew 7:21-23).
On that day, you will be sent to the one who you really belong to, depending on who you behave like whether it is Christ or the devil.
On the side of Christ, it is paradise, and on the side of the devil, it is the lake of fire and torment. You make the choice now with whose behaviour you emulate.
REFLECTION:
Does your character really resemble that of Jesus Christ?
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezekiel 26 - 28
AUTHOR: PASTOR E A ADEBOYE
HYMNAL: 14 - NEARER MY GOD TO THEE
1 Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
2 Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
yet in my dreams I'd be
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
3 There let the way appear, steps unto heaven;
all that thou sendest me, in mercy given;
angels to beckon me
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
4 Then, with my waking thoughts bright with thy praise,
out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise;
so by my woes to be
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
5 Or if, on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I fly,
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!