Megan Evans, Women’s Ministry Director, LHBC
1 John 3:1 NLT
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.
After listening to a recent news story, I was baffled by the words being reported. I found myself wondering, “what in the world are these people thinking? How can this be good for any human being?” But that’s just it, the lost people of this world are thinking and speaking things of a lost world. They don’t know the lavish love of the Father and the joy of practicing His Truth. They don’t know Him, and they don’t recognize us.
When we hear of atrocities and evil it often makes us mad, but it can also lead us to compassion and fervent prayer. We don’t have to puff up in anger and defensiveness because God has already won the fight. Instead, we can learn God’s way to show and tell the world of His Truth. Yes, in our small corner of this very big and dark world, it makes a difference that we love and pray.
We don’t go out into this world empty handed. With more and more evil being demonstrated and even celebrated in our culture, sometimes it feels like we are on the losing side of this world. That is when we have to cling to God’s perspective. The apostle John reminds us:
But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them. But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception. 1 John 4:4-6
A life without Christ is lived in darkness, and without hope and true love. Worldly “truth” is self-serving and ever changing; it is sinking sand rather than solid bedrock upon which we can stand. Like the hymn goes, our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ, our righteousness. He is our hope and stay.
Therefore, we can take every word and action that we see and hear straight to our Father. We can then measure it to HIS WORD, and rest in HIS TRUTH. We don’t have to get caught up in winning worldly viewpoints. Instead we can focus on loving and praying for the lost to meet the One True God of this world.
As God’s Children we have a responsibility to live as Christ. Our words, attitudes, and actions all speak of who we belong to. Is it evident to the people around you that you belong to God? Can the world see how very much the Father loves you? The world may not know our Father, but we can introduce them!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father God, thank you for your great love for me. What joy it is to be called your child. Thank you for the spirit of truth that helps me discern the many conflicting viewpoints in our world today. Keep my mind focused on you Jesus and your truth and let me love with compassion to the lost around me. Show me someone even this week who needs to meet you! In Jesus Name, Amen.
MEMORY VERSE FOR THE WEEK:
1 Corinthians 15:56-57-56
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.