“By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.”
This verse reveals that God sees only two families of people on the earth. He sees those who are in His family and those who are in the devil’s family. There’s no middle ground. Every person is in one or the other, and never in both at the same time.
The way God’s children are distinguished from the devil’s children is that everyone who is born again and practices doing what is right and loving others is God’s child. We were all in the devil’s family to start with, but God sent Jesus to save us so we can receive Him and thereby switch our family allegiance.
The Message Bible says: “Here’s how you tell the difference between God’s children and the Devil’s children: The one who won’t practice righteous ways isn’t from God, nor is the one who won’t love brother or sister. A simple test.”
God the Father has adopted us and we go from lost losers to saved grand champs. Which family are you in? Jesus wants you to join Him and leave the devil behind.
I am a member of God’s family through the new birth. I will demonstrate it today.
- Reading Plan A: Acts 18
- Reading Plan B: Proverbs 17
- Reading Plan C: Psalms 13-16; Acts 18
by Tim Davidson
Excerpt permission granted by
Word of Faith Church & Outreach Center
Called to the Body of Christ as a pastor and teacher, Tim Davidson pioneered Word of Faith Church in Bismarck in 1980. He served as its Lead Pastor for 35 years and now serves as Founding Pastor. Pastor Tim has pioneered 6 churches in North Dakota and now serves as Regional Director for Rhema Ministerial Association International. Teaching believers foundational truths from God's Word is his passion.
He has authored 3 yearly devotion books that are used both here and overseas to help believers become "rooted and grounded" in their faith.
God is now calling Pastor Tim to share the treasury of wisdom and knowledge God has given to him with other pastors and churches.