Daily Devotional Week of 1-18-2004

Monday 1-19-04

THE CHILDREN OF GOD

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! - 1 John 3:1a (NKJV)

To know that God loves me is a wonderful truth. But to know God loves me and has made me His child is like the difference between standing on the crest of a hill and standing on the peak of Mount Everest. To have been brought into His family, not by natural birth per se, but by informed consent on God's part is incredible. He knew exactly what I was and what I wasn't when He set His affection on me and said, "I choose you. I want you to be part of my forever family. I love you and I pledge my undying faithfulness to you." Wow. Getting your heart around this reality is as Sinclair Ferguson says, "at the heart of understanding the whole Christian life and all the diverse elements of our daily experience." Drink in each phrase of this wonderful verse of scripture and let the knowledge of God's great love for you completely saturate your soul.

For further study: Ephesians 3:17b-19, 1 John 4:10

Tuesday 1-20-04

A CHILD OF THE KING

Who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every
spiritual blessing in Christ. - Ephesians 1:3

Because we are children of the Living God, that makes us royalty as well. Now have you ever thought of yourself as royalty? Like fairy tales of old where the most unlikely character of the story turns out to be the heir to the kingdom, you dear one, are also an heir to the Kingdom of God and co-heirs with His Son Jesus Christ. But this is no fairy tale. The Holy Spirit of God is your guarantee of that inheritance. God's word says He has blessed you with EVERY spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms through Christ. What a rich inheritance you have. Think about it. The very blessings that are Christ's are shared with each of His brothers and sisters. Blessings like membership in God's family, living for eternity in a heavenly home custom made just for you, experiencing the undying faithfulness of the Father, fellowship with God and Jesus Christ, and eternal peace with God and man. Count your blessings today and give thanks to the Lord for His generosity, which is beyond words, of sharing the vast wealth of His Kingdom with His children.

For further study: Matthew 21:31b-32, Romans 8:17

Wednesday 1-21-04

IMITATION, THE HIGHEST FORM OF FLATTERY

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children... - Galatians 5:1

Our self-image begins with the knowledge of God as my Father. Just like natural children not only resemble their parents but imitate them as well, we are admonished to imitate our heavenly Father. When we imitate our heavenly Father we bring Him glory. But to imitate God you must know God and study His character. Consider today your purpose to reflect God's image in your family, workplace and community and purpose to meditate on His attributes that you might reflect His likeness with ever increasing glory.

For further study: 1 John 1:11, 1 Corinthians 11:1

Thursday 1-22-04

ROOTS

It is not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise... - Romans 9:8

Remember the mini series Roots that told the story of Alex Haley's slave heritage. This movie got us all thinking about our family tree and the genetic and historical soil from which we have sprung. Our family history and heritage is a part of our identity and about this Sinclair Ferguson says, "my identity is made complete in discovering my roots in the family to which I belong." Well you may or may not know your biological family's history and heritage, but as a child of the King, there is more documentation of your family tree than any other family in all of history. You have kings and queens, warriors and prophets, priests and prostitutes, in your family tree. At the top and bottom of your family tree, you have the Alpha and the Omega, God your Father and Jesus Christ your big brother. If you are in Christ, all those rich and wonderful stories in the Bible are about your ancestors. Study these wonderful stories and thank God for such a rich and well-documented heritage. One that gives meaning to your life and substance to your identity.

For further study: Ephesians 2:12, Galatians 3:29

Friday 1-23-04

DON'T COUNT ON THE FLESH

For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh.
- Philippians 3:3

Researching family history is a popular pastime and can be a lot of fun, but Paul cautions us about putting our self worth and identity in our family heritage. He is adamant that we should, "have no confidence in the flesh." Even so, Paul had lots of reason to put confidence in his family heritage. He was from the tribe of Benjamin, where the temple stood. He was a Hebrew of Hebrews; meaning both his mother and father were pure Israelite whose ancestors had never mixed with gentiles. He was a well-respected scholar and student of the well-known Jewish scholar Gamaliel. He was a Pharisee and the son of a Pharisee the most strict of Jewish sects thus his outward observance of the law was faultless. But, once He encountered Christ, none of this mattered. Paul devoted every bit of his life and breath to serving Christ. What about you? What makes you feel most secure, most successful, most like a somebody? If it is anything but Christ, abandon it all today for His sake. You will never regret it.

For further study: Romans 3:10, 20-24

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