Day 22- Monday, March 30th
CBC Family Devotions- 1 John

1 John 2:29-3:2

If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.  Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the children of God!  Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.  Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

WHAT YOU BELIEVE IS REVEALED BY HOW YOU LIVE AND WHO YOU LOVE

Read 1 John 2:29-3:2

Read 2:26 and then 3:7- Do NOT let anyone deceive you!

It appears that at the heart of this portion of text is the idea that your confidence and boldness (2:28) and your hope (3:3) to not be deceived is to be reminded of what it means to be a child of God.

It seems that God has put into the heart of every child a desire to come to resemble some character quality of their father.  The identity of the child that is found in the context of their family will play itself out in how they conduct their life.  In the earthly sense, a child will grow up seeking those thing that were lacking.  However, our Heavenly Father supplies ALL that is lacking when we abide in Him (2:28).  The experience of having a Father that satisfies all that is “missing” gives a child HOPE (3:3) and a desire to live purely.  This child truly understands who their family is and they are motivated to come to resemble the character qualities of their Father.  For there is coming a day when the children of God will see Him in all of His glory.

If we lose sight of that glorious day, then we lose sight of our true identity in Christ, as a child of God.  When we lose our sense of identity we find ourselves discouraged (without hope), and lonely (without confidence).  In these moments, the child will find themselves very prone to the enemy’s attacks and deceptions. 

-          What are some of the character qualities of God that you have encountered in your study in 1 John- or perhaps in other studies you have been doing?

-          What do you think God has been trying to show you about Himself?

-          As you consider being a Child of God, is there anything that you would be ashamed of?  Something that you know is hurting your Father?

Take some time to have a Father-Son or a Father-Daughter Talk.