“This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are.” 1 John 3:10 NIV
The children of God and the children of the devil: John has already introduced the idea of being a child of God. He has already written of some being of the devil. But here, he makes it plain: some are children of God, and some are children of the devil. John doesn’t spend time trying to prove or explain the existence of the devil. He knows the reality of the devil is a Biblical fact. We might think John is far too harsh in saying some are children of the devil, supposing perhaps that John did not love people as Jesus did. But Jesus called people children of the devil in John 8:41-45. In this passage, Jesus’ point was important, He was establishing the principle that our spiritual parentage determines our nature and our destiny. If we are born again, and have God as our Father, it will show in our nature and destiny. But if our father is Satan or Adam, it will also show in our nature and destiny, just as it showed in these adversaries of Jesus. John gave a simple, though not easy, way to identify who the children of God and the children of the devil are. Whoever does not practise righteousness is not of God, nor are they who do not love their brother and sister. Righteousness without love makes one a religious Pharisee, and love without righteousness makes one a partner in evil. How do righteousness and love “balance”? They don’t. We aren’t looking for a balance between the two, because they are not opposites. Real love is the greatest righteousness, and real righteousness is the greatest love.
PRAYER THOUGHT
Lord, let Your love and righteousness bear fruit in my life.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Lord Jesus, by the power and ministry of Your Holy Spirit, help us to never love at the expense of righteousness and never to be righteous at the expense of love. AMEN
I.B.R.A. Readings
Ezekiel 33:1-7
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