“If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.” (1 John 2:29 ESV)
Children often take on the characteristics of their parents. Unlike our first father, Adam, we are not created from the dust of the earth. We have parents, our parents have parents, and we resemble one another. I have my dad’s nose, my mom’s smile, and my grandpa’s sense of humor. Each of us is his or her own person, of course, with our unique personality, character, preferences, and abilities, but, for better or for worse, we are a reflection of those who have preceded us.
When a human being is born, he is not born into a moral or cultural vacuum and left solely to his own devices to create his own destiny. He is taught and trained, while he observes and copies, to learn what is cherished and what is looked down upon, what is prioritized and what is dismissed. In the perennial nature versus nurture debate, regardless of what position you take on that spectrum, it cannot be denied that nurture has a profound effect on every individual.
As we naturally reflect our earthly family, so also do we reflect our spiritual family. It should be quite clear to others that we do indeed belong to a spiritual family, and that God is our father. Those that are of the world will live like the world, and it will be obvious that they belong to the world. In essence, we will be known by the father from whom we are descended.
When Jesus was talking to the Pharisees, he told them, “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires” (John 8:44). He was identifying them by their spiritual lineage, inherited through original sin, and by the rebellious actions that resulted from that. They lived according to their sinful, fleshly nature, and they reflected the character of their father.
Children reflect their parents primarily because they have known and been taught by them. A child who sees his or her father’s habitual impatience will usually be more likely to become an impatient person. A child whose mother is distant will usually grow up to be less affectionate with his or her own children. Conversely, a father who is selfless and generous will naturally pass that on to his children by example and instruction, and a mother who is kind to others will generally have children who exhibit that same kindness.
John is calling his readers’ attention to the character of God as their father so that they might reflect it. This is both an exhortation and an assurance. He is calling them to walk in righteousness so as to separate themselves from the world and from the devil. Those who profess the name of Christ are called—and enabled through the Holy Spirit—to reflect the character of Christ.
At the same time, John’s statement assures those who may be doubting their true sonship that, if they are characterized by righteous obedience to God, they “may be sure” that they are “born of God.” Through salvation, Christ has redeemed their former sinful state. Those who love the light and live in the light can be confident that they are of the light.
As Jesus said, “You will recognize them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16). If people’s deeds are evil, they are of their father the devil. If they are born of God, they will practice righteousness.
We must be clear that our deeds do not determine our spiritual lineage, but they do reveal it. Being born of God precedes the practice of righteousness and makes it possible. If you are a child of God, your life will be characterized by obedience to your Father, and that obedience will make your identity clear to the world around you.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the new birth that gives us spiritual life in Christ. As your children, may we walk in obedience so that our lives may witness to the power of redemption.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Prayer Requests:
- Tuesday: Pray for the ministry and critical staffing needs of Memorial Christian Hospital in Bangladesh.
- Wednesday: Praise the Lord for the new missionaries who were appointed in July and pray for more laborers to enter the harvest field.
- Thursday: Pray for the full funding of the South Asia Ministry Center.
- Friday: Pray for missionaries and national partners engaged in church-planting work in Benin.
- Saturday: Pray for missionaries serving with EveryEthne to reach every people group in North America.
- Sunday: Pray for missionaries serving in Uganda to find effective ways to reach the lost.
- Monday: Pray for missionaries serving through aviation ministry to meet the needs of missionaries on the field.
Featured Opportunity to Serve:
Nursing Clinical Faculty
Location: Togo
Nursing clinical faculty are needed to teach and mentor nursing students during their clinical rotations at ABWE’s two hospitals in Togo, Africa.
