We Are His Children

Some gifts are too precious for words and too wonderful to fully appreciate. The greatest of these gifts is that we are God's children! We have been adopted into the Father's family! Jesus claims us as his younger siblings! Even though the world may not acknowledge this, that condition doesn't make it any less true. After all, the world didn't recognize its Creator when he became flesh and lived among the people he had made. God's Word, however, still proclaims the truth; we ARE the children of God!

[Phil Ware]

1 John 3:1 ... Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Romans 8:16 ... The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Luke 20:36 ... Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

Galatians 3:26 ... For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. ❤

We Are His Workmanship

God has designed us to be beautifully useful for doing good things! So let's not let anyone, especially not the evil one, convince us that we are not worth anything to others or to God. His grace has made our lives canvases upon which he will provide the world more masterpiece works of his artistry! Let's live up to God's high opinion of us.

[Phil Ware]

Psalm 104:31 ... The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.

Isaiah 64:8 ... But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Ephesians 2:10 … For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. ♥

Coming Back To The Lord

Jonah was disobedient, rebellious, and selfish.  He had run from the Lord. He had shunned the Lord's command.  He had endangered the lives of those on the ship where he had tried to hide.  Yet even in the middle of his rebellion, God heard his cry and delivered him.  If you are in rebellion, if you are seeking to hide some secret and all-consuming sin, please know the Lord wants to ransom and redeem you! Things won't be easy, but coming back to the Lord means ultimate redemption and deliverance.

[Phil Ware]

Jonah 2:1-2 … Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly, And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

Daniel 9:9 … To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;

Joel 2:13 … And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

Joel 2:32 … And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call. ♥

God's Word Imparts Life

God's Word -- the Scriptures, the Gospel -- is not only truth, but it is life! Alive and enduring, God's Word imparts life to us and gives us his message of eternal life. It tells us of his grace and teaches us how we can be born again. Let's not take it for granted ... or neglect its message ... or remain silent about its truth.

[Phil Ware]

1 Peter 1:23 … Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Romans 6:11 … Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:22 … For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. ♥

Love Your Enemies

We often talk about the privileges of being a child of God -- forgiveness, salvation, a future in heaven with him, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and ultimate victory when Christ comes. One of the greatest privileges we get, however, is the opportunity to act toward those who dislike and hate us in a way that reflects the character of God himself. Anyone can return hate for hate, but it takes a child of God to return a blessing and a prayer for his or her enemies.

[Phil Ware]

Luke 6:27-28 … But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

Luke 6:35 … But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

Matthew 5:43-44 … Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; ♥

The Promised Holy Ghost

God is true to his word. He keeps his promises. But, that was not enough for him. He gave us a down payment, a deposit, so we could be sure of our inheritance and look forward to the full realization of our salvation. He gave us the Holy Spirit.

When God buys us out of slavery to our mortal bodies and redeems us into our eternal home with bodies that will not grow old or decay, we won't need the deposit; we will have the full inheritance. But until then, until we go to him, isn't it amazing that he makes his home within us!

[Phil Ware]

Ephesians 1:13-14 … In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

2 Timothy 1:14 … That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

Romans 15:13 … Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 … Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 🕊

Only Through Jesus

Law couldn't do it. Animal sacrifices couldn't do it. Piety couldn't do it. Religious practices couldn't do it. Only Jesus can bring full forgiveness of sins. Only Jesus can make us fully righteous and holy. Forgiveness and righteousness come through him.

[Phil Ware]

Acts 13:38-39 … Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Ephesians 1:7 … In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Colossians 1:13-14 … Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 26:28 … For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. ♥

Our Greatest Gift

God didn't save us with a plan, or a message, or a clean and immaculate process. Instead, he took what was most precious to him and offered Jesus up as our salvation. The cost was enormous. The love involved was overwhelming. The result is our greatest gift.

[Phil Ware]

Colossians 1:13-14 … Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

1 Peter 1:18-19 … Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

John 3:16-17 … For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. ♥

Peer Pressure

The real issue isn't "if" but "when"! Our children face tremendous peer pressure. We do, too! We must help them resist the enticements of this pressure. Also, we must never tire in resisting them ourselves.

[Phil Ware]

Proverbs 1:10 … My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

James 4:7 … Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Hebrews 2:17-18 … Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. ♥