November 2025
Scripture Focus
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure
1 John 3:1-3
Devotional
The above passage has been a favorite of mine since I heard a wonderful sermon on it back in college at “The Salt Company” (a Christian ministry to students at Iowa State University). At the time, a preacher named Jeff Dodge reminded us what incredibly good news it is that because of our faith in Jesus we have in fact been adopted into the very family of God. No longer outsiders looking in, we are right at the table with Dad and the other children.
The apostle John, who witnessed the love of Jesus firsthand, is clearly enthusiastic as he writes this letter to the church. You can practically hear the encouraging tone in his voice after relaying the message about our identity. “We are children of God. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE!”
Moreover, as we look at the Scripture, it seems as though we are more and more like true “blood relation,” for we are growing up into the very likeness of Christ. Because of the gift of the Holy Spirit, we resemble him as the child resembles their parent.
Yes, there are discouraging setbacks in our lives, and we are still struggling against “the old self,” the sins of which we are guilty. But as we remain surrendered to the Spirit, as we remember our identity in Christ, we discover joy and encouraging fruits of God’s Spirit within us. Thank You God, for this encouraging word for us. God bless you, fellow children of God.
Yours in Christ’s love,
Pastor Matthew
Prayer
Jesus, thank you for making it possible for us to be called children of God, and for being our advocate. Thank you that we sit at table with our Father and our fellow siblings in faith. Help us to invite more and more people to know Jesus as Lord, that the family may abound in love. Amen.