The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 8 March 2024 – Are You Really Who You Think You Are?
TOPIC: Are You Really Who You Think You Are?
READ: John 8: 31-47 (NKJV)
- Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
- “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
- They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How [can] you say, ‘You will be made free’?”
- Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
- “And a slave does not abide in the house forever, [but] a son abides forever.
- “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
- ” I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.
- “I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.”
- They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.
- “But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this.
- “You do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father — God.”
- Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.
- “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.
- “You are of [your] father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and [does not] stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own [resources,] for he is a liar and the father of it.
- “But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.
- “Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me?
- “He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”
THE MESSAGE:
Jesus said to the Jews, “If God were your father, ye would love me and do the works of Abraham (John 8:39-42). These Jews had claimed to have Abraham as their Father but failed to love and do the works of Abraham which were counted for him as righteousness. Today, many followers of Christ still dishonour God’s word and claim to be children of God (1 Samuel 2:30).
Are you one of such people? If you are a Christian, but the fruits you bear do not tally with those of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5: 22-25), it means God is not your Father but Satan. If your spiritual eyes are dim, you may not recognise the truth. More importantly, a carnally minded son or daughter is likely to lose both paternal privileges and rights just like the prodigal son (Luke 15: 11-32). Are you still under the management of the devil or perhaps, you have lost your sonship through carelessness, peer pressure, love of money, inordinate desire for positions or power, wrong association, etc? Our God is gracious. Repent and ask for forgiveness with godly sorrow. Your glory will be restored. Eternal life awaits you if you overcome the devil’s end-time agenda. Pray that the tricks and plans of the enemy over you will fail in Jesus’ name.
PRAYER: Lord, please be merciful and deliver me from the power of the flesh and devil, Amen!
