In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 1 John 3:10
Anyone who wants to be good at something will practice it over and over. Practicing something allows a person to get better at something. It is what athletes, actors and singers do all the time to improve themselves. Those who choose not to practice at something will never be very good at it. They will stay the same or get worse with time.
As John talks about not sinning, he then points out how the children of God and the children of the devil are revealed. Anyone who does not practice righteousness and loving a brother is not a child of God.
The characteristics of a person will quickly show up in watching how a person acts and reacts to different situations in life. Most people are focused upon themselves and react accordingly. People are most often selfish and want everything to go their way and are willing to do what it takes to get their desired way.
Doing what is right is very seldom the first thing on a person’s mind. It is about vindicating themselves. The world tells everyone to look out for themselves at any cost.
Believers are to have a different mindset in life. They are to act just like Jesus. He did what was right no matter what anyone else said or did. This includes doing what was right even as He was being hung upon a cross.
Children of God are revealed to the world when they practice righteousness, doing what is right in the eyes of God. These actions are done out of love, not legalism or for salvation.
Each day you will be presented with many opportunities to make a choice as to what you will do or not do. Those choices will either be right or wrong. God has laid down the guidelines as to what is the right way to live your life. Do not allow yourself to be like the world and make a sinful choice but choose to do what is right. Practice the right way of living that Jesus has done so that you may live. As you practice righteousness, the right way of living, the world will know you are a child of God.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know the right way of living God has given to you; that God will give you strength to live a righteous life; and that the world will see that you are a child of God by your actions.
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This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Insights from Tom
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