View Site Map

They answered him, "Our father is Abraham." 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 didn't do this. You do the works of your father." They said to him, "We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God." Therefore Jesus said to them, "If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven't come of myself, but he sent me. John 8:39–42 WEB.

Your master is who you obey. Jesus said, "Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you?" (Luke 6:46). When Adam and Eve broke the Lord's commandment and ate the forbidden fruit in Genesis chapter 3, they and the children they later had, became enslaved to sin. This was because they rejected what God had told them and agreed with satan to disobey Him. This gave satan more power and influence over their life than God because they followed his advice. He became their master.

When Jesus spoke in His hometown of Nazareth, some Jews listening to Him felt they were saved just because they had been born Jewish. They believed they had inherited their salvation. They said they had one Father, God, and thought that no one descended from Abraham could ever be lost. Then Jesus explained they were actually the children of whom they obeyed.

"You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn't stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of lies." (John 8:44 WEB).

These "believers" said they were one thing but acted like something else. Secretly, they wanted to kill Jesus, which just happened to be what the devil desired as well. Coincidence? They were not acting like the patriarch Abraham, though they claimed to be aligned with him.

Paul told us, "Don't you know that when you present yourselves as servants and obey someone, you are the servants of whomever you obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness?" (Romans 6:16 WEB). Jesus told us: "A good tree can't produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit. Every tree that doesn't grow good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits you will know them." (Matthew 7:18–20 WEB).

Talk is cheap, and your actions speak louder than your words. The fruit you produce in your life tells God all He needs to know. Let your life reflect God living in you instead of the other thing. Let us be more like the One we serve. Let us be more like Jesus in our actions and not just in our words today.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please let Your light shine through me and help me be a positive influence on those around me. Guide me, teach me, help me to understand Your word, and share it with others. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Through the blood of Jesus, I am redeemed out of the hand of the devil, and I choose to serve God this day. Amen!

Note: Group of the Day: What's for Dinner? - This group is our online kitchen, where we can share recipes, post pics of what you’ve made or would like to make, share your expertise or to get help with cooking, recommend restaurants, find ways to stretch your food budget, eat more healthily, and find joy in your cooking again. Anything food related is fine here :)! To join, just click on the group name and then the join link on the page that will follow. As always, if you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network.