Free to Be God's Child

Scripture – Matthew 5:43-48: ⁴³“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) To be a true and mature child of God, my life will reflect His influence. That means I will go out of my way to love those who are against me. Who are my enemies today? I don’t think of any in my day to day living. By the grace of God, I live in this country in relative safety. Still, the call remains to live a life that shows I’m a child of God.

Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) I will live with that image in mind today. How might that affect my behavior? I’ll pay attention to that and find out.

Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Lord, thank you for ringing me into your forever family. I’m sorry for the times I embarrass you and disappoint you. You’ve taught me better than that. It is a pleasant and joyful experience to live as your child. Remind me often that I’m free to do that.

An Invitation – If you’re interested in a face to face discussion about what we’ve been discovering in the Mini-Journal, a small group will be meeting tomorrow morning, 9:45 – 10:30am, at the Southgate Fun and Fitness Center (on Northline near I-75). Look for them around one of the tables in the Café area.

Reading for Sunday, November 11:

Scripture – Matthew 6:1-4: ¹“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. ²“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. ³But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.