God’s children – Who are they? What is a telltale sign of those who are indeed God’s kids? Look at what Jesus said about this.

Matthew 12:46-50 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” He replied to him, and “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” 

Those who claimed to be the followers of Jesus were not necessarily the ones he considered his followers; it was the ones who were doing his will. Jesus said in another place, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” Luke 6:46 You’ve heard the saying, “talk is cheap.” We must be those who do the will of God.

So, what is the will of God? How can we know what God’s will is? Some people during Jesus’ day had the same question. They came to Jesus and asked him a question saying, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” John 6:28-29

Jesus distilled all the works of the law into a single work – believe! Yes, my dear friend, genuine Christianity is only possible by those who believe. The purpose of believing God is to be filled with all that he is, and the entirety of who God is can be summed up in the word love! Those who have genuine faith in Christ are those who become filled with his love! Jesus said, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:35 NLT

Don’t ever be deceived by those who quote a lot of Scripture but don’t walk in the love of God! This is a self-centered religion that is far from God! Walking in the love of God requires genuine surrender to and trust in God’s love! Full acceptance of God’s provision for righteousness through Jesus Christ is full acceptance of God’s immense love! The ability to live a life of love towards others directly results from believing and receiving God’s love. Love does not come from our efforts; it comes from God.

1 John 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

This is why the writer of Hebrews wrote: “And without faith, it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”  Hebrews 11:6

Intimacy with God is what causes a person to be filled with the love of God. Apostle Paul wrote, “The love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.” Romans 5:5 A Christianity steeped in intimacy with the Holy Spirit is a Christianity abounding in the power of God’s love! The agent of God’s power and love is the Holy Spirit, but prayer and God’s word are the medium through which he works.

As we discussed above, when the people came to Jesus and asked him how to do all the works God requires, Jesus simplified it to a single work – believe! The faith that God is looking for is not something someone does in a moment, but it is a lifestyle. Genuine Christianity is about living your entire existence in his presence! Faith is what causes all the righteous acts of God to flow through us. Everything that God wants you to do can be summed up in the word love.

Who are those who are God’s children? It is those who do God’s will. What is God’s will – it is to believe. What does believing accomplish? It causes a person to be filled with love. Yes! It is genuine faith in God and a life of love that is a telltale sign of those who are indeed…

GOD’S CHILDREN