How The Child of God Behaves

Day 1

1Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children,2and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.
EPHESIANS 5:1-2 (CSB)

Commentary

Like a young child imitating his dad mowing the lawn or imitating her mom shopping at the store, your desire should be to mimic Jesus with that kind of interest and enthusiasm.

In that holy living, we become like Jesus, a pleasing sacrifice, but in our case, a living sacrifice. Our sacrifice is not for atonement or salvation but is a result of the salvation that we now possess. To be a living sacrifice for God is to set aside your desire for sin, your selfish ambitions, and living your way — crucifying your flesh daily — so that you may live in a way that mimics how our Lord lived on this earth, serving one another as you serve the Lord.

Soul Search

Am I eager to mimic the ways of Jesus?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for displaying such immense love for me, a love that is fully worth mimicking. May Your Spirit fall afresh on me, in a fullness that overwhelms all my self-seeking desires and gives me that childlike desire to be just like You, my Father. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen

Day 2

3But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed should not even be heard of among you, as is proper for saints.4Obscene and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks.5For know and recognize this: Every sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
EPHESIANS 5:3-5 (CSB)

Commentary

Plain and simple, we have Christians who are born-again, true believers in Jesus, real children of God, and Christians who are that in name only, cultural Christians as some refer to them. It’s been this way for 2,000 years and won’t change until heaven and earth are made new.

The Christian who is constant and unapologetic in their cussing, drunkenness, sexual immoral behavior, and the like, is living on a razor’s edge. They’re either in a backslidden state of disobedience to the Lord or they are not actually saved. This passage gives us the grave warning that those who are practicing such things are idolaters and aren’t saved. To practice would mean to live a lifestyle rooted in such sinful behavior, one that doesn’t show any remorse or consideration for God’s moral standard.

A real, true Christian is to be an example of Christ-like godliness to everyone they encounter. When someone sees a true child of God behaving as they should be, it becomes intriguing. They may want to know more about why you behave as you do. God can use and does use our holy lifestyles as a pathway to reveal Himself to those who don’t yet know Him.

Soul Search

Is my behavior in line with what God’s Word teaches or would I even know?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, show me the behavior in my life that is unpleasing to You. Please take those thoughts and actions and remove them from my life. I don’t want to be the same now as I was when I first came to You. Thank you, Father! In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen

Day 3

6Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things.
EPHESIANS 5:6 (CSB)

Commentary

I’m sure you’ve personally witnessed or know of churches and Christians who twist the words of the Bible to minimize or justify certain sinful behaviors and lifestyles. This verse strongly teaches that those arguments are completely empty of any merit. God’s Word also teaches that those who twist Scripture for their benefit actually do so to their destruction.

16He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some things hard to understand in them. The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.
2 PETER 3:16 (CSB)

If you see drag queens at church, rainbow flags flown and worn at church, AI-based “pastors” and sermons, women pastors and elders, and anything of the like, get up and leave that church and never attend it again. Those running churches like that are not fit to be leading any church nor teaching, as they have twisted Scripture and are living in disobedience to God.

God’s wrath will come to all who seek to do evil, whether they call themselves a Christian or not. Only a person who has a genuine love for God will be spared His wrath. And such a person will not practice sin. Their heart has truly been changed by Christ — because of their genuine faith in Him.

Soul Search

Am I staying grounded in God’s Word?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray for those who are self-deceived, who are twisting Your Word and leading others astray. I sincerely hope they repent and turn to You. Also, please help me to protect my heart and mind from these evil doctrines that are so freely being taught in the churches of Western nations. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen

Day 4

7Therefore, do not become their partners.8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light ​— ​9for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth ​— ​10testing what is pleasing to the Lord.
EPHESIANS 5:7-10 (CSB)

Commentary

As a follower of Jesus, you’ve got to be living out your faith. That means studying God’s Word, so that you can understand His character better and what His will is, then applying that to your way of living. This applies to all areas of your life: home, work, leisure, friendships, family, and Christian fellowship.

The child of God isn’t one who is drunk at the bar with their unsaved friends on Friday nights, nor should we be found excusing, promoting, or participating in regular activities that are in contradiction to God’s Word. The child of God cannot live a dual life; all areas of your life belong to Christ Jesus — so give them to Him.

9Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males,10no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom.11And some of you used to be like this. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 CORINTHIANS 6:9-11 (CSB)

Soul Search

Am I using my freedom in Christ to be free of practicing sin or am I doing as I please?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I don’t want to be a hypocrite. I know that I will still sin, but I don’t want to be lost in sin, to the point of messing up my fellowship with You or worse, being an idolater. I want to give you all aspects of my life today, have Your way in me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen

Day 5

15Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk ​— ​not as unwise people but as wise ​— ​16making the most of the time, because the days are evil.17So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.18And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit:19speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord,20giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,21submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.
EPHESIANS 5:15-21 (CSB)

Commentary

Our time is short, my friend. It’s best to be living for Jesus and be found doing His work. As a child of God, you have a standard to live up to. The best part is that if you’re willing, Jesus will do the heavy lifting. All you need to do is submit all aspects of your life to Him.

You have so much to be thankful for if God has saved you. Your heart should be tuned to continually worship and give thanks to Him by telling Him and living for Him. I know how difficult it is not to focus on the problems in your life, but you glorify God and bring peace to yourself when you choose to be in an attitude of thanks and worship every day.

As believers, we are rich beyond imagination, with eternal life, a new home in God’s Kingdom, and a new heart that loves Him. Now go out and live like the child of God that you are — showing this world what they are missing out on and can have if they only repent and trust in Jesus.

Soul Search

Do I live as a child of God?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You have blessed me more than I can reflect on. Even in tough times, You made sure I was in the best position I could be to endure, even if I was not as focused on You as I should’ve been. My heart sings songs of praise and worship to You. Thank You for all of Your blessings, Your providence, and Your love. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen