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OnLine Bible Class
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Ladies Daily Devotional
2-08-08
(All Scripture is taken from the NKJ Version unless stated.)

Today we begin a new series. Our theme for this collection of articles will be: Children of God. What a precious thought! We hope you will be uplifted and encouraged by our articles. ~Sandy

The Right to be called Children of God

By Ruby Ramsey

"But as many as receive Him, to them He gave the right to become Children of God, to those who believe on His name." (John 1:12) 

Right -- that which is just and fair; a privilege in a direct line or course; correct.

God, who created us all, has the right to make us His Children, BUT only if we comply with His will. The verse above says "as many as receive Him." We do not receive Him unless we do as he asks in His Word. He will not receive us unless we obey Him.

Most of the denominational world believes they are God's Children, but they do not do as He instructs them to do in His Word. God calls us to be righteous (without guilt before God; acting in accord with God's laws) and to be holy (uniquely divine, separated from sin, morally perfect, consecrated to God).

Zacharias and Elizabeth were considered righteous In Luke 1:6 we read: "And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord  blameless." 

Would our Lord say that about us? Are we righteous before Him, walking in all His commandments? If we are not, we do not have the right to be called His Children. Yes, we sometimes fail, slip up, sin; but we ask Him to forgive us and get back on the right track.

Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica these words: "You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; 11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory." (1 Thessalonians 2:10-12)

I Peter 1:15-16 -- "but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.'"

As parents, we are responsible for bringing up our children to be holy and righteous. How our hearts break when they do not walk in the ways we have taught them. In the same way, God's heart must break when we do not walk in His ways.

It is a divine privilege to be called a Child of God. God wants us to be His Children. Let us be holy, blameless, righteous and devout children so we please our Heavenly Father and so that He will be glad to call us His Children.

Questions

1. "But as many as ______ Him, to them He gave the right to become Children of God, to those who ______ on His name." (John 1:12)

2. What does "right" mean?

3. God calls us to be righteous. What does "righteous" mean?

4. What evidence was given as proof that Zachariasand Elizabeth were righteous?

5. "…But as He who called you is ____, you also be _____ in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be _____, for I am _____.'" (I Peter 1:15-16 )

6. Give the meaning of the word "holy".

7. Do a Bible Gateway word search or look in a good concordance to find the word "holy". It is used many time as an adjective such as "holy angels". See how many other things you can find that are described as holy.

8. Discussion Question: There have always been many more "unholy" people than "holy" ones. Why is it so hard for people to be holy?


9. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a ________ sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your ________ service. Romans 12:1

10. "…Just as He chose us in Him before the ________ of the world, that we should be holy and without _______ before Him in love,…" Ephesians 1:4

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All Scripture is taken from the NKJ Version.  Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson,Inc.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

 

 

 

 

Today's devotional article will also be posted with the  Archived OBC Courses on our Home Page. If you are looking for some good Bible class material take a look at this page on our web site. We also have archived OBC Youth Lessons. We always enjoy getting feedback from those who use any of our archived materials.

 

OBC Ladies Daily Devotional is a part of the Online Bible Class sponsored by the St. George Church of Christ in St. George, Utah.  Visit our Web Site and see all our Bible study opportunities which we invite you to be a part of and to enroll your friends! 

OBC Ladies Daily Devotional Archives Link:  Ladies Daily Devo.Archives

http://www.stgcoc.com/for_women%20Main1.htm

If you have questions or comments etc..., please feel free to contact:  Billie Duty ladiesdevo@hotmail.com    or Sandy Ditoro sjditoro@hotmail.com   sjditoro@gmail.com .