Bible Verse of The Day – 11-20-24

John 8:43-44 (LSB) 43 Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. 44 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 does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

As Jesus addressed the religious leaders, He spoke truth that infuriated them.

The men in front of Him held themselves up as leaders; men who should be honored and looked up to by everyone.

But their self-righteous opinions of themselves, and their visions of grandeur were shattered by the words of Jesus.

He told them bluntly who they really were; children of the devil, the father of lies, and a murderer.

Jesus saw past their religious garb and their pious words. He knew their hearts, and He knew their intentions.

It was because of their nature that they could not hear what Jesus was saying.

You see, the family we were born into does not matter. Our heritage does not make us righteous. It does not buy redemption or favor with God.

So, these men who thought themselves to be heirs to the kingdom because of their self-proclaimed lineage to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were sadly mistaken.

God desires that we be meek, humble, and willing to receive instruction.

There is a great lesson for us to learn from this, making sure that we do not base our relationship with our Father and Redeemer on our heritage.

Nor should we base it on something from our formative years that we were too young to actively participate in, such as being baptized or “Christened” as a baby or toddler.

Our faith is built on actions and decisions that we make ourselves, choices that we make to follow the One who gave His life for us.

Anything less is simply religion based on rituals, traditions, or choices made for us by others when we were too young to know the difference.

Let us make a conscious, deliberate choice to place our faith in Christ, embracing His death and the cleansing blood that He shed for us.

And let us build and grow that faith in a way that we will know who we are in Christ without relying on something that was done for us in the distant past that we didn’t actively participate in.

Amen

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
49 N Lamplighters Walk
Hampstead, NC 28443

401-439-3780

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