“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” 

 Romans 8:14

DEVOTION

Am I really a child of God?  I often ponder this question to myself.

Sometimes, I look at my life and realize I may not have been the nicest person to someone else.

I sometimes see a homeless person and look away rather than sharing a prayer over them. I’ll give a few dollars and forget to pray.

Sometimes, I don’t open my heart to others, or I pass judgment even when Christ gave everything and opened his arms to me.

I think about this often because too many times, I let my flesh–the human in me—take the wheel instead of letting the Lord be in charge. John 1:12 reads, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

Matthew 5:7 says, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” When I reflect on this, I begin to think about people in my life who have shown me mercy and kindness. I start to think about the countless people who have invested in students and families and the people who connect at the Community Center. These people have shared their time, talents, and treasures to help those in need. They have literally opened their homes to students to have a safe place to live. They have taken the time out of their day to help those with mental health challenges or to provide resources for people who are homeless.

Romans 8:14 says, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” I know that each of these people are children of God for they follow where the Spirit leads and have shown and continue to show mercy to those the Lord has put in their path.

In response to Romans 8:14, what do we do? Do we follow where the Holy Spirit leads us?

Volunteering is an opportunity for many of us to give our time and talents to others who may look different from us, who may live differently from us, or who think differently than us. It allows us a chance to connect and spread the good news of the Gospel, be a witness by sharing our personal walk, and love on others.

Mark 12:30-31 reads, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Volunteering, serving, stopping and praying—this is how we “go.”

“Going” allows us to grow strong in our faith, and when we grow we are stretched—sometimes we are stretched beyond recognition. As his children, God is calling us to stretch a little more each and every day through the reading of his Word, through prayer and meditation, and through gathering with other believers.

Isn’t that what Jesus was doing with the Sermon on the Mount? He was teaching those who were listening how to be children of God.

It's challenging for me some days, because I stop thinking about what the Lord has done for me. I stop thinking of others. Our human flesh loves to be the focus of our attention all the time. It craves the limelight. It pushes others out of our view, makes us think that my way is the right way—and oftentimes, the only way. It makes us think that others do not deserve what I deserve. It makes us believe that life is all about ME. Thank God for his amazing grace because all of us fall short.

Pastor Andy Rauschkolb recently shared this from the Sermon on the Mount series, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

If we open our hearts and minds to the simple fact that we live in a broken world, that despite differences in thought or understanding, we are the same in Christ and that we are called to love others, then we can truly be the light of the world that a child of God is called to be. 

PRAYER

Dear heavenly Father, please soften and open our hearts to others. Help us to live as salt and light in this broken world. We know you are love and love comes from you, so show us every day how to spread your love with all whom we encounter, in person or in what we share in social media and in every other way. In your son, Jesus’ name I pray, Amen

Demetrius Bell

Director at the Crossings Community Center

dbell@crossings.church

Demetrius Bell is the director of the Crossings Community Center. He works to serve others and provide resources to the surrounding community.

RESOURCES

• Sermon On The Mount Series 
• Build a Life that Matters: "Go" part 1 and 2
• Crossings Worship