Spiritual Thought of the Week

Like Your Father

Many sit-coms use the same joke. As the male character is raising the children, he begins to discipline the children and gives them a long speech. Somewhere in the speech, he interrupts himself with the question, “When did I turn into my father?”

As we age, we often display characteristics of our parents; even some attributes we may have found annoying or difficult as children. While we do not have to be just like our parents, it is very difficult to be completely different from them. (That’s one reason it is imperative that parents live consistent, Godly lives!)

In John 8, Jesus continued to try to get the Jewish leaders to see their hypocrisy. By this point in the life of Christ, they were completely against Him and were already seeking to kill Him. He had drawn many to Himself by His teaching, miracles, and compassion, and the Jewish leaders did not appreciate their “power base” being taken away.

Jesus was consistent in trying to teach them (and show them) that He was divine; that He truly was the Son of God. In John 8, the Jews proudly claim to be from Abraham, which was true in the physical sense. However, Jesus quickly points out to them that Abraham received an heavenly messenger (cf. Genesis 18), and these descendents were seeking to kill one. He stated, “But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. You are doing the deeds of your father” (vv. 40-41, NASB).

Further in the conversation, Jesus gave these bold, but needed, words: “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 (his native tongue, NIV), for he is a liar and the father of lies” (v. 44).

Why would Jesus choose such strong language? He was speaking the truth, and was doing so in love. Love sometimes much be just so bold. Love means saying what someone needs to hear in the manner he or she needs to hear it! The Jewish leaders were manifesting both of these characteristics of Satan. They often lied and even promoted lies about Christ, and they were seeking to kill him, proving that they had the heart of a murderer.

We can read that passage and think, “I’d never be mistaken for a child of Satan. Those Jewish leaders were completely steeped in sin.” However, Jesus made it clear in this very context: “Everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin” (v. 34). Jesus was speaking of a lifestyle, but many of us live a sinful lifestyle.

Do I harbor bad attitudes toward those not like me? Do I have a “pet” sin that I think no one knows about? Do I label certain sins as “no big deal” to justify some action (maybe cheating on taxes or speeding)? Do I look at my sins and think, “Well, at least I’m not as bad as so-and-so”?

You see, when I begin to truly examine my life, there may be some sin to which I am a slave. It may not be lying and it may not be murder, but I must make sure that I completely rid myself of any allegiance to sin.

Why? Because I don’t want to show the characteristics of Satan as my father. I want to show life of my heavenly Father through my actions.

Let God be your Father, then show His love, compassion, mercy, grace, boldness, and sincerity to all.