Behaving Like a Child of God

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Adoption Into God's Family

At the point of your salvation, you were adopted into God's family. You moved from the category of pagan, unbeliever, sinner, child of Satan, or whatever you want to call your former existence, into God's family. In Ephesians 1:4-5 we read,

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will...

The good news of this passage is that when you became a Christ follower, you moved from the old life to the new life. The goal for every believer should be striving to be more like Jesus each day. Will this consistently happen every day? Well, of course it won't, because we still have the sin nature inside us. Since your conversion, you now have the Holy Spirit locked into a battle with the flesh. This is great news, because if we simply die to self, and allow the Holy Spirit complete control, then He will win the battle for us! Romans 6:11-14 states,

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

Ask Yourself This Question

Asking yourself questions is a great way to move in a right direction, especially when you ask quality questions. A few days ago during a brief devotional time, I was asked to consider a quality question to ask myself each and every day. That question is:

Lord, today, am I behaving as your child?

Wow! What an amazing question that each one of us needs to ask ourselves. In the places I go, in the activities in which I choose to participate, in the words that come out of my mouth, and in the attitude I give off to those around me, am I really acting like a child of the King?

Works are important in the life of a believer. They do not save us, but they do point to the fact that a conversion of our heart and mind has taken place. Our behavior, our works after our conversion is evidence that God really has done and continues to do a great work in our lives. Consider the following verses from the Book of James, Chapter 2:

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? (James 2:14).

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds (James 2:17-18).

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead (James 2:26).

So, How's Your Behavior, Today?

Many in protestant circles are scared to acknowledge that our good works after our conversion are an important part of our faith in Christ. They are the proof that God has done and continues to do an amazing work in our lives. Our good works post-conversion demonstrate to a lost and dying world that we truly are children of the King.

So, if you were to examine my life today, would you find enough evidence to convict me of being a child of God? I have to constantly ask myself this question and evaluate to see if the works in my life demonstrate the life-changing power of Christ. I would ask you to do the same today and every day. If we were to examine your life right now, do the "works" in your life line up with who you say that you are?

Let us all live our lives in such a way that people see God in us. Let's behave like children of God.

Also, check out these related posts:

• The power of asking the right questions
• 9 God relationship questions to ponder
• Your Life Is Sacred
• Staying Close to the Source
• 8 Steps for Spiritual Growth