Devotion
Who Do You Belong To?
This is how we know who the children of God are and the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God's child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister. --- 1 John 3:10
Craig wouldn't listen, and it eventually caught up with him. Successful, smart, and confident - Craig didn't know a stranger. Away from home, he gave the impression of being a loving, confident, and proud family man; always excited and looking forward to seeing his wife and daughters at the end of each day. But at home, Craig's family lived in fear of his anger and control. One unexpected day, when Craig returned home from work, he entered a darkened and empty house. Slowly he walked from room to room, calling out to his wife and his little girls in a hostile tone. No answer. Threats began to pour from his mouth like a busted water pipe. As he turned a corner, a lamplight shining from the master bedroom caught his eye. His wife had laid the family Bible at the head of their bed along with a letter and a hand mirror. In rage, he snatched up the letter to read these words:
"Dear Craig, the girls and I don't know who you are anymore. Your anger and emotional abuse are more than we can bear. There was a time when our lives were centered in the love of God, and God was the head of our home. But that has long since changed - at least for you. You have become a stranger to us, and we can no longer live together as a family until you decide who you belong to. The girls and I belong to God. We hope you decide you want to belong to him again, too. Please tell the husband and father whom we love and miss that we want him to come back to God...and to us." In God's care --- Faith, Hope, Patience, and Truth
The letter fell from the loosened grip of Craig's hand. He slowly picked up the hand mirror and looked at his reflection, not recognizing the man he had become. This was the beginning of his turning point.
The message in today's devotion is clear. What is your answer to the question, "Who do you belong to?"
This is how we know who the children of God are and the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God's child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister. --- 1 John 3:10
Craig wouldn't listen, and it eventually caught up with him. Successful, smart, and confident - Craig didn't know a stranger. Away from home, he gave the impression of being a loving, confident, and proud family man; always excited and looking forward to seeing his wife and daughters at the end of each day. But at home, Craig's family lived in fear of his anger and control. One unexpected day, when Craig returned home from work, he entered a darkened and empty house. Slowly he walked from room to room, calling out to his wife and his little girls in a hostile tone. No answer. Threats began to pour from his mouth like a busted water pipe. As he turned a corner, a lamplight shining from the master bedroom caught his eye. His wife had laid the family Bible at the head of their bed along with a letter and a hand mirror. In rage, he snatched up the letter to read these words:
"Dear Craig, the girls and I don't know who you are anymore. Your anger and emotional abuse are more than we can bear. There was a time when our lives were centered in the love of God, and God was the head of our home. But that has long since changed - at least for you. You have become a stranger to us, and we can no longer live together as a family until you decide who you belong to. The girls and I belong to God. We hope you decide you want to belong to him again, too. Please tell the husband and father whom we love and miss that we want him to come back to God...and to us." In God's care --- Faith, Hope, Patience, and Truth
The letter fell from the loosened grip of Craig's hand. He slowly picked up the hand mirror and looked at his reflection, not recognizing the man he had become. This was the beginning of his turning point.
The message in today's devotion is clear. What is your answer to the question, "Who do you belong to?"
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