1 John 3:2
Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
Devotional Thoughts
By David Wilkerson
“The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment” (2 Peter 2:9). The Lord knows all about your struggle. He is touched with the feelings of your infirmity. To you it looks hopeless—but God knows exactly when and how he will deliver you. Thank God, he didn’t leave it up to us! Our part is simply to acknowledge that our own efforts are useless. We must submit to the Spirit of Christ in us—to call upon him in trust, crying out, “Lord, I can’t do it, but you can. I turn it all over to you.” I want to give you one of the most important passages in all the Bible. It concerns this necessity of trusting God’s love as a means to being delivered:
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when he is revealed, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:1-3).
Jesus has the power to purify us. And that power is available to us only as we rest in knowing we are children of God—and that he loves us. You may have spent weeks, months, years doing battle with your sin. You may have gritted your teeth and promised both God and yourself, “I will beat this thing. I will win.” No! Talk to your Father today. Take a look at that life-sucking habit that holds you, and let faith pour out of your heart: “Oh, Lord, my powerful Savior, I know you love me. And you have all the power I need. I am weak, helpless. But I trust in your power to cast out this evil thing. Lord, I need a miracle of deliverance. You are going to set me free!”
Then listen for him to speak. When he speaks to you, the inevitable result is always peace. Claim your miracle—by the hearing of faith, not by the power of the flesh. Your Father loves you. Now, love him back as a son or daughter. Amen!