Page 4 - 21 November 2025

PAGE 4 · THE REPORTER 21 NOVEMBER 2025

You can download the free app EDWJ via Play Store. They have 'The Spirit you received does not make you For if you live according to
included two versions of daily reading on the App, Contemporary slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the the flesh, you will die; but if
(New authors and a new format) and the Classic (The original Selwyn Spirit you received brought about your adoption by the Spirit you put to death
the misdeeds of the body,
Hughes devotionals):
to sonship. And by Him we cry, "Abba, Father."' you will live. For those who
are led by the Spirit of God
(v15) Romans 8:12-17
are the children of God. The
Spirit you received does not
Have you ever noticed in the recognition that He is the
so my soul pants for you, my O l d Te s t a m e n t h o w one we can depend on; He is make you slaves, so that you
God. My soul thirsts for God, everyone is introduced by the one who is always with live in fear again; rather, the
for the living God. When can who their parents were? us, looking after us. Spirit you received brought
I go and meet with God?' Consistently, someone is about your adoption to
(Psalm 42:1-2) introduced, followed by 'the A n d t h a t c h a n g e s sonship. And by Him we cry,
everything. Because we are
Further study: son of...' or 'the daughter adopted into His family, His 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit
himself testifies with our
of...' When I first started
Jesus loves you. How many before Him that He went to family rules now apply, and spirit that we are God's
times have you heard that? the cross (see Hebrews Romans 5:6-8: You see, at reading the Bible, it really in God's family, everyone is children. Now if we are
just the right time, when we
How many times have you 12:2). were still powerless, Christ bugged me, because why seen, known, and cherished. children, then we are heirs -
said it? This is the Here's the thing about that... died for the ungodly. Very were these people identified Whether your biological heirs of God and co-heirs
fundamental and founda- the only thing Jesus gained rarely will anyone die for a by who their dad was? family was everything you with Christ, if indeed we
tional truth of our faith. And from the cross was you! You In many cases, it wasn't their could want or less than what share in His sufferings in
yet, we often don't believe it. are the joy set before Him! righteous person, though for dad who had done the great you deserve, you are now a order that we may also share
At least don't fully believe it. When He died, it was you He a good person someone thing! It was them! child fo God, and He is a very in His glory.
Whether we like to admit it or thought of. The only reward might possibly dare to die. I remember praying about good Father.
not, we often, consciously or Jesus gets for the cross is But God demonstrates his this and asking the Lord to Like the Old Testament E p h e s i a n s 2 : 1 9 - 2 2 :
unconsciously, try to earn relationship with us. own love for us in this: while explain. And He told me that characters, we are now Consequently, you are no
His love and attention. we were still sinners, Christ the most important thing is known not exclusively by longer foreigners and
W h e n t h a t ' s p u t i n died for us. strangers, but fellow citizens
There are many reasons for perspective, things can who we are a child of. At the ourselves and what we've with God's people and also
this. I John 4:9-10: This is how time, my relationship with done, but by who our Father members of His household,
change. We can stop striving God showed His love among some of family members is. In this case, our Father is
Chief among them is that the or performing; we can take us: He sent His one and only was a bit messy. I didn't want the Creator of the Universe! built on the foundation of the
world tells us this kind of love off our masks. Jesus isn't Son into the world that we to be known by my And where perhaps in the apostles and prophets, with
doesn't exist; that in order to after your perfection. He might live through Him. This connection to them and past you've been known by Christ Jesus Himself as the
be loved, we must do doesn't want a false version is love: not that we loved their actions, so I couldn't divorce or relational pain or chief cornerstone. In Him
something to earn it. Maybe of you. We can rest in His God, but that He loved us fathom what God was talking generational sins or the whole building is joined
you were taught this as a love. And the only response and sent His Son as an about. addiction or whatever else together and rises to
child in a home where love for such a love is to love in atoning sacrifice for our sins. might be going on in your become a holy temple in the
was earned. Maybe you've return. To choose Jesus the Maybe your relationship with family or your past, now you Lord. And in Him you too are
seen it play out in your love way He's chosen us. Hebrews 12:1-3: Therefore, your family is also messy, are known and identified being built together to
life or friendships. Maybe An action to take: In what since we are surrounded by and you don't want to be simply as His. become a dwelling in which
your workplace or even your ways have you been striving such a great cloud of associated with them for God lives by His Spirit.
church makes it hard to or performing for God? Be witnesses, let us throw off whatever reason, so it's a An action to take: Consider Matthew 6:9-10: 'This,
believe in such a love. honest with God, and journal everything that hinders and confusing concept for you as your biological family line, then, is how you should pray:
it was for me. But this is
However, in the kingdom, them out. Then choose to the sin that so easily where God comes in. and the good and bad that "Our Father in heaven,
they have given you. Forgive
entangles. And let us run
this is what true love looks bravely do the opposite with perseverance the race what you need to forgive and hallowed be Your name, Your
like: God would come as a today. marked out for us, fixing our God assures us that thank Jesus for the kingdom come, Your will be
man and die a painful death, A prayer to make: Lord, I eyes on Jesus, the pioneer regardless of our family line, blessings. Then consider done, on earth as it is in
just to be with us for all apologise and repent for the and perfecter of faith. For the we are now His children. your spiritual family line and heaven."
eternity. He made that times when I haven't joy that was set before Him That we now have the thank God for all that it's Isaiah 49:15-16: 'Can a
choice before you chose believed You fully loved me He endured the cross, privilege to call Him, Abba given you. mother forget the baby at
Him, when you were, in fact, or when I've tried to earn Father. Abba isn't a formal her breast and have no
still a sinner (see Romans Your affection. Teach me scorning its shame, and sat way of saying Father, it's what A prayer to make: Father in compassion on the child she
5:8). Jesus loves us first, how to remove any masks down at the right hand of the children would call their dad Heaven. You are my Father. I has borne? Though she may
before we've done anything I've put on and accept Your throne of God. Consider him at bedtime or over the am Yours and You are mine. forget, I will not forget you!
w h o e n d u r e d s u c h
to earn it. great love. Amen. opposition from sinners, so b r e a k f a s t t a b l e , t h e (Sit with that.) See, I have engraved you on
equivalent of whatever you
And what's more, Scripture Memory Verse: 'As the deer that you will not grow weary might call your earthly father. Further Study: the palms of my hands; your
says that it was for the joy set pants for streams of water, and lose heart. So, when we call the Lord R o m a n s 8 : 1 2 - 1 7 : walls are ever before me.’
Abba, it's not a recognition Therefore, brothers and Song of Songs 6:3: I am my
of His holiness and 'set- s i s t e r s , w e h a v e a n beloved's and my beloved is
apartness' from us. Instead, obligation - but it is not to the mine; he browses among
it is a deeply personal heart flesh, to live according to it. the lilies.
sake we will gain it. I love the
'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and
w a y T h e M e s s a g e
with all your soul and with all your mind paraphrases it: 'Anyone who times, taking your time. spreads out the earth with all John 15:13-14: 'Greater
and with all your strength.' (v30) intends to come with Me Mark 12.29-31: 'The most that springs from it, who love has no one than this: to
gives breath to its people,
lay down one's life for one's
Mark 12:29-31 [Jesus] has to let Me lead. important one,' answered and life to those who walk on friends. You are my friends if
You're not in the driver's seat; Jesus, 'is this: "Hear, O Israel:
We're continuing to explore that loving God will come I am... Self-sacrifice is the the Lord our God, the Lord is it . . . you do what I command.'
the famous verse of Mark naturally to us, but that is not way, My way, to finding one. Love the Lord your
12:30, where we're told to always the case. Sometimes, yourself, your true self. What God with all your heart and
love the Lord with all our the Lord asks something kind of deal is it to get with all your soul and with all
heart, soul, and mind. For difficult of us. Lord asks everything you want but lose your mind and with all your
now we're looking at the something difficult of us. yourself? What could you strength." The second is this:
soul, and how our soul can Sometimes, it would be ever trade your soul for?' If "Love your neighbour as
love the Lord. Your soul is the easier to ignore Him or to we want to love God, we yourself." There is no
idea of your inner being and o u t r i g h t d i s o b e y . must let Him lead, and this commandment greater than
inner world - your will, your will require sacrifice on our these.'
mind, your decisions. In Sometimes, in the busyness part. But the good news is Matthew 16:24-26: Then
and distractions of life,
Greek, the word used here in that what we think costs us, Jesus said to His disciples,
Mark comes from the root we just don't think of Him actually leads to us 'Whoever wants to be my
word, psyche, meaning and what He might be becoming our full selves. d i s c i p l e m u s t d e n y
'breath' or 'vital life force', it's wanting of us. And it is in Only our God could make themselves and take up their
the thing that makes us So, those moments, our souls - such an exchange! cross and follow me. For
to love God with all our soul our minds, emotions, and An action to take: Ask God whoever wants to save their
means loving Him with all will - must choose to love if there are things you life will lose it, but whoever
the things that make us God. Loving God with our haven't let Him be in control loses their life for me will find
unique - our emotions and soul requires action and of. Journal His response as it. What good will it be for
will and the way we think intentionality. It requires us you bring each part of your someone to gain the whole
about things and view the to believe He is who He says life to Him. world, yet forfeit their soul?
world around us. Loving God He is, and that we are who Or what can anyone give in
with our soul means He says we are. A prayer to make: Try a exchange for their soul?’
choosing to trust Him and That word, psyche, is also breath prayer today. As you
what He says about life, and used in Matthew 16:24-26, inhale, say the name 'Lord Isaiah 42:5: This is what
about our lives in particular. Jesus', and as you exhale, God the LORD says - the
where we're told that if we say, 'have mercy on me a Creator of the heavens, who
We often expect or assume lose our life for the Lord's sinner.' Do that several stretches them out, who