This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. (1 John 4:2)
One of my fondest memories of adolescence was more of a process than an event. Every other year, my family would meet in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for our two-year family reunion. I always looked forward to this time, not because of all the oohs and ahs before hearing comments like “I cannot believe how big he has gotten” or “Wow, she is so beautiful!” but because I was able to hear those amazing generational family stories.
What always stood out to me was just how many traits were passed down from one generation to the next. So much so that at my great uncle’s funeral many years later, my second cousin was standing next to my dad and my two brothers, and even from a distance, people remarked how strong the Smith family trait was visible in their profiles.
Paul said the same thing in 1 John 4:2: It should not be hard to recognize your family. Unlike family traits, which will eventually get watered down from generation to generation, all who belong to God will look like Jesus and carry the same spiritual family traits. Acknowledging that Jesus, begotten of the Father, is his only Son, and that he came in human skin to save all humanity as the only Savior of the world is how you recognize those who come from God.
Consider whether you resemble your spiritual family.
Devon Smith is district superintendent of the Tri-State District of The Wesleyan Church, and founder/director of the CROSS Training ordination program at Oklahoma Wesleyan University.
© 2020 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
