Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. . . This is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.

Devotion based on 1 John 5:1,3,4

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

God has blessed our family members with many gifts and abilities. For some of us, math might be easy. For others, spelling. Some are good at sports, others music. We are all born with different abilities to use to God’s glory in this world.

What about the natural ability to obey everything God commands? Is that a thing? Actually, it’s not. In fact, we’re born into this world with just the opposite—with no ability to obey God. Of all the wonderful gifts and abilities you were born with, the ability to obey God is not one of them! God’s Word teaches us that we are born with sinful hearts (Psalm 51:5), spiritually dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1), and powerless to do what is right (Romans 5:6).

So, is it even possible for us—who are all born sinful—to obey God’s commands? Why would God ask us to do something we cannot do?

We can obey because we believe in Jesus. We learn from our reading that “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.” When our faith is in Jesus, we are born all over again—in a spiritual way. We are born as children of God, gifted with forgiveness for all of our sins. In this way, God’s children are born with the ability to overcome sin and the desire to behave the way God wants his children to behave.

Yes, each one of us was born into this world with different abilities, and we celebrate those differences. Let’s also celebrate that we have something very important in common: Faith in Jesus. Because of that faith, we can live differently from the rest of the world. “Everyone born of God overcomes the world.” We have the ability to love God, love one another, and choose God-pleasing behaviors. We won’t get everything right all the time because we still live in this sinful world. Sin still creeps into our hearts and causes us to do things we shouldn’t do. But as children of God, we enjoy full forgiveness. And we can overcome bad choices with the strength Jesus provides.

Let’s celebrate that as family members, we share this precious gift of faith, and let’s encourage one another to live as children of God.

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for the precious gift of faith we share as family members. Help us grow in our faith so we keep your commands and live as you want us to live. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Questions for Middle School and Above