1 John 3:4–10 (ESV)
Children of God
4 Everyone who makes a practice
of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little
children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy
the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the
devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
John makes some tough statements that can be troubling. John is making a strong statement
that if you are a Christian, you are not to sin. Well, at least that is what it sounds like. We are all sinners and fall short of the Glory of God, however... we are to not practice sinning. That means we are to stop sinning and not continue
living in our sins. It is current and ongoing sins. We are to repent and to want to do better. It is more than just talk, sin is not to dwell in us. “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides
in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.” This is a good time to stop and reflect on your own life. If change needs to be made, then make it. People who hear us say we are Christians, should see that we
are Christians. When they see us saying one thing, but doing another... we are a poor witness for Christ, if... we are even that. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice
righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.” John is not saying we will never sin again, but we should not continue practicing sin.
I pray: O Lord, help me
to not practice sin, but to repent and to flee from it. Let my life be a living sacrifice for Christ, knowing that I am not saved by how I live, but through faith alone. Let others see Christ in me. Shape me and mold me, Lord. Amen.