Of God or Not Of God?
John 8:47
He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
Thought:
Jesus spoke these words to very religious people. They knew Scripture. They went to the synagogue. They claimed to belong to God. But Jesus said the real proof of belonging to God is this: a person who is “of God” hears God’s words.
“To be of God” means more than simply being religious or moral. It means you have been born of God. You belong to Him. You are aligned with Him. His nature has changed your heart. When that happens, His Word does something inside you. You do not just hear the sound. You receive it. You recognize that it is true. You want to follow it.
In John 8:47 the verb “heareth” means “is hearing” as a pattern of life. It is not a one time thing. It describes a person who keeps listening to God, keeps responding, keeps being shaped.
A person can sit in church and hear sermons, read the Bible, and still not truly hear God. The mark of a true child of God is not just exposure to the Word, but reception of the Word. It finds a place in the heart and begins to change thoughts, desires, and actions. That hearing shows the identity. The person is “of God.”
Prayer:
Lord, I want to be truly of God, not just religious. Help me not to be satisfied with only hearing words with my ears. Give me a heart that receives and welcomes Your Word as truth. Let Your Word live in me, shape me, and show that I truly belong to You. In Jesus name, Amen.
He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
Thought:
Jesus spoke these words to very religious people. They knew Scripture. They went to the synagogue. They claimed to belong to God. But Jesus said the real proof of belonging to God is this: a person who is “of God” hears God’s words.
“To be of God” means more than simply being religious or moral. It means you have been born of God. You belong to Him. You are aligned with Him. His nature has changed your heart. When that happens, His Word does something inside you. You do not just hear the sound. You receive it. You recognize that it is true. You want to follow it.
In John 8:47 the verb “heareth” means “is hearing” as a pattern of life. It is not a one time thing. It describes a person who keeps listening to God, keeps responding, keeps being shaped.
A person can sit in church and hear sermons, read the Bible, and still not truly hear God. The mark of a true child of God is not just exposure to the Word, but reception of the Word. It finds a place in the heart and begins to change thoughts, desires, and actions. That hearing shows the identity. The person is “of God.”
Prayer:
Lord, I want to be truly of God, not just religious. Help me not to be satisfied with only hearing words with my ears. Give me a heart that receives and welcomes Your Word as truth. Let Your Word live in me, shape me, and show that I truly belong to You. In Jesus name, Amen.
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