John 8:47He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.Thought:In the airport, the agent asks the traveler for proof of identity. His feelings, background, and confidence are not enough. He must show something that verifies who he is.Jesus does something similar in John 8. The religious leaders claim to be children of Abraham and children of God. But ...

John 14:23–24Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.Thought:Jesus gives a clear test of love. He does not say, “If a man loves Me, he will feel a lot of emotion du...

Ezekiel 36:26–27A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.Thought:John 8:47 shows a serious truth. Some people cannot truly hear God’s Word because they ar...

Psalm 95:7–8For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart.Thought:The Bible shows that the real problem with hearing God is usually not in the ears or the mind, but in the heart. Israel heard God speaking through Moses and the prophets, but often they hardened their hearts. They wanted their own way. They ...

John 8:47He 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 m...