We were celebrating a wedding with the family. It was a lovely wedding, and we enjoyed ourselves until the early morning. Grandma too. She watched the young people from her wheelchair. She was smiling the whole time. 

I suspect it had something to do with how different the in-laws were. You see, they are from the north, where people look and act differently. Some also speak differently. But I suspect they say the same thing about us Capetonians with our common talk. 

There were clearly two distinct groups. If Grandma had observed them long enough, she would likely have been able to discern which person belonged to which region, based on their behaviour. 

Who we are and what we do should tell the full story. People should be able to recognise us as God’s children from a mile away and place us in a different group from those people who don’t believe in God. 

6But we come from God and belong to God. Anyone who knows God understands us and listens. The person who has nothing to do with God will, of course, not listen to us. This is another test for telling the Spirit of Truth from the spirit of deception.  

God’s children are recognised by their deeds. Through God’s Spirit, they embody the truth. They not only demonstrate what is right but also guide others away from the wrong path. 

The opposite is also true, of course. Hopefully, we never fall into this group that does not listen to God’s Word. 

At the same wedding, a guy pulled me behind the speaker. He wanted to talk about his Christianity. He felt guilty because he didn’t know if, as a Christian, he was allowed to be on the dance floor. 

I told him that was exactly where we needed to be as children of God. This is where we need to be an example of how we, as children of God, can also have fun. This is where we need to show the world what the Spirit of Truth looks like. 

The world is watching, and sometimes, when we stumble, they are quick to point fingers. Yes, we also slip up. We must admit this, but the important thing is not the fall itself, but our ability to get back up. 

We can get up again, admit our guilt and continue on the path with new strength and wisdom. 

Let us, who are children of God, make sure that our way of life matches our status. Let it be easy for people to discern by our works and actions that we know the truth and aren’t involved in fraud and deception. 

As my mom always said: “Bennie, let your ‘yes’ be your ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ be your ‘no’”. Be honest in all things and let the truth take the lead everywhere. Then people will be able to see that you are a true child of God. 

Scripture
1 John 4:1-10

Reflection
Can other people see that you are a child of God by your actions and by the way you do things?
What distinguishes you from someone who doesn’t believe in God – are there clear differences in how you live?
How does the Spirit of Truth help you to distinguish right from wrong in a world full of different “ways of doing things”? 

Prayer
Father, thank you for choosing me to be your child. Thank you for knowing what the truth is and for living according to it. Help me to be more sensitive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and to show others how we should live. Amen.