Rescued Kitten

READ: LUKE 15:1-7; ROMANS 7:15–8:4, 38-39; 2 PETER 1:3-4

When kittens are rescued and placed in a new family, they have a lot to learn—which usually includes learning not to scratch the furniture! Still, their rescuers are patient and help them learn how to live in their new family.

This is kind of like our story as Christians. We were lost before God rescued us, like an orphaned kitten caught in a thunderstorm, cold and wet and trembling. When we trusted Jesus as our Savior, God forgave our sins and gave us a brand-new life. He took us home and lovingly placed us in His family. But, we still do wrong things sometimes. As humans, we have a tendency to sin, a bent toward hating God and our neighbors. Just like rescued kittens give in to their instincts to sharpen their claws on the couch, we often give in to our old sinful nature.

But when kittens become part of a family, the family teaches them not to be destructive. And God teaches us as Christians how to act like members of His family, too. He gives us His Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live a godly life. Jesus takes sin seriously and calls us to commit our whole selves to living in His good ways. He also knows we’ll still do wrong things sometimes, but even when we do, He will always forgive us. And when Jesus returns, He will make everything new, and we won’t struggle with our old sinful nature anymore.

Are you learning how to be a member of God’s family? We all still sin sometimes, but if we know Jesus, the Holy Spirit is teaching us to change our ways. Whenever we get discouraged at our own tendency to sin, we can come to Jesus and find rest in His unshakeable love and forgiveness. The reality is, as Christians we are part of God’s family forever, and nothing can separate us from His love. We can thank Him for the Holy Spirit’s power over sin and trust Him to guide us in turning away from sin and instead doing what’s right. • A. W. Smith

• Learning to love God and our neighbors can be hard! When have you seen God work in your life to help you learn how to love well? What is an area where that struggle is still ongoing? Progress isn’t always linear, so it may be two steps forward, one step back. But you can know that Jesus is always with you and will complete the work He started in you (Philippians 1:6).

• Who are trusted Christians in your life you can be honest with about your struggles? How could you set aside time to pray for each other and help point each other to God’s Word this week?

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3 (NIV)