Episode 201 — John 8:39-47 — The Devil’s Children

Hey everybody, welcome to the podcast, I’m Nick and it’s fantastic  to be here with you today.
Today is July 27.
Each day, we follow a simple rhythm: Slow Down, Read, Notice, Reread, Meditate, Respond, and Exercise.
Let’s begin.

Slow Down
We carry so much around every day — financial worries, relational stress, anxiety about the future, and the pressure to succeed.
Now is the time to set those things down for a few minutes and enjoy some time with Jesus.
Close your eyes. Take a deep breath in, then slowly release it.
As you inhale, whisper: “Jesus, You Come from God.” 
As you exhale, pray: “I love You.”
Do this three times, then rest in His presence.

Read
“Our father is Abraham!” they declared. 
“No,” Jesus replied, “for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example. Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. No, you are imitating your real father.” 
They replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father.” 
Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me? Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.” 
(John 8:39–47, NLT)

Notice
What stands out to you in this passage?
Is there a phrase that surprises or challenges you?
Hold it in your heart for a moment.

Reread
Hear this exchange again — and notice who belongs to which father and what that reveals about their character.

Meditate
Your spiritual father is revealed by who you imitate.
This is one of the harshest passages in Scripture. Jesus is speaking to people who claim to be God's children, and He tells them they're actually children of the devil. It's shocking. It's confrontational. It's uncomfortable.
But Jesus isn't being cruel. He's being clear.
The crowd claims: "Our father is Abraham! God himself is our true Father!" But Jesus says: Look at what you're doing. Look at who you're imitating. You're trying to kill me. Abraham never did that. You're imitating your real father—and it's not Abraham. It's not God.
Here's the principle Jesus is laying out: Your spiritual father is revealed by who you imitate.
If you imitate God, God is your father. If you imitate the devil, the devil is your father. It's not about what you claim. It's not about your heritage or your lineage or your religious credentials. It's about who you actually imitate—whose character you reflect, whose values you embody, whose actions you repeat.
And Jesus identifies the devil's character clearly: He's a murderer. He hates truth. He's a liar. He's the father of lies. So when the crowd rejects the truth Jesus is speaking—when they refuse to believe Him even though He's telling the truth—Jesus is saying: You're imitating the devil. You're reflecting his character. You're showing whose child you really are.
But then Jesus says something important: "Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God."
This is the test. Not your heritage. Not your credentials. Not your claims. But this: Do you listen to God's words? Do you receive them? Do you let them reshape you?
If you belong to God, you'll listen gladly. You'll be open. You'll receive. You'll believe. If you don't belong to God, you won't listen. You can't hear. You won't believe—not because the truth isn't clear, but because you're imitating someone else.
The question is not: "Am I a good person?" or "Do I have the right beliefs?" or "Am I religious enough?" The question is: Who am I imitating? Whose character am I reflecting? Whose values am I embodying?
Because your spiritual father is revealed by who you imitate.
Take a few moments to reflect on this question:
What would it look like to imitate God more fully—to listen gladly to His words and let them reshape me?

Respond
Jesus, I want to be a child of God. Help me to imitate You. Help me to listen gladly to Your words. Help me to reflect Your character—Your truth, Your love, Your mercy.

Exercise
The rush of life will meet you again when you leave this sacred place—but you can carry this moment into your day by forming new habits.
Habit: Whose Child Are You? 
Today's habit is an act of honest self-examination: identify one area where you're imitating the devil instead of God.
It might be a lie you keep telling yourself or others. It might be a murder of someone's reputation through gossip or slander. It might be a refusal to listen to truth because it challenges you. It might be a pattern of deception or manipulation. It might be a way you're spreading darkness instead of light. Write it down.
Now, bring this to Jesus and pray: "Jesus, I see where I'm imitating the enemy. I'm reflecting his character instead of Yours. I'm listening to his voice instead of Yours. Forgive me. Help me to turn away from this. Help me to imitate You instead.
Then take one step. Choose truth instead of a lie. Choose to build someone up instead of tearing them down. Choose to listen instead of resist. Choose to imitate God instead of the enemy.

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That’s your two minutes with Jesus for today.
Now, take what you’ve heard…share it and live it.
Until next time, keep slowing down, keep listening, and keep walking with Jesus.