Emy Moore Brookins

Number two, visual imitation of Christ.

Matthew 5, 44 through 45 says, but I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be children of your father in heaven.

He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Sons and daughters imitate their father, right?

It says, pray for your enemies that you may be children of your father in heaven.

Because what?

The son rises and sets on the evil and the good.

Sons and daughters imitate their father.

And we know that we're legitimate sons and daughters of Christ when we imitate him.

And that looks like praying for your enemies.

That looks like living a life like how Jesus lived.

whether if it's in the good and in the suffering, all of it, that's how we know that we're true sons and daughters of Christ.

And the last, which is one of my favorites is actually discipline.

And this is found in Hebrews 12, uh, seven through 10.

And it says, endure hardship as discipline.

God is treating you as his children for what children are not disciplined by their father.

If you are not disciplined and everybody undergoes discipline, then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.

Moreover,

We have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we have respected them for it.

How much more should we submit to the father of spirits and live?