Topic: Goodness And Mercy
Text: Matthew 3:5-17

There is a remarkable difference between being a child of God and being a servant of God. In certain regards, the privileges of a son far outweigh that of a servant. Why do we have to examine the differences between a child of God and a servant of God? Being a child of God has certain advantages which being a servant of God does not have. In John 8:35, the Bible says: “And the servant abideth not in the house for ever, but the Son abideth ever.” The servant does not abide in the house forever. A child would always be in the house.

The implications of these are many. Psalms 23:6, for example, says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” The one who dwells in the house forever has the assurance that goodness and mercy shall follow him forever. And according to Psalms 91:1, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”

In John 5:20, the Bible tells us that the son sees everything that the father does. There is joy in knowing what God is doing and being able to see, ahead of time, what He intends to do. There are certain things that can happen to servants that cannot happen to children. A very good example is found in Job 1:18-12. As good as Job was, God called him, “my servant.” When terrible things began to happen to Job, they happened because he was a servant. There is, however, something superior to being a child of God. This is to be a friend of God. There are categories of children: prodigal children (Luke 15:11-24); children that cause the father shame.

In Matthew 3:16-17, the Bible talks of “my Beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” You must strive to become God’s beloved son. But the question is: What kind of a child are you? Are you an ordinary child or a beloved one?

Memory Verse: Psalms 23:6 - “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”