INTRO TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, Sarah Barry
IF GOD WERE YOUR FATHER...
Passage: John 8:42~47  
Key verse: 47a
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me,(A) for I have come here from God.(B) I have not come on my own;(C) God sent me.(D) 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil,(E) and you want to carry out your father’s desires.(F) He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.(G) 45 Yet because I tell the truth,(H) you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says.(I) The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. You would love me (42,43)
True children of God love Jesus, for God sent Jesus as the best expression of his love. We can know Jesus when we receive his words in our hearts. He speaks the truth. If our hearts are full of lies, we cannot hear the truth.
2. Children of the devil (44-47)
Jesus used very strong language about the Pharisees. He called them children of the devil. The devil is a liar and murderer from the beginning, so he hates the truth. Lies are his native language. He plants doubt and fear; his aim is to separate God's children from God, and to keep them from loving and trusting one another. Separation from God is spiritual death. Those who plant doubt of God or God's people are children of the devil. Jesus plants faith. He heals broken relationships. His word is truth. He gives life. Those who belong to God hear God's word.
Prayer: Lord, help me live like a child of God, not like a child of the devil.
One Word: Speak the truth; plant God's word