Daily Devotional

May 17th 2026

Back to Devotionals notes

SUNDAY

“But friends, that’s exactly who we are: children of God. And that’s only the beginning. Who knows how we’ll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we’ll see Him—and in seeing Him, become like Him. All of us who look forward to His coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus’ life as a model for our own.” —I John 3:2, 3 (MSG)

As much as anything, Christianity is a process—a lifelong journey of transformation. Paul writes that anyone in Christ is a new creation (II Corinthians 5:17). That means genuine faith produces genuine change.
We should beware of those who claim Christ but show no evidence of growth. The Christian life is a process of change—and not just change, but improvement.
Not all change makes us better. Education is good, but it can make some people arrogant. Prosperity is good, but it can make some people proud. But the change Christ brings always lifts, heals, and transforms.
John writes to a Church troubled by false teachers spreading the doctrine of Gnosticism—a teaching that denied the humanity of Jesus. If Christ had no body, then He could not die for our sin. And if He did not die, there is no salvation. John warns the Church not to be swayed by those who replace God’s Word with their own opinions.
Then John turns to the true believer and reminds us of three things: what we were, what we are, and what we shall be.
Think about what you were. Think about where God found you. As low as you were, God loved you. As wrong as you were, God loved you. Peter denied Christ, but Jesus loved him. Paul persecuted Christ-believers, but Jesus loved him.
Think about what we are. “Now are we the children of God.” Right now, we are blessed—blessed to be alive, to have strength, to have purpose, to have access to God. No one can stop us from drawing closer to God.
Think about what we shall be. John says it is not yet apparent, but we know this much: “When Christ is openly revealed, we’ll see Him—and in seeing Him, become like Him.” The process will be complete.

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for saving us, changing us, and growing us. Shape us daily into what You desire us to be. Keep us faithful in the process until the transformation is complete and we are made like Christ. In His name, we pray. AMEN!

(We invite your comments. Feel free to share this devotion with your friends and invite them to subscribe by forwarding their email address to the Pastor at: fredjeffsmith@gmail.com)

MORNINGS WITH SHILOH WEEKLY PRAYER LINK

Mornings with Shiloh airs on WVLA Channel 33 each weekday at 6:58 a. m. CST. Mornings with Shiloh is available on our Youtube channel at 8:00 a.m. CST.

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO ACCESS OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:

https://www.youtube.com/@ShilohMBCBR/videos

Want to get more involved at Shiloh?

Browse our Ministries