Often, the devotions I write come from one of the weekly collects appointed for Sunday worship. For those who may still have questions about what exactly a “collect” is, let me give a quick explanation. A collect is a short prayer, usually no longer than two or three sentences. Collects are designed to draw our hearts and minds toward God’s eternal and majestic qualities. When we pray a collect, we address God, make petitions, affirm the eternal unity of the Holy Trinity, and close the prayer with an “amen.”

The collect for this week reminds us that Jesus came into the world to defeat the works of the devil, make us children of God, and prepare us to inherit eternal life. Naturally, these truths are taught throughout Scripture, with the three verses below perfectly expressing these truths.

...“The Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 1:8, NLT).
...“To those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God ” (John 1:12-13, NIV).
...“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17, NIV).

As you reflect on these Scriptures and pray this collect, think about what we are asking God to do. The first thing we ask the Father to do is to open our eyes to the incredible hope given us in Jesus Christ. Through faith in Him, we have become children of God, children who look forward to a glorious inheritance that no human mind can begin to comprehend (Ephesians 1:17-18; 1 Corinthians 2:9). The second thing we ask God to do is to point out what He wants to purify in us so that we become more like Jesus.

Why pray these kinds of prayers to God? The apostle John provides a clear answer. “What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are… 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 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” (1 John 3:1-3, MSG).

Keeping John’s words in mind, we pray: O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen!