“They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of His children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.” (Deuteronomy 32:5)
The use of the word “spot” is archaic. It means the mark, distinguishing character or resemblance that identifies one as a child of a person. This is prevalent in families. There is a particular “spot” that identifies one as belonging to a specific family.
Jesus never used the word “spot,” but did make reference to the fact that children are like their parents. “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44) John in his epistle spoke again of the “spot” or the characteristics of the children of the devil. “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” (1John 3:8)
Those who have received Jesus as Lord and Savior and are children of God, (John 1:12) have a “spot” or tell that distinguishes one as belonging to the family of God. “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” (1John 3:9-10) In the previous chapter John makes this statement. “If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him.” (1John 2:29)
In the spiritual realm, the “spot” is the light. Moses reflected that light when he’d spent time with God on the mountain. “And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.” (Exodus 34:29-30) This light is not merely an illumination, but the Hebrew word used refers to a light that shoots out rays. And when Jesus was transfigured on the mount and conversed with Moses and Elijah, Matthew writes that “His face did shine...” “And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.” (Matthew 17:1-2) The word that was translated “shine” in Hebrew is the word that means to radiate brilliancy and give light. This is more than to be illuminated but is the source of light to illuminate. Mark describes it as shining. “And His raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so, as no fuller on earth can white them.” (Mark 9:3) The word that was translated “shining” is the Hebrew word meaning to gleam, flashing intensely. Luke writes, “And as He prayed, the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and glistering.” (Luke 9:29) The word which was translated “glistering” in the Hebrew means to radiate forth. So, we see that when the Scriptures say Jesus is the light, it literally means He is Light. He doesn’t reflect light but He is the light. And He has given us, the children of God the light. “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12) And in another Scripture Jesus says, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” (Matthew 5:14) Paul wrote: “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:” (Ephesians 5:8) Many other Scriptures confirm that Jesus is the light and has given His children the family “spot” of the light. Because of the world and the flesh our light shines but is not seen visually as it was seen on Moses and Jesus. But it is seen in the spiritual realm.
Just as righteousness, love of the brethren and the light are the family “spot,” there is the “spot” of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the love for Jesus. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is too lengthy a topic to write about in this short lesson. And briefly, we will cover the love for our Savior. “Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love Me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of Myself, but He sent Me.” (John 8:42) Child of God, we cannot but reverence the Lord. There is a profound love and gratefulness to the Lord Jesus in our hearts. “We love Him, because He first loved us.” (1John 4:19) This love for Christ enables us to leave all, deny ourselves and to follow Him. We bear the family “spot” of our Father.
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