Recognize, Receive, Believe
Last night Debbie and I enjoyed participating with a panel at Southwest First Assembly on “how to be a person of influence.” We stayed in Denver with our friends George and Annette Brauchler. What a delight to be treated the the kind hospitality at the “Brauchler bed ‘n breakfast.” This afternoon was grandson Caedmon’s birthday party. But before that a large group of family and friends gathered at a workout center where David (Tex) Martin proposed to my niece Kate Summers. It was a grand and moving event with other family joining the via “Face Time.” Great to live in the land of modern technology.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “He was in the world, and the world was created through Him, yet the world did not recognize Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name…” John 1:10-12 HCSB
John declares that the eternal Son of God, the creator of the world and all that is in it, came to His creation. Yet, the world did not recognize Him. After all, why would a God come and appear in “human flesh?” Why would the Almighty subject Himself to the frailties of a human body and to encounter the challenges of human relationships and live in a fallen world?
He did so as Jesus said, “to show us the Father.” Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9 NIV) What is God like? Look at Jesus. Yet “the world” has its own ideas of what greatness and god-likeness is and they did see it in Jesus and did not recognize Jesus as “God with us.”
It is one thing to come to the world in general and not be recognized; but what about those who should have the greatest insight and were looking for the Messiah, the redeemer of God’s people? John says, “He came to His own, but they did not receive Him.
Jesus was welcomed at His birth by shepherds and wise men. But as He lived among God’s own people, as He spoke God’s Word, as He healed and revealed, they did not receive Him. As a matter of fact the religious leaders who should have have the greatest insight, became the greatest enemies of Jesus. Out of jealousy and their own grab for power those who were to represent God, had the Son of God hung on a cross.
Yet there is a third group. This group not only received Jesus, but they “believed on His name.” As a result, they became the true “children of God.” Not born of natural heritage, but through spiritual birth. Even as Jesus told, Nicodemus, “you must be born again.” (John 3:7 NIV) This “spiritual adoption” is of great significance. It is a “game changer.” Through Jesus it reached to all humanity.
Jesus came so, “whosoever will may come.” “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.“ (Revelation 22:17 NIV) “Whosoever will call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13 NIV)
Those “whosoevers” in Jesus day and down to ours include some “unlikely” individuals. Tax collectors, prostitutes, the spiritually oppressed, the desperate and self-sufficient, the the down and out and the up and outs.
The challenge then is to recognize Jesus for who He is. To receive Him, welcome Him into your life and to believe in Him, by trusting in Him alone to make you one of His children.
We live in a world that talks a lot about “rights.” Here is one you should embrace: the right to be a child of God. “…all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name.”
Prayer for today… Lord we believe You are the Son of God. Thank You for coming that we might see and know the reality of Him who is the creator and redeemer of all mankind. Today, we recognize, receive and believe that as You make us Your children, You secure our future and You direct our journey through life.