But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
—John 1:12-13 (KJV)
We live in a time and culture of rights. "It's my right to..." - and you can fill in the blank with almost anything. But we don't have the right to be God's child. God's grace gives us that right at great cost to God. Jesus, God the Son, came to earth, lived, died, and was raised from the dead. We receive this grace through faith: God gives us new birth as we trust in Jesus as LORD and we share in Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection in baptism (Romans 6:3-7; Colossians 2:11-12), as by faith we are reborn through the power of the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-7; Titus 3:3-7). To be "born of God" - to be "born from above," to be "born again" - is the gift of adoption into God's family, as our verse emphasizes. This costly adoption brings us all the rights of full heirs in God's family (Galatians 3:26-29, 4:1-7). Let's not take this grace, this blessing, this adoption, this right, for granted! We are God's children right now and one day we will see him face-to-face (1 John 3:1-3). So, let's give thanks for this grace and live as those who belong in God's family by reflecting our Father's righteous character, gracious compassion, and faithful loving-kindness in our lives as his children.
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Abba Father, thank you for adopting me into your family. May my life reflect your character, mercy, holiness, compassion, righteousness, and love. I want to be like you, my Father. I want to live like Jesus, my older brother, who paid my adoption price. Just as I was born into your family by the power of the Holy Spirit, please fill me more with your Spirit and transform me to be more like Jesus in all I do and say this day. In the name of my older brother Jesus, I pray. Amen.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
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—John 1:12-13 (KJV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
We live in a time and culture of rights. "It's my right to..." - and you can fill in the blank with almost anything. But we don't have the right to be God's child. God's grace gives us that right at great cost to God. Jesus, God the Son, came to earth, lived, died, and was raised from the dead. We receive this grace through faith: God gives us new birth as we trust in Jesus as LORD and we share in Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection in baptism (Romans 6:3-7; Colossians 2:11-12), as by faith we are reborn through the power of the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-7; Titus 3:3-7). To be "born of God" - to be "born from above," to be "born again" - is the gift of adoption into God's family, as our verse emphasizes. This costly adoption brings us all the rights of full heirs in God's family (Galatians 3:26-29, 4:1-7). Let's not take this grace, this blessing, this adoption, this right, for granted! We are God's children right now and one day we will see him face-to-face (1 John 3:1-3). So, let's give thanks for this grace and live as those who belong in God's family by reflecting our Father's righteous character, gracious compassion, and faithful loving-kindness in our lives as his children.
Video Commentary...
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My Prayer...
Abba Father, thank you for adopting me into your family. May my life reflect your character, mercy, holiness, compassion, righteousness, and love. I want to be like you, my Father. I want to live like Jesus, my older brother, who paid my adoption price. Just as I was born into your family by the power of the Holy Spirit, please fill me more with your Spirit and transform me to be more like Jesus in all I do and say this day. In the name of my older brother Jesus, I pray. Amen.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Continue reading...
