Received and Believed!

Received and Believed! 

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: John 1:12 KJV

A review of some of the words of today's extract will help us understand what God is doing, what He wants from us and where He is taking us to. 

When you see the word BUT, it is a good to go back and check the words that came before: He came unto his own, and his own received him not.  John 1:11 KJV. That was God's testimony about His Son Jesus. He was sent as a gift to all men, sent through the tribe of Judah of the land of Israel for the benefit of all mankind. However, those who were familiar with his story and origin cared nothing about Him. Those who were His family didn't care who He was; after all, He was the son of a carpenter. That is the assumption and the familiarity that bares us from seeing God as He is, or appreciating all that He has done. 

His gift was given to all men, and it is a gift that will remain until the end of all men as we know it. And that is the foundation of AS MANY. His own city rejected Him, but many more of that city and outside the city accepted Him. While he was on earth, so many lives were touched by what He did, just as there were many who scoffed at Him, mocked Him and plotted to kill Him. It is the same today: we think that education and enlightenment have given us other options: we think that we can process the divine by common sense. We want to reduce God to the level of our fallen human nature, forgetting that a man given to sin can't fully understand the love and nature of God from afar; you have to be in it to understand your limits and the need for total dependence on God. 

You can try to find other verbs, but you will not find any that can really replace these words: RECEIVED AND BELIEVED HIM. These are the words that underpin the only reactions that God recognises and Rewards. There is an AND there to show that both are important. You can't do one without the other. You can't receive someone you don't believe in, and you can't trust someone with your life who you have not known well and welcomed into the inner secrets of your life. And it matters who/what the HIM here is: is it possessions, power, position or am I content with the presence of God? Is He enough or do I still need to add a few bits and pieces more? Is He all I need, or am I still searching for false tokens of liars? 

And what are the benefits and the rewards that follow: Gave He Power: this offer only applies to those who have first complied with the words: receive and believe. Men want power without the responsibility and accountability. We want to exercise dominion over all that God has created, yet we do not want to submit to the One who owns and controls what we see and desire. God will not give you that which you are not prepared and purposed for. And for God to GIVE, it is because He owns it in the first place. That same power is at work in all who believe, and it is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him in the heavenly realms, far above all principalities, powers, rulers of this dark world and spiritual wickedness in high places. That is what He offers, and I am not sure that there can be anything bigger, stronger or better than this. 

And what is that ultimate reward and desire of God: that we BECOME SONS OF GOD. I cannot become what I was not formed or fashioned out to be from time. If God says the entire purpose of the gift of His Son is to make me His also, it is because He has power to adopt me as His own and assign me all the perks of that relationship. I dare say again that the process of me becoming God's son requires me to do something, which is what we have already mentioned: receive and believe Him. I am to be called a son of God, just like His Son. He promises me an inheritance, making me a joint heir with Christ. Ah, this world has no idea what is ahead for all the sons of God; no wonder the Bible says:... creation eagerly waits for the revelation of the sons of God.  Romans 8:19 NET.

A promise has been made, which is valid until eternity starts. Invitations have been sent to ALL men, and a response is required from all of us. Indecision is itself a choice, and all choices have consequences. It is a binary choice, with only two options available: receive or reject. What I stand to gain or lose with both options have been laid out;  I cannot blame God for the consequences of my decision. While I have time, I must decide for Jesus, so I can become what He fashioned me for, and can get all that He has purposed. The opposite is better imagined than experienced. His time of favour is here.