Receive 3

John 1:12-13

There are many people in our society today who are members of various clubs – Elks, Eagles, Moose, VFW, and so on. When I was younger I joined a gun club and was able to go to the range and shoot at targets whenever I wanted. To be a member of these clubs there are certain requirements, but mostly you must pay the required fee to join.

As John continues talking about Jesus he addresses our relationship to him. What must we do to be children of God? What kind of child is that?

While being a Christian and believing in God and in Jesus Christ are by no means a form of club, true believers do become part of a special group. If, as John points out, we receive him and believe in his name we are children of God. There are no dues or special tasks involved. We simply must receive – accept the birth, life and death of Jesus – and believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

And what type of person is a child of God? A child of God is not someone born to certain parents or part of a certain heritage. Children of God are those who accept Christ and his birth and death. Then we are born of God, no matter what type of person we were or who we descended from.

The description of a child of God also fits Jesus. He was born, not of natural descent. His birth was not due to the decision or will of a human. Jesus was born of God. It took no money or anything else of man to create Christ. He came from God and was freely given.

This free gift is the most precious of all gifts. This gift that no man had any part in was the greatest gift to all humanity. And what are we to do?

We are to receive the gift. We are to accept the gift. We are to welcome this wonderful present from God and believe in Jesus so that we are made children of God.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How will you express your joy at receiving the gift of Jesus?