Receive

 John 1:12 ESV

 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 


'You have no right'! is a common jab which people aim at each other. It's true in this case: we have no natural right to become children of God. Yet God gives us the supernatural right to become his children.

How can we get adopted into God's family? Through faith in his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He gave his life to reconcile us to himself.

We don't become God's children by osmosis. We have to receive Jesus into our hearts. We have to believe in his name.

It's interesting that people sometimes criticise the language of 'receiving' Jesus. Yet this is exactly how John phrases it here. Of course we have to receive the Lord, we mustn't reject him.

'O Lord our God, we receive you into our hearts and praise you for giving us the undeserved right to be your children. May we ever live for your honour. In Jesus' name, amen'.

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