December 23, 2015 AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM
John 1:1-2, 4-5, 10, 12-13: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor or the will of the flesh, nor or the will of man, but of God.”
Jesus has always been with God; Jesus came from God; and Jesus is God. Before Jesus came to the world, the world was darkness, but because of the love of God, God sent His Son to be the light of the world. The thought of Jesus leaving His heavenly domain where He enjoyed a perfect fellowship with His Father, and coming to a world of darkness is a truth that is difficult to grasp. The Creator, the God of the universe came to be born in a stable, taking on flesh and blood. Douglas Wilson made the following statement that put into perspective what God did when He came into the world: “God consented to have His diapers changed.” Wow! Can we imagine God humbling Himself as a man in order to redeem us? Even though Jesus came to the world bearing light, the world “did not comprehend it.” We may wonder why anyone in darkness would reject the light; but amazingly, some reject the light by not receiving Jesus. Everything, and all of eternity hinges on one factor: whether one rejects the light, or receives Jesus, the light of the world. There is another astounding truth found in these scriptures; and that is that those who receive Jesus, who believe in His name, were born not by the will of man, but by the will of God! Because we were born by the will of God, we can “comprehend”, or receive the light. For the ones who receive Jesus, their birth was of God. It is clear from this verse and other verses that God is our real Father, no matter who our earthly parents were. When we were lost and could not find our way, our loving Father came to our darkness, bringing light that we might be joined to Him. Even before our physical birth, God knew us, and He loved us; and because of His love, Jesus came to redeem His brothers and sisters-those that belonged to the Father. Jesus said that He and ourselves have the same Father, thus we can live free of fear and worry (John 20:17). In fact, our view of life is drastically changed for the good when we know that God is our Father. So, not only in the Christmas season, but in every season, every day, let us keep on responding to the light of the world and let us be reminded that we are the children of God. Thank you Father for bringing light into our darkness. Now, we are light.
John 8:12: “And therefore Jesus spoke to them saying, ‘I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
Matthew 5:16: “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
Blessings,
Buddy
John 1:1-2, 4-5, 10, 12-13: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor or the will of the flesh, nor or the will of man, but of God.”
Jesus has always been with God; Jesus came from God; and Jesus is God. Before Jesus came to the world, the world was darkness, but because of the love of God, God sent His Son to be the light of the world. The thought of Jesus leaving His heavenly domain where He enjoyed a perfect fellowship with His Father, and coming to a world of darkness is a truth that is difficult to grasp. The Creator, the God of the universe came to be born in a stable, taking on flesh and blood. Douglas Wilson made the following statement that put into perspective what God did when He came into the world: “God consented to have His diapers changed.” Wow! Can we imagine God humbling Himself as a man in order to redeem us? Even though Jesus came to the world bearing light, the world “did not comprehend it.” We may wonder why anyone in darkness would reject the light; but amazingly, some reject the light by not receiving Jesus. Everything, and all of eternity hinges on one factor: whether one rejects the light, or receives Jesus, the light of the world. There is another astounding truth found in these scriptures; and that is that those who receive Jesus, who believe in His name, were born not by the will of man, but by the will of God! Because we were born by the will of God, we can “comprehend”, or receive the light. For the ones who receive Jesus, their birth was of God. It is clear from this verse and other verses that God is our real Father, no matter who our earthly parents were. When we were lost and could not find our way, our loving Father came to our darkness, bringing light that we might be joined to Him. Even before our physical birth, God knew us, and He loved us; and because of His love, Jesus came to redeem His brothers and sisters-those that belonged to the Father. Jesus said that He and ourselves have the same Father, thus we can live free of fear and worry (John 20:17). In fact, our view of life is drastically changed for the good when we know that God is our Father. So, not only in the Christmas season, but in every season, every day, let us keep on responding to the light of the world and let us be reminded that we are the children of God. Thank you Father for bringing light into our darkness. Now, we are light.
John 8:12: “And therefore Jesus spoke to them saying, ‘I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
Matthew 5:16: “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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