Together - Daily DevotionalSample

Receiving Jesus

Reading: John 1:12-13

Key Verse: ‘Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” v 12

John makes it clear that to become a child of God, one has to “receive” Jesus. We are all created by God, who is thus a “universal father”. However, to truly become a member of God’s family we cannot rely on our earthly parentage or personal qualities but on “receiving Jesus”. 

My friends have recently adopted a child. Although they chose her, the child had to specifically agree to “receive” them as her adopted parents and live with them in a relationship where she followed their home routines, choices and guidance. She is free to live her own life, choose her friends, hobbies etc. But by receiving them as her parents, she will be expected to be an active member of the family by eating meals together, help tidy up and go on holiday with them. She has given up a lonely independent lifestyle to receive their name and a new life as a dearly loved child in a family.

To receive Jesus is to choose to give up our independent life to take His name, follow His ways and become a dearly loved child in His family.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that you receive me into Your family as a dearly loved child