11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
Ever not been accepted by your family? Ever not been welcomed by your own people? Ever not been received by those to whom you should be most familiar? Jesus can relate. Isaiah prophesizes this rejection of Jesus in the Book which bears his name:
3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. Isaiah 53:3-4 (NIV)
Not accepted by His relations, rejected by His familial ties, unknown by His lineage, He counters graciously with a loving “all”. “All” is such an inclusive word is it not? All who would receive Jesus; all who would believe in Him; all who would come to Him; indeed “all” who would put their faith in Him would become children of the Great I AM. What an unspeakable privilege that we, mere flesh and blood, mere dust of the ground, can become children of the King! How lavishly He has loved us! Oh! What great love is this!
1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:1-3 (NIV)
John’s words remind me of Job’s jubilation of faith and his unwavering confidence regarding his future face to face encounter with God, his Redeemer, Defender, Protector and Vindicator:
25 I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; 27 I myself will see him with my own eyes--I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! Job 19:25-27 (NIV)
How incredibly amazing that by that “all”, anyone coming to Jesus for salvation - accepting Him as the Revealer of the Father’s will and as the Sacrifice for sin - He will by no means drive away:
37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. John 6:37 (NIV)
“The privilege of adoption is entirely owing to Jesus Christ; he gave this power to those who believe in his name. The Son of God became a Son of man, that the sons and daughters of men might become the sons and daughters of God Almighty.” Matthew Henry
“Believe in his name” is far deeper than simply knowing what He is called. e is caled The word translated “Name” is from the Greek word “Onoma” meaning “title, reputation, fame; implying authority, dignity, used to indicate the character described by the name or identification with the person bearing the name.” Hebrew Greek Key Words Study Bible New Testament Lexical Aids. Simply put, believers bearing His name are to bear His character. Just as we bear resemblance to our earthly families, we, as children of God, are to bear resemblance to our heavenly Father. Setting our hearts and minds on things above rather than on earthly things, we are to grow up in Him yielding to the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying work within each true believer. Paul gives us a glimmer of what this should look like in his letter to the Colossians and with this, I close today’s devotion:
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Col 3:5-14 (NIV)