"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." (1 John 3:1, 2)
What greeted me this very rainy Monday morning was the fresh affirmation that I am a child of the Living Triune God.
Throughout human history, some have asked, Did God really want me here, was my birth His will or my parents will? Now some would say right away, in their attempt to be "good Christians," Of course he wanted you here; everything that happens is his will. Perhaps-- But one thing, however, is certain; to all who receive Jesus Christ, "He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." It is clear from these words that there is a will of, "blood"; there is, "the will of the flesh"; and, there is, "the will of man," which stand in contrast to the greater, "will...of God." One may wonder about their first birth. There should be, however, absolutely no debate about his second.
I encourage those who question whether they were just, "born of blood," or, "of the will of the flesh," or, "of the will of man," to begin today to accept the glorious fact that in Jesus Christ they have, or can have, a birth which is the will of none other than the Living Triune God of the Universe, "born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man----- but of God", Himself.
Whether a person is the product of an "illegitimate" relationship, unloving abusive parents, not "favored" by others, the great admonition today is to accept our Heavenly Father in Jesus Christ, "Who Himself bore our sins in His Own Body on the tree." Rejoice today that, "You He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins," that, "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins."
Our text says the reason, "the world does not know us is that it did not know Him." It is the "world" in people which keeps them from understanding, or at least accepting the things of God. It is, "the Christ," in us Who enables us to accept, through all the attempts of the Enemy to lie to us, "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (NIV)
Father, in Jesus' Name, what wondrous love, "that is what we are!" Amen.
*******************
www.antipasprayerforce2.blogspot.com
www.apf327.blogspot.com
What greeted me this very rainy Monday morning was the fresh affirmation that I am a child of the Living Triune God.
Throughout human history, some have asked, Did God really want me here, was my birth His will or my parents will? Now some would say right away, in their attempt to be "good Christians," Of course he wanted you here; everything that happens is his will. Perhaps-- But one thing, however, is certain; to all who receive Jesus Christ, "He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." It is clear from these words that there is a will of, "blood"; there is, "the will of the flesh"; and, there is, "the will of man," which stand in contrast to the greater, "will...of God." One may wonder about their first birth. There should be, however, absolutely no debate about his second.
I encourage those who question whether they were just, "born of blood," or, "of the will of the flesh," or, "of the will of man," to begin today to accept the glorious fact that in Jesus Christ they have, or can have, a birth which is the will of none other than the Living Triune God of the Universe, "born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man----- but of God", Himself.
Whether a person is the product of an "illegitimate" relationship, unloving abusive parents, not "favored" by others, the great admonition today is to accept our Heavenly Father in Jesus Christ, "Who Himself bore our sins in His Own Body on the tree." Rejoice today that, "You He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins," that, "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins."
Our text says the reason, "the world does not know us is that it did not know Him." It is the "world" in people which keeps them from understanding, or at least accepting the things of God. It is, "the Christ," in us Who enables us to accept, through all the attempts of the Enemy to lie to us, "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (NIV)
Father, in Jesus' Name, what wondrous love, "that is what we are!" Amen.
*******************
www.antipasprayerforce2.blogspot.com
www.apf327.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
