LEARNING DAILY

 John 1:12-13, But as many receive Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of the blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

 These verses might summarize the entire gospel. All who receive the offer to be saved and changed through Jesus Christ, by faith, become children of God. Notice John writes it is a right, an entitlement to become the children of God by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and walking with Him as our Lord. Because we become part of His family, we receive spiritual honors. Becoming part of God’s family means we have spiritual power; the power to trust in who Jesus Christ is, His sacrifice, and His salvation.

 Being “born again” is not a natural occurrence. It happens only through the pain and suffering Jesus Christ went through on the cross of Calvary. It is not something that happens because a person “wills it to happen”. Being “born again” happens entirely on the work of God and according to His will. There is nothing a person can do, cannot be good enough on their own to get into heaven. It is entirely due to placing one’s faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ while hanging on the cross.

 I remember taking my grandchildren to the neighborhood pool during the summers. They enjoyed getting in the “baby pool”. They could get in and out of it, splash and just have fun. Getting them in the “big pool’ was a little different. I would get in the water and they would be on the side of the pool. I would tell them to jump and I would catch them. For a little one it would take a lot of faith and trust that I would catch them. After quite a bit of coaxing, they would jump and I would catch them. Each time I would get a little further back; they would jump and I would catch them. But I let them drop a little deeper into the water before I caught them. There would finally come that time that I would catch them but let them go under the water. It was a process of faith and trust and the belief I was  there to make sure all was okay.

 Being a child of God is based on my belief that He is good and faith and can be trusted to “catch me” as I walk the narrow way He wants me to walk. I trust Him to supply all my needs because He said He would – just like I said I would catch my grandchildren when they jumped. Because I am a child of God, I have access to His throne of grace, at any time and from any place. Because I am a child of God, he is transforming, changing me through the Holy Spirit to resemble Him and to look like the rest of His family. I am no longer a part of the world even though I live in it; therefore, I no longer belong to the devil’s family.

Because I am part of God’s family, I am no longer alone. I have brothers and sisters who are in Christ all around me. Plus, God is always with me, walking with me as I go through every circumstance in life. Because I am a part of God’s family, I have a purpose and play a part in this thing we call life. God created all things and because of that I am safe and secure in Him.

 Because you have been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, accepted Him as your Savior and Lord, you too are part of His family. What a true blessing it is to walk together into His kingdom.