They tell us
that the average person will return at least one gift after Christmas. You know the gift, right? Steak knives for a vegetarian. A hair brush for a skin head. That husband that tries to give his wife a
power drill or large screen TV for Christmas (You think you’re sneaky, sir! But
we see what you’re up to.) You open the
gift and you’re thinking, “They don’t know me, do they?” It’s the kind of gift
that when opened you’ve got to dig deep and execute an Oscar worthy performance
of gratitude, “Wow, this…this…this is…something! Wow! You shouldn’t have.” At least now, you have something to re-gift
for next year.
This is what
happened that first Christmas. God gives
the most expensive Gift, His one and only Son.
And John tells us: 10 He
was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not
recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his
own did not receive him. John 1:10-11 (NIV)
The word
“receive” in verse 11 means to embrace or delight in. Jesus wasn’t warmly received, but
rejected. Like that Christmas gift you
really don’t want. You lightly hold it, looking
for the soonest moment you can’t ditch it.
A lot like a man carrying his wife’s purse. That guy always looks awkward. He carries it purposely in a way that
communicates, “I really don’t even know how to carry this properly. It’s not mine, everyone!”
The sad truth
is that those who fail to receive, miss out on the benefit of receiving. John tells us in verse 12: 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who
believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
John 1:12 (NIV)
For those that
need a math equation to understand that verse, here it is:
RECEIVING + BELIEVING = BECOMING
Receiving: not
that light hold, but a grip, an embrace.
Believing: not head knowledge but the heart conviction. Those who receive Him, those who believe in
his name earn a right. They’re welcomed
into the family of God. No longer outsiders.
No longer separated from the Lover of their souls. They’re home.
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