Today’s Passage: John 1:9-13
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. — John 1:12
Out of our Father’s love for us, God sent His Son, Jesus, to this broken world we live in. John 1:9 says, “The true light, that gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” Jesus came to rescue us from our sin and bring light to our darkness. He left His perfect, heavenly home only to experience alienation and rejection from those He created. He endured pain, suffering, shame, and eventually death on the cross—all so that we may have the promise of becoming children of God.
Becoming and being a child of God is a privilege and responsibility. We get full access to the Father through the Holy Spirit. What an awesome gift to know that we have Jesus in our corner, loving us, rooting for us, carrying us when we need to be carried. Not only do we get a relationship with Him on this earth, we also get the promise of eternal life with Him. Being a child of God also comes with a responsibility that we simply cannot ignore. We are called to share that light that Jesus so generously transferred onto us the moment we become believers.
We are called to go out and make disciples. We cannot be idle. We must, therefore, care for and nurture our light by having a relationship with Christ. We need to be pursuing Jesus daily. We should have an eagerness to be like Him, sharing with the world the forgiveness, love, grace, and mercy He shows us every day. When we are a child of God, our light can’t help but to shine. Picture a room filled with 100 people and only five of them have a candle that shines. Now imagine the illumination of that room if those five people share their light with the others. What a beautiful picture that creates and what an amazing world this would be if we all shared the light Jesus gave us with those who are still living in darkness.
Prayer
Father God, thank You for loving us. Please help us to shine our lights brightly for others to see. In Jesus’s name, amen.