Read: John 1:1-14
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. (v. 12)
Being adopted has helped me understand what it means to be welcomed and included as someone else’s child. It is a gift of belonging. Adoptees are often referred to as those who found their forever family.
This idea is present in our text today. John tells us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (v. 1). If we substitute Jesus’ name for the Word, it reads, “In the beginning was Jesus, and Jesus was with God, and Jesus was God.”
Jesus, who is God, made his dwelling among us. He became flesh for us (v. 14). Born in a humble manger, Jesus came to earth to do his Father’s will. He came to reconcile us with God through his sufferings on the cross, through his death for our sins, and through his bodily resurrection.
By receiving Jesus, accepting what he has done for us, and believing in his name, we are given the right to become his child. What an amazing, beautiful gift—to be called his child. We are adopted into his forever family. I was blessed to have been adopted into someone else’s family, but even more blessed to be adopted into God’s forever family.
Have you received Jesus and believed in his name? Accept him today and be welcomed into God’s forever family. —Nancy Boote
As you pray, thank God for giving you the right to be called his child.
About the Author
Nancy Boote, an ordained minister in the Reformed Church of America, lives in Holland, Michigan, with her husband.
