John 1:6-18: You are a child of God....

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God —children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

John 1:9-12

When I think about the fact that Jesus has always been – that he was/is the Word that God used to speak creation into existence, I am overwhelmed by the generous nature of the grace he offers each of us. Jesus was wholly and fully connected to God until God the Father sent him to earth to reconcile humanity with Him. By stepping out of the Father and into the world, Jesus gave up his “umbilical cord” to the Father.

Just like when a child is born and the umbilical cord is cut, severing the nourishment of the mother to the child, Jesus’ umbilical cord to the Father was cut when he was born as a human baby. Jesus’ spirit was fully divine – his person was fully divine – but his body was altogether human and subject to all that human beings must be subjected to – including a physical separation from the Father.

I know how difficult it is to be away from my parents for long stretches of time, but I can’t even fathom what Jesus felt not being able to be physically with God – One with whom he had been apart since before time began.

 Jesus made this huge sacrifice so that each of us – you and me – could one day experience the great gift of being called, ‘children of God’. Can you imagine? This is the very definition of grace – that Jesus loved us so much – that God loves us so much – that He would do ANYTHING and has done EVERYTHING so that we can be with Him.

The words John uses might be flowery and a bit poetic – but they draw for us a visual picture of exactly the sacrifice Jesus made so that we can be the children of God. Jesus came into the world – which he created – and was rejected by his own creation. Imagine being rejected, dismissed, hated and rebuked by the ones you love most; that is what Jesus endured. He came hoping for love and received hate.

As we venture deeper into John’s Gospel, let us never forget the beginning of the story and the love that is the basis of Jesus’ sacrifice for each of us.

Scripture

 John 1:6-18

Quote of the Day

“You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure about you. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us.”

Nelson Rockefeller

Question of the Day

How would you feel if you were asked to give up your Mom and Dad?

The Key to Success...Wisdom

I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is to try and please everybody.

Bill Cosby

You are going to try many different things in your life. At some things you will be a master and at some you will be less than average. Trying new things helps you to figure out who you are and what calling God has on your lives.

In the midst of the "trying" you must always take care to see what God is truly calling you to do.

A variety of people will want you to do a variety of different things - of course they will you are amazing! But it is up to you to decipher what is good and right with God and what is not. Mr. Cosby had it right - "the key to failure is to try and please everybody."

Part of growing up, of becoming an adult, is to chose wisely the activities and the people with whom you associate. Sometimes it will seem that you do not have a choice but to follow along with a group - to do something you know is wrong - but you always have a choice. Making the right choice may not make you popular, but it will lead to wisdom.

Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.

(Proverbs 19:20)

Gaining wisdom is often the road less traveled. Being wise isn't touted amongst teenagers as the coolest thing to be - but you are only a teenager for seven years. You are an adult for decades. Wisdom is a skill that comes through being mature enough to accept advice from wise counselors and friends. Wisdom is knowing Whose you are. You are God's child; His chosen child. With each decision you make your place in His family should be foremost in your mind.



Life isn't always easy, but choices can be, if you seek out God's will in the action. God has given you an internal gauge to know when something is right or wrong - - you know if what you are doing is God's will or not.

 Maybe you are saying that your gauge seems to be malfunctioning because you always seem to make the wrong choices - - the best way to recalibrate your gauge is to seek out the Word of God; to study His words through the Bible, to attend worship regularly, to surround yourself with other Christians who will hold you accountable.

Wisdom in life isn't an easily acquired skill, but it is a skill which will serve you well all the days of your life.

Scripture:

Proverbs 19:17-25

Fun Fact:

This is more of a random fact: no piece of 8 1/2 by 11 paper can be folded in half more than seven times....go ahead I know you are going to try...I'll wait....

Question of the Day:

What is the best thing you learned last week?