Family privilege

To all who did receive him… he gave the right to become children of God. v. 12

When I was in primary school in Ghana, I had to live with a loving and caring family away from my parents. One day, all the children assembled for a special family meeting. The first part involved all of us sharing individual experiences. But next, when only “blood children” were required to be present, I was politely excluded. Then the stark reality hit me: I was not a “child of the house.” Despite their love for me, the family required that I should be excused because I was only living with them; I was not a legal part of their family.

This incident reminds me of John 1:11-12. The Son of God came to His own people and they rejected Him. Those who received Him then, and receive Him now, are given the right to become God’s children. When we are adopted into His family, “the Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children” (Rom. 8:16).

Jesus doesn’t exclude anybody who is adopted by the Father. Rather, He welcomes us as a permanent part of His family. “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). — Lawrence Darmani

Thank You, Father, for making it possible for me to be Your child. I’m grateful to be Yours and not to have to worry about whether You will remove me from Your family. I am Yours and You are mine.

READ: John 1:6-14

Assurance of salvation is not in what you know but who you know.

Bible in a Year:

Psalms 70-71 and Romans 8:22-39