ESOCS Devotional 15 May 2025 – Becoming a Child of God
MEMORY VERSE: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” John 1:12
TEXT: JOHN 1:1-14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
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Beloved, to become a child of God is to simply accept His Son Jesus as your Messiah. This is the provision God has made. He will not accept any other way.
God desires and designs that humans be in cordial relationship with Him as His children. He was enjoying that relationship with man until he (man) fell into sin in the Garden of Eden. Ever since, God seeing that man is incapable of measuring up to His standard of righteousness and holiness, instituted covenants and sacrifices through which man can approach Him. However, these were temporary measures foreshadowing a permanent and better way to come to Him, which will enable man to be one with Him again. The law and sacrifices were instituted to help school the Jews in faith. If they could believe that the blood sacrifices of animals could seal a covenant of relationship between them and God and atone for their sins, it should be easier to believe in a much higher, efficient and better arrangement – the blood, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This arrangement has to do with Jesus, as the Christ, the Redeemer and Saviour of mankind. However, the Jews did not accept Him as the Son of God. Today in Israel, there is still a national rejection of Jesus as the Messiah. He died on the Cross for the sins of the world, and they treated Him as a common criminal. But the Bible states that the only way to be acceptable to God and become His son or daughter is to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13 NKJV).
Beloved, understand that personal efforts at self-righteousness cannot qualify anyone to become a child of God. Our righteousness comes from God alone, through Christ: “… their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord” (Isa. 54:17). The formula is this: Accept Jesus as your Lord and Personal Saviour; He will cleanse you from all unrighteousness by His blood; after that, you now owe yourself the obligation to maintain the holiness and righteousness that God has given you on a platter of gold through Christ by being careful to live a holy lifestyle – “This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men” (Titus 3:8 NKJV). Simply put: you are justified only by believing and accepting Jesus into your life. Every other method is not acceptable to God.
CHALLENGES
- Have you believed in Jesus truly as your Redeemer and Saviour?
PRAYER POINT
- Father I thank you for the provision you made for us to become Your children in Christ Jesus.
FURTHER READING: 1 Samuel 22:1-10; 1 Kings 13:1-34; 1 Thess. 4:13-18
ESOCS Devotional 15 May 2025
