He came to the very people he created[a]—
to those who should have recognized him,
but they did not receive him.
But those who embraced him and took hold of his name[b]
were given authority to become
the children of God! John 1:11-12
2 Chronicles 7:14a says, If My people, who are called by My name. In the first part of this verse, God is making it perfectly clear He is speaking to a specific group of people. When we study the Hebrew root words used to comprise it we see the first part comes from “sharar” which means retention, absorption, the second part El is the word for God taken from Elohim. So the name Israel means one who retains God, someone who is in a relationship with Him. This goes beyond a casual relationship and speaks of one that is close and intimate. Today, many people call themselves Christians they “know of and about” Jesus, but they do not truly know who He is. They profess Him but don’t possess Him. The definition of profession is, an act of declaring that one has a particular feeling or quality, especially when this is not the case. On the other hand a possessor is, to have as belonging to one.
According to today’s verse, it is someone who has accepted Jesus and His gift of salvation and receiving His forgiveness and grace and in so doing, then becomes a child of God. Now as a child, they have the same rights, privileges and authority Jesus has. Now God sees them as He sees Jesus, He knows them as beloved children, and they know Him as Father not just as God.
What is your relationship with God today? Do you know Him as God, someone who is sitting in heaven, distant and uncaring? Or do you know Him as a loving Father who longs to walk with you and talk with you as you walk through this journey called life. A Father who loves you so much He knows the number of hairs on your head and holds your tears in a bottle. If you want to know God as your heavenly Father, you can call on Him today and He will answer you. Pray, Jesus, I’m asking for You to now forgive me of all my sins, restore my relationship with our Father so that I may be called His child. I receive you now as my Savior and want you to become the Lord of my life so I may live the abundant life You died to give me. Amen.
If you have prayed that prayer congratulations, you are now a child of the Most High God and your new life has just begun. We don’t want you to walk this journey alone, we want to walk with you. Please call or e-mail us, so we may celebrate with you and get to know you better.
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