Jesus Relates

Jesus Relates

John 1:12-13, NLT

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

Setting the Scene

Yesterday, we read John’s declaration of his fellowship with the Father and the Son (1 John 1:1-3). Today’s reading takes the relationship even closer: father and child. Those who believe in Jesus are “reborn” by God and become his children.

Family lineage and heritage were important to John and his fellow Jews. The Jews prided themselves on being God’s chosen people through whom the whole world would be blessed. They knew, of course, that a person was Jewish by birthright. But they may have assumed that being born Jewish would also mean they automatically were God’s children. Not so fast, John says. First, becoming a member of God’s family is open to all who believe in Christ. Second, being of a specific race, nationality, family, or religion does not guarantee a spot at God’s table. Only those who “believe” and “accept” are “reborn” into this family.

These days, many assume they have a relationship with God because they are relatively good people, attend church, or have a Christian family history. But God’s family membership comes by faith alone. Each person is responsible for his or her own relationship with Christ.

The family analogy goes much further. As members of God’s family, we have Jesus as our brother (Romans 8:29) and all other believers as our brothers and sisters. We’re accepted; we’re affirmed; we belong.

Getting Personal

How does knowing you are God’s child affect your day-to-day choices?

According to this passage, how did you acquire “the right” to become God’s child?

As God’s children, we have a heavenly Father who cares about us and watches over us. We have an older Brother who is with us and who is interceding for us. We have the Holy Spirit inside us who comforts, guides, and leads us. We have brothers and sisters who encourage, teach, and assist us and hold us accountable. We’re not alone.

We should relate well to other believers. This may seem like a tall order, but we don’t pursue these relationships in our own power. With God’s help we can be his kind of people.

Talking to God

Talk with God the Father about your relationship with your earthly father. Ask him for a greater understanding of what it means to be his child.