“HE GAVE!”

John 1:9-13                                     (ESV)

“9 THE TRUE LIGHT, which gives LIGHT to everyone, was coming into the world.

10 HE was in the world, and the world was made through HIM, yet the world did not know HIM.

11 HE came to HIS own, and HIS own people did not receive HIM.

12 But to all who did receive HIM, who believed in HIS NAME, “HE GAVE” the right to become children of GOD,

13 who were born, NOT OF BLOOD NOR OF THE WILL OF THE FLESH NOR OF THE WILL OF MAN, BUT OF GOD.”

Moving at a pace that is set by living in “this world” can be very challenging to we who are walking by FAITH.  There is nothing as frustrating as to be outside of the Kingdom yet trying to act as though we are walking in THE TRUE LIGHT.  That walk isn’t something that can be ATTAINED on our own, simply by turning over a new leaf.   We are CREATED requiring a SAVIOR, with a built-in deficit, preventing us from being in the presence of a HOLY GOD (Psalms 51:5-10).

Everything in our natural man is set to be opposed to the SPIRIT OF GOD (1 Corinthians 2:14-16).  We don’t have the ability to desire a relationship HIM UNLESS HE instills that yearning in our Spirit.  Ephesians 2:8-9 says “For by GRACE you have been saved through FAITH.  And THIS IS NOT OF YOUR OWN DOING; it is the gift of GOD, not a result of works, SO THAT NO ONE MAY BOAST”.  

To be CHOSEN by the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES in an awesome privilege, but is also a tremendous responsibility.  We are CALLED to be SEPARATE from “this world”, not to assimilate to it (2 Corinthians 6:17)!  “HE GAVE” us the ability to be used for HIS GLORY, but we have to die to our own selfish wants and desires.  

I have to be very careful not to allow what “my flesh” is wanting to interfere with what the SPIRIT OF GOD is leading me to do.  After all, the old has passed away (2 Corinthians 5:7) and the NEW MAN is here!  We can believe that we are doing HIS WORK, but unless “HE GAVE” it to us, we are in dangerous territory.  Being used by HIM to perform the work “HE GAVE” me is the ONLY thing that will survive THE FIRE on Judgment Day.