You Have the Right To What?
He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him.
But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:10, 12–13 CSB Read More
As Americans, we are pretty big on our rights. We insist on our right to free speech, life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, etc. We talk about the “right of way” when we complain about how other people drive. We even have rights that aren’t even good or holy, but we have them.
That makes this statement bigger than ever: “He gave them the right…”
What if we took that right to be the children of God so seriously and so boldly as our other rights? My kids can do things that no other human can do without getting punched. If my 11 year-old walks up and eats a piece of my pizza, we laugh and I steal a piece from him. If a total stranger walked up and did that, I’d probably be kind, honestly, but it wouldn’t be very welcome. Why? Because my kid has a right to do things that family, my flesh and blood, can do.
We, therefore, never have to come before God with fear, shame, panic, worry, despair, or hesitation. Even when a child has done wrong (especially when a child has done wrong!) a parent loves to see that child exercise her right as a child and come to the parent.
God does not force adoption on us. He gives all who receive Him the right to be children of God. He leaves it up to us to take advantage of our status and act on it.
It’s our right.
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