Never settle!

January 5, 2022 (Wednesday)

 

There is a lot in Scripture I do not understand. Consider me an explorer, trying to look at each verse with fresh eyes. Or maybe I’m more like the blind pig rooting for a morsel of food. I know I’ve hit these verses before but, let’s take another look.

 

“He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him.” [John 1:10 NLT] One of the reasons I like to look at different versions is, as the 1611 KJV preference stated, was to be able to see more. There are three ideas in this verse: Jesus entered the world, Jesus created the world, and the world did not (and still does not) recognize Jesus. Sounds simple? Read on!

 

John 1:12 includes a “tricolon” that tends to get overlooked. “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,” [ESV] Notice the three parts: receive, believe, the right to become. How many sermons have you heard on receive or believe? They are the golden ticket to the streets of gold, right? Not so fast.

 

Receiving and believing are necessary. They give those who do the right to become children of God. Get it? Receiving and believing do not make you a child of God, according to John. A right is something that may or may not be exercised. For instance, in America we have the right to “bear arms” (carry a gun). Just because someone has the right to carry a gun, does not mean they do carry a gun.

 

Five frogs are sitting on a log, two decide to jump off the log. How many frogs are on the log? The answer is five, because deciding is different than doing. Whatever your definition of “receiving Jesus” or “believing in/on Jesus” it only gives you the right to become children of God. There’s two ways to look at this. There are those who are saved and have not yet experienced the fullness of salvation. There are those who know enough to be saved but have not come to that point of transformation.

 

I wonder because later, John states, “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” [John 1:16 ESV] The concept of “fullness” is a bit fuzzy in English. In the Greek (literally “plethora”) it carries the idea of overabundance or excess. Put it together. Almighty, unlimited, and without a maximum God plus overabundance/excess. It’s like saying “infinity times infinity.”

 

Out of God’s unlimited ability we have received “grace upon grace.” The Greek literally states “grace in exchange for grace (already given).” The Christian problem is we “settle.” In other words, we fall victims to our routines and rituals, becoming comfortable with the familiar and known. What John is saying is do NOT settle because God has more grace to pour out on you! Satisfaction is a terrible thing. Possibly it is a spiritual killer.

 

God never intended for us to be mindless minions. God never intended for us to be clones of the latest leader. God never intend for us to petrify in our pew. In God’s amazing unlimited overabundance and excess, His intention is for us to grow from grace to grace... making us children of God.

 

If you’ve settled for “just” saving grace, know this: God has an infinite adventure of blessing and growth for you. Don’t missing out. Maybe the saved are still behaving like slaves of sin, rather than children of God, because we have settled.