Received

"To all who received him, he gave the right to become children of God," John 1:12.

Who him? The Word that was with God (and was God) and was God's creative agency and was the light of humans and became flesh and was the only Son from the Father and was the Lamb. That's who. Jesus. And what did he do for humans? Well. For those humans who receive him, that is, who believe in his name, that is, whose faith is in him, that is, who trust in him, he gave to them authority. (Who gave it? Jesus did.) He gave to them power to act. He gave to them the right. He gave to them what right? He gave to them the right to be borne (and born) by God. To become God's children. Not by genetics, not by force of desire, not by male potency. By God's own blood, God's own desire, God's own will. Right to become children of God. New covenant.

As we visit with a brother or sister today, we express happiness to belong in God's new deal. And, forgiven together, we give glory to God that his son dealt us in on his rights.