Enlarged to Include Me…
Don’t you just love it when there is a sale on and you don’t get to it on time, but the notice comes out – sale extended one more day? You then have a chance to get the merchandise you wanted, at a discounted price. This is kind of the way I look at what Jesus did when He came:
10 He (Christ) was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. 11 He came to that which was His own [that which belonged to Him—His world, His creation, His possession], and those who were His own [people—the Jewish nation] did not receive and welcome Him. 12 But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name—John 1:10-12(AMP)
Jesus came into the world, His world, that which He created, that which He owned. Yet, that world did not recognize or accept Him, and certainly did not welcome Him. Even His own native people did not accept Him or welcome Him – He was shunned, vilified, persecuted.
There were a few however that did receive His ministry. They did believe that He came to be the Savior of the world. They did welcome Him and because of that, Jesus gave those people the right to “become the children of God”. And the marvelous thing about this inclusion of those who would receive HIm, He stretched it to include me! And you! And whosoever would call upon His Name!
It’s better than getting something on sale, because we know that even the sale price is marked up more than the item is worth. Yet this treasure that comes with Jesus has a price no one can afford. Every one that will receive Him, must receive Him as a gift, for no one can pay the true price.
As we look to this Advent season, it produces joy to think of a little, bitty, helpless baby who came, and possessed within Him the power to shape the universe and all within it. And not only that He had the love to reach across generations and nations and find me, and said:
“…I am the Bread of Life. The one who comes to Me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in Me [as Savior] will never be thirsty [for that one will be sustained spiritually].” John 6:35 (AMP)
Maria