Today's Verse: John 1:12-13

Friday, July 31, 2015

To all who received [the Word, that is Jesus Christ], to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
Now you can listen to Today's Verse on iTunes, Spotify, Echo devices, and more!

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

We live in a time and culture obsessed with individual rights. "It's my right to ___." Just fill in the blank. But none of us has the right to be God's child on our own merit, status, or position. God's grace gives us that right. This right came to us at great cost to God. Jesus came to earth, lived, died, and was raised from the dead. We receive this grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-10). God gives us new birth as we trust in Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9-10). And we get to be baptized into Christ Jesus and share in his death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-14). We are born a new child of God through the power of the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-7; Galatians 3:26-29; Titus 3:3-7). To be born of God, to be born from above, to be born "again" (John 3:3-7) means we are adopted as children into God's family with all the rights of heirs and as co-heirs with Christ Jesus (Romans 8:14-17; Galatians 4:1-7).

My Prayer...

Abba Father, thank you for including me in your family. May my life today reflect your influence, character, mercy, holiness, compassion, righteousness, and love. I want to be like you, my Father. So just as I was born into your family by the power of the Holy Spirit, please fill me with your Spirit today so that I will reflect you in all I do and say this day. I want to be a child that reflects my Father's nature. In the name of my older brother Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

38 Related Resources by Heartlight

Illustration

Illustration of John 1:12-13 — To all who received [the Word, that is Jesus Christ], to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Friday, July 31, 2015

A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
"I have complete confidence in the gospel; it is God's power to save all who believe, first the Jews and also the Gentiles. For the gospel reveals how...."
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
"Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will..."
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
"About that time King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some believers in the church."
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
"Seeing that we have such a God to trust to, let us rest upon him with all our weight; let us resolutely drive out all unbelief, and endeavour to get....."

About This Devotional

Today's Verse is a free daily devotional that includes a Bible verse, thought and prayer.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.