“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” John 1:12
Dear Ones:
Perhaps the greatest problem in Christianity is that of being able to receive from God. We cannot say that the root of the problem is from God’s side, for Scripture declares: “…for God so loved that He GAVE…how shall He not with Him (Christ) freely give us all things.” We have here before us a God who has done everything perfectly, providing for us fully and totally, that “every need He would supply, and all our longings satisfy.” And yet, we are like Israel of old who, instead of knowing the abundant blessing of God, in soul and body, knew on the contrary, the experience of privation, want, meagerness of blessing. They lived, but not abundantly. What was the problem?
The beginning of the answer is revealed to us in Romans 3, where the Apostle Paul writes: “There is none righteous…none that understands, that seeks God…none that does good, NO NOT ONE.” (v.10,11,12) Why would we ever turn towards God, to receive of His bountiful GOODNESS, unless we see ourselves as bankrupt of all that is good in His sight? When the Lord Jesus used the illustration of a Publican, who prayed: “God have mercy on me a sinner,” he was showing us a man who KNEW he was bankrupt, but one knowledgeable in the things of God. His knew that his need to receive was God’s opportunity to give.
On one of Paul’s missionary journeys, he came across some believers in Ephesus. They had not heard about the Holy Spirit, and thus, did not “receive” Him. After hearing the truth, they believed, were baptized and received the Spirit of God into their hearts. It was when they heard the TRUTH, that God gave them faith to believe, to receive. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) To the Galatians, Paul would write: “Received ye the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by the hearing with faith?” (3:2) Again, the issue is receiving, but this is only possible when the truth of the Gospel is known, specifically in this case, concerning the Holy Spirit.
In the Song of Solomon, we see the Beloved “…standing behind our wall, looking forth at the windows, gazing through the lattice.” (2:9) He is on the outside, and his fiance is on the inside. Why the separation? For some reason, she is not quick to receive Him. Hesitation on her part reveals the sincerity of her heart. In Revelation 3:20, we see the same thing. The Lord Jesus is knocking at the door, desiring entrance into the heart. It will only be when the door is opened from the inside, and He is given access, that He will come in. But “come in,” this He will do, for He has declared it.
Dear Father, give us grace to be good receivers. Save us from that which hinders us, or entangles us, preventing us from running to the door to let “the King of Glory” into our hearts for every need. We thank Thee for Thy great desire to have access to all of life, so that the blessing of Thy life can be known, and revealed. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad