by Rev Douglas Brauner

It’s Okay to Latch on to Jesus

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
John 1:11-13 English Standard Version

Is it harder to give than it is to receive? I guess that depends on who you are. Some of us find that it’s easier to give than to receive, but others find that it’s easier to receive than to give.

However, there’s probably not a lot of us in the latter group.

For some reason, giving seems to be a higher virtue than receiving. From childhood, we’re taught that we’re more blessed to give. Paul reminds us of this fact when he spoke to the elders in Ephesus, quoting Jesus himself (Acts 20:35) It is a virtue to give. Giving builds character.

It feels embarrassing to receive, like we’re being selfish if we want to latch on to gifts.

Maybe that’s why it’s so hard for us to receive something from God. John reminds us of the blessings that come to those who latch on to Jesus, to those who receive him. We ought not be embarrassed to receive Jesus, to get our hands on him.

John promises that everyone who receives Jesus is a child of God. Receiving is passive. Something is placed in our hands that we probably didn’t earn or deserve. If we had merited it, it wouldn’t be a gift.

Not only does Scripture tell us that we are children of God by receiving Jesus, it encourages us to tear into the gift like children on their birthday, anticipating what might lie hidden in that gift.

This gift is meant for you. It’s a gift that only requires you to receive it.

The beauty of this gift is that you get to spend a lifetime ripping off the wrapping paper. It truly is the only gift that keeps on giving.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado