27/08/2026
🌿 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 🌿
TO BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD
> “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness of the Light, so that all through him might believe. He was not the Light, but was sent to bear witness of the Light.
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His Name.” — John 1:6–12
Yesterday we began with the wonderful truth that Jesus Christ is the eternal Word and the Light that shines in the darkness.
Today John takes us one step further.
He introduces us to John the Baptist — a man sent by God with one specific purpose:
To bear witness of the Light.
John the Baptist was not the Light himself.
He did not point people to himself.
He pointed them to Jesus Christ.
There is already an important lesson for us in that.
Our life of faith should never be about people noticing us. Rather, our words, actions, and lives should be like a finger pointing to Christ.
Our calling is not:
“Look at me.”
Our calling is:
“Look at Jesus.”
But then John says something very serious.
The One through whom the world was created came into the world — and the world did not know Him.
Even more striking:
“He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.”
Just think about that for a moment.
The Creator comes to His creation.
The Messiah comes to the people who had waited for Him for centuries.
The Light comes into the darkness.
And yet many rejected Him.
This shows us that it is possible to know a great deal about God, and still not truly know Him.
A person may know the Bible.
You may go to church.
You may use religious language.
You may even have grown up in a Christian home.
But the most important question remains:
Have you personally received Jesus Christ?
Then one of the most beautiful words in this passage appears:
“But…”
The world did not know Him.
His own people did not receive Him.
But as many as received Him…
There is hope.
There is an invitation.
There is a door standing open.
John says:
“…to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His Name.”
To be a child of God is not something we earn through good works.
It does not come through our family name.
It does not come simply because we belong to a church.
It comes through receiving Jesus Christ and believing in His Name.
That means more than merely acknowledging that Jesus exists.
It means placing your trust in Him.
Receiving Him as Lord and Saviour.
Entrusting your life to Him.
And when we do that, something wonderful happens:
We do not merely become better people.
We receive a new identity.
We become children of God.
Perhaps today you feel unworthy.
Perhaps you carry guilt from the past.
Perhaps you think you have wandered too far.
John’s message is simple:
The invitation still stands.
Receive Him. Believe in Him. Trust Him.
Your identity does not have to be determined by your past, your failures, other people’s opinions, or your present circumstances.
If you are in Christ, you can know:
I belong to God.
I am His child.
And as children of God, we are now also called, like John the Baptist, to point to the Light with our lives.
Not to ourselves.
To Jesus.
🙌 Prayer for Today 🙌
Lord Jesus, thank You that You came into this world and that You invite me to receive You and believe in Your Name. Thank You that my relationship with You does not rest on my own merit, but on Your grace. Help me to live each day with the assurance that I belong to You. Make my life a testimony that points not to myself, but to You, the true Light. Help others to see something of Your love and truth through my words and actions. Amen.
Cornelius Jooste
Thoughts from God’s Word...💚🇿🇦💚
