“Then came the question, is there no rescue? Must it be thus to the end—constant conflict, and too often defeat? How could I preach with sincerity that, to those who receive Jesus, ‘to them gave he power to become the sons of God’ (John 1:12; i.e., godlike) when it was not so in my own experience.”
This is a quote from the famous Missionary Hudson Taylor, as he agonized over his own powerless Christian experience. Is this where you are? Does he describe your daily experience? Have you always read that verse from John 1:12 only in terms of how a person becomes a Christian. I did for many years. I would use this verse to help a lost person to understand that all they had to do was receive Jesus by faith to get saved. That, of course, is gloriously true, but this verse says much more than that. It not only tells us how to become a Christian, but it also reveals to us the life the Christian is called to live and how to live it. This verse says that we’ve been given the power (ability) to live like a Son or Daughter of God. Do you live daily like a child of The King. Sons and Daughters of The King live by the unlimited resources of Deity. You see, our King is God, and His children live in the wealth of His provision for daily living. Don’t confuse that for material wealth, though God does provide all our needs (not western greeds), but listen to Ephesians 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the Heavenlies in Christ.” Now that’s provision for daily living. Notice the verse again; it says He gave power. It doesn’t say He will, or He could, or He might, but it says He already gave us the ability, the power, to live like a Son or daughter of God. When you received Jesus you received all of His ability and power to live a Heavenly life while still in earth. the power is in the One you received. Sooo, how do we walk in it? Here is the whole verse. John 1:12 “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:” The answer is so simple that it is easy to miss. We walk in power to live like a Kings Kid the same way we became one. We Believe. Step by step, situation by situation, we received all that He is by faith, just as we received all that He did, on the Cross, by faith. When someone has something for you, and they want you to receive it, just TAKE and say THANK YOU. More to come.