Saturday, March 24- by Pamela

Today's passage from the Chronological Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Joshua 5-8

Today's scripture focus is John 1:10-13

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed 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.

The first thing I thought of when I read the first part of this section of scripture was a passage I read earlier this week. In Sunday School, we were taking a look at some of the parables and I happened to come across this passage on the same page of my bible:

from Matthew 13:55-58

⁵⁵ “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?⁵⁶ Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” ⁵⁷ And they took offense at him.

But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor.”

⁵⁸ And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

How true it is that we sometimes we miss what is plain and obvious. What's that saying..."You can't see the forest for the trees"... and we fail to recognize what should be clear to us. Often we can miss or overlook what is right in front of us because we ignore it. It can be something so big and yet we don't see it. Have you ever done this test? (Make sure you follow the directions exactly)

So. Obvious. We overlook things right in front of us. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Jesus the son of God was not recognized and not received by the world-the people whom he created.

The second part of today's scripture reminded me of adoption. When we accept Jesus we are welcomed into the family of God with open arms. We are not an accident, we are chosen and accepted. Again, it reminded me of a video I saw recently. It was about the coming home journey of a family that adopted 2 children from Uganda (the video is at the bottom of the post and it is well worth it to watch it). Adoption is desired and represents true love and acceptance regardless of what has happened prior to joining the family. Pregnancy can be a surprise (don't I know it!! ;) but adoption is a choice. When we choose Jesus we are accepted into God's family. We are chosen. We are loved. We are desired. We become God's child and a part of God's family.

God has chosen us, and made it clear and obvious to us, will we accept his invitation to join his family?

Tomorrow's scripture focus: Josh 9-11

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: John 1:14-18