Read week 1, week 2 and week 3 from Franklin Graham’s devotional, The Greatest Rescue Mission.
Week Four: A Change of Course
SCRIPTURE READING: John 1:9-18
“The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 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.
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, ‘This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.”’) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.”
THE BIBLE tells us that in His first message, Jesus boldly proclaimed, “Repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).
The Lord offers a choice. We can continue in the path of sin, with its deadly consequences; or, we can obey the words of Christ. The way of the world leads to darkness and Hell. But the way of the Lord offers life, peace, and eternal security.
John, one of Jesus’ disciples, explained what a person must do in order to receive eternal life. First, we must “[believe] in His name.” That means we accept what the Scriptures say about Jesus Christ. He is God, Creator, Judge, Redeemer, Savior, and coming King. Then, we must personally receive Him, repenting of our sins and surrendering to Him as Lord of our lives. To people who do these things, John writes, “He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).
All human efforts to seek righteousness on our own are fruitless. We can never measure up to God’s standard by good works or good intentions. Only by accepting what He provided through Christ can we enter God’s family, receive forgiveness of our sins, and experience the removal of its curse and penalty. I’m so thankful the Lord Jesus Christ came to Earth on a rescue mission like no other.
PRAYER: Father, I pray with the prophet Jeremiah, “Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored!” (Lamentations 5:21)
