John 1: 11

Jesus came to His own...

Who were His own? The Jewish people? The people God had chosen to be His own possession from the calling of Abraham? God had made a covenant with them, given them His law, dwelt among them. They were to be an example, a witness to the nations around them. Instead they wanted to be like the nations around them. They demanded to have a king like the nations around them. In doing this they rejected God's leadership. They wanted a king to rule over them rather than God Himself. By not receiving Jesus- they rejected God's leadership, God's rule over them again.

Who were His own? People in general as His created beings? Yes, man in general- created in His likeness. He came unto His own and they rejected Him. Man in general rejects Christ. They do not want God to rule over them.

Each one of us was there at one time. Rebellious against God's rule over us- we were His enemy. We did not want to submit to Him, we were unwilling to submit to Him nor were we able to submit to Him. We were blinded by the evil one and yet God, rich in mercy, reached down into our lives and lifted the scales off our eyes. He reached down into our hearts and removed the heart of stone and replaced it with a heart of flesh, a heart changed by grace that now wants to submit to God, is now willing to surrender to His rule over us. A heart that is now able to say Yes to God and no to sin.

But as many as received Him He gave the right, the authority, the ability to become His child.
For His good pleasure and for His glory alone!