February 20

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, men to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 John bore witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake. He that cometh after me is preferred before me; for he was before me.

16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

18 No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that Prophet? And he answered, No.

22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias

24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees

25 And they asked him, and said unto him,

Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that Prophet?

26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to enclose

28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Jesus Christ the Word, the Life, the Light, the Maker of all things, "came unto his own"—a stranger unknown, in His own world. Some received Him; some do now. To such He gives right or inheritance of sonship, assurance of adoption.

"Man lost paradise by receiving a gift from Satan. There is no way to regain it but by receiving Christ, the gift of God. Am I one of the many who have received Christ? This question is of eternal moment."—Wm. Mason.

What is it to receive Christ? Many precious souls are sadly perplexed and greatly distressed on this point. But why should they be? St. John plainly tells us, that to receive Christ is to believe on his name, that he is the anointed Saviour of lost sinners. Do you receive this truth into your heart? Does your mind go out after Christ? Do you hunger and thirst to know him as your Saviour? Then you do believe in Christ's name. He gives you, and all such, "power to become the sons of God." Not merely puts it in the power of your free-will to choose whether you will become a son of God or not; but he actually bestows this heavenly honor upon us. He gives us the right (or privilege, as in the margin of our Bibles) of enjoying the comfort and blessing of being the adopted sons of God.

Closet Promise.—Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.—Isa. xliv. 6.

Jesus is God! There never was A time when He was not;

Roundless, eternal, merciful, The Word the Sire begot.—F. W. Faber.