Certain people are given certain things that others don’t get.
In Daniel 1 we find that GOD gave Daniel special favor and compassion in the eyes of the commander causing the official to treat him as his favorite. Then GOD gave Daniel & his 3 friends knowledge and understanding in all kinds of subjects to the extent that the King found them 10 times wiser & more capable than any of his other wise men. (1)
In the gospels we find that believers are given the ability to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of GOD while others get everything in parables.(2)
That’s not fair! GOD is playing favorites!
I can say confidently the NO GOD is NOT playing favorites. There is a reason GOD gave Daniel and his friends special things (check out Daniel 1) and there is a reason GOD gives believers the ability to understand spiritual things and keeps others from understanding them.
John 1: 12Yet to all who received HIM (JESUS), to those who believed in HIS name, HE gave them the right to become children (tenka) of God—
You are born into the family of GOD by believing in JESUS. Scripture indicates that is just the beginning for there are 3 basic stages of being a believer.
1-You are born a baby and as an infant you long for the pure milk of the word that you may grow (I Peter 2:2) but you stay infants unless you use the things you learn in the word. (I Corinthians 3:1-3, Hebrews 5:11-14) By using what the Bible says you grow and it shows because you are becoming more like your FATHER who is in heaven in what you do and say.
2-You have become a teen (tenka- that is the word used in John 1:12 ) when you have learned many things and apply them in your lives and begin to look more like your FATHER in heaven. (Ephesians 5:8, Ephesians 2:3, I Peter 1:14) One thing about a teen is that they consult their peers about everything.
3-There is also a stage called maturity but that is further down the road. A main way to discern if you have grown to maturity is who you consult. Teens, as we know consult their peers about everything but an adult son (huos) does NOTHING without consulting his FATHER which is in heaven. (Romans 8:14 Philippians 3:10-16)
So what John 1:12 is actually saying is that when YOU receive JESUS as YOUR Savior you are not just born into GOD’s family but have been given the right & ability to understand the word of GOD and grow up to look like your FATHER in heaven by acting like HIM.
In the gospels we find that believers are given the ability to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of GOD while others get everything in parables.(2)
That’s not fair! GOD is playing favorites!
I can say confidently the NO GOD is NOT playing favorites. There is a reason GOD gave Daniel and his friends special things (check out Daniel 1) and there is a reason GOD gives believers the ability to understand spiritual things and keeps others from understanding them.
John 1: 12Yet to all who received HIM (JESUS), to those who believed in HIS name, HE gave them the right to become children (tenka) of God—
You are born into the family of GOD by believing in JESUS. Scripture indicates that is just the beginning for there are 3 basic stages of being a believer.
1-You are born a baby and as an infant you long for the pure milk of the word that you may grow (I Peter 2:2) but you stay infants unless you use the things you learn in the word. (I Corinthians 3:1-3, Hebrews 5:11-14) By using what the Bible says you grow and it shows because you are becoming more like your FATHER who is in heaven in what you do and say.
2-You have become a teen (tenka- that is the word used in John 1:12 ) when you have learned many things and apply them in your lives and begin to look more like your FATHER in heaven. (Ephesians 5:8, Ephesians 2:3, I Peter 1:14) One thing about a teen is that they consult their peers about everything.
3-There is also a stage called maturity but that is further down the road. A main way to discern if you have grown to maturity is who you consult. Teens, as we know consult their peers about everything but an adult son (huos) does NOTHING without consulting his FATHER which is in heaven. (Romans 8:14 Philippians 3:10-16)
So what John 1:12 is actually saying is that when YOU receive JESUS as YOUR Savior you are not just born into GOD’s family but have been given the right & ability to understand the word of GOD and grow up to look like your FATHER in heaven by acting like HIM.
How do you grow? Get in GOD’s word and obey what it says.
But do you say? “I am a believer but there is so much I cannot understand.”
I have one question for you.
But do you say? “I am a believer but there is so much I cannot understand.”
I have one question for you.
Are you doing everything you know GOD has asked you to do? If you are not, then why do you expect GOD to tell you more? Until a student can add and subtract they cannot go on to multiplication and division. It is as simple as that.(Hebrews 5:11-14)
So you see GOD really is fair, even though only believers are given the right and ability to understand the mysteries of the kingdom.
Hugs
Sharon
(1) Daniel 1: 9Now God granted (gave) Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials (NIV Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel,)
Daniel 1:17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could also understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
(2) Mark 4: 11 "To you has been given understanding of the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, 12so that while seeing, they may see and not perceive and while hearing, they may hear and not understand
So you see GOD really is fair, even though only believers are given the right and ability to understand the mysteries of the kingdom.
Hugs
Sharon
(1) Daniel 1: 9Now God granted (gave) Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials (NIV Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel,)
Daniel 1:17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could also understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
(2) Mark 4: 11 "To you has been given understanding of the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, 12so that while seeing, they may see and not perceive and while hearing, they may hear and not understand
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