John 1:10-14 speaks thus:

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 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. John 1:10-14

Verse 10 – the world that He made did not recognise Him, because it had been blinded by the enemy’s works. Do you know Him? “That I may know him” (Philippians 3:10a) is a prayer, a cry that should wrench every heart that is saved, and that calls Him Father. The Lord came to manifest Him (John 17:4,6-8). He is known in His name.

Verse 11 cascaded down teaches that He sought to showcase Himself through a people He brought out of the prison of the prince of this world, yet man would reject this great offer (Deuteronomy 32:3-10).

It is in His name that we discover His person, His attributes. See the similarity between Deuteronomy 32:3-4 and John 17:6;

Because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. Deuteronomy 32:3-4

I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. John 17:6

He chose Israel (Exodus 19:6) and emphasizing their role in mediating between God and the world, the same principle echoed in the New Testament (1 Peter 2:9), making known that every member of this nation of the redeemed has a responsibility to represent God (the command aspect of faith), and the call to live in a way that reflects God’s character to others. Deuteronomy 4:8 being the uniqueness of what God has downloaded into the believer’s lives.

And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? Deuteronomy 4:8

Verse 12 – to those who receive Him there is an empowerment to become (this is the operation of grace) what you were not before – the offspring of God, His likeness (now). The restoration of image is at His coming, but the likeness is for now (1 John 3:2,3; 2 Peter 1:2-11). Pursuing His likeness is the heart of consecration, and comes from intimacy with Him.

The glory of Jesus is not just a display of power but a manifestation of His CHARACTER, His love and faithfulness to man; the calling to every believer to embody grace and truth.

• Truth reveals, showing how far we are from the nature of God (John 8:31-47; John 9:12-20 (NLT). Truth reveals who you are, where you are and to whom you belong, and
• Truth confronts, provokes and invites you to make a choice for life or condemnation;
• Grace empowers those who choose Christ and will subject themselves to following the teachings of grace (John 8:31). Grace empowers you to live the truth if you choose Him, the TRUTH.

You have a choice to make today beloved reader [Having opened my eyes Lord, because You drew me to You, I choose to be with You, Lord, the truth of God]. Now the test, how is your life speaking grace and truth? Or are we just simply pretenders or plain ignorant of what we are when we claim we are sons of God?

Shalom.



Pastor Afolabi Oladele