Recognition

Two words are prevalent in First John: love and know. This is a definition of know.

Know = recognition

Know = Acquainted with

Know = To learn

Know = To be assured of

We know some just by seeing them. We know others because we are familiar with them. We are in the process of learning. Jesus is the Master and we are the disciples. If we have a life insurance policy, it pays but someone besides us gets the benefit of it. We have assurance that the policy will pay. We have assurance of salvation. Even when we don’t feel saved or when we’re suffering and the feeling of salvation is blocked, John said if we follow the Lord we know we have salvation. If our faith is in Christ, we know and are assured.  The power of knowing is not in us but through the power of God. He underwrites it just like an insurance policy underwrites our health.

I John 1:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

It’s disheartening to be in a place where no one recognizes you. You sort of get on the defensive. Being around familiar people we are more at ease. That’s the joy of being a Christian. God recognizes us. What love it is to be recognized of God. Once an enemy, now he recognizes us as children. We’re not begotten children. Jesus is the only begotten son of God. We are adopted.

Sometimes we get in the flesh and that’s the result of a recognition problem. We don’t recognize the Lord as we used to and neither do we recognize the devil as we should. When we are driving, we have to pay close attention or we’ll get in trouble. We veer off the road, hit a fence or guardrail, or maybe a person. This is why as Christians we must put that concept into action. We’re not perfect. But God is and he is holy. Our flesh wants to stray off the road.

If we remain unchanged, we are not recognized by the world as Christians. The world doesn’t esteem Christ. When we seek to be identified with Jesus they will not esteem us either. Look at all the Christians who have been martyred because they would not renounce who and what they know. We don’t hear of people in other religions being asked to renounce anything. Only Christianity. That’s the working of the devil. Don’t be afraid to be recognized as a child of God. We don’t need the world to set us up on a pedestal. They do need to see God in us.

God recognizes us as his child; the Holy Spirit recognizes us as his vessel to live in. If God is our Father, the world ought to know it. Whatever it does to them, they see something they do not understand. That something is really someone: God.  We’re surrounded by darkness. As children of light we should walk in that light. No matter how pursued you are by the devil, remember you are a child of God.

We are recognized in heaven. Let’s make it our goal to be recognized as God’s as long as we live down here.