“But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name,”
‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬ ‭CSB‬‬

I don’t know much about being a celebrity because I am not one. However I have an idea that when big celebrities are invited to lavish events, they are often given a gift bag filled with expensive products. The idea is that the manufacturers hope the celebrities will love and promote those products publicly.

But I think over time, the celebrities get jaded and weary of trying the products and just throw the party favors in a corner of their closet and forget them. Even when they are very valuable products.

This came to mind when contemplating today’s verse. John is talking about a very valuable gift: Jesus. When He came into the world, the people He came for, the Jewish leaders, the big celebrities of His day, rejected Him. They tossed Him to their closet floor. They didn’t believe in His value.

But other people did. The poor, the sick, the lost, the outcasts of society. They clamored for what Jesus had. They soaked in His love and light and healing. They were Jews and non-Jews. Jesus welcomed them all.

Today’s verse describes how the celebrities scorned Jesus’s gift bag, so He gave it to those who appreciated it and received it gladly. And we have discovered it to be the most valuable gift bag there could ever be. In it is eternal life.

Dear God,

Thank you for offering me your gift bag of eternal life. I accept it gladly and value it more than anything in my life. I love being called your child. Teach me to behave accordingly every day.