Power to Become

John 1:12 (KJV)

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.

Power to become. Not power to instantly be. God gave something that unfolds over time, and that word saves a lot of people from despair.

We tend to judge our spiritual life by a snapshot. Today I was impatient, so nothing has changed. This week I struggled with the same thing again, so I must not really be His. But a snapshot cannot show a direction, and direction is what becoming is made of.

The status was settled the moment you received Him. The likeness is still being worked out. Those are two different things, and confusing them is why sincere believers live under a low cloud of failure.

Look back further than this week. A year, five years. If the direction is right, you are becoming — and God is far more patient with the process than you are.