There are some great passages in the very beginning of this first chapter of John. When I read John 1:12-13 which says, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God– children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” In reading this passage I realize how much God loves me. By accepting Jesus as my savior, God gave me the right to be called His child.
The second part of this first chapter is actually entertaining to me. These first few interactions with each of the disciples begins to show some of their personalities. When Jesus sees Nathaniel, He already knows who Nathaniel is and what he said in verse 46 about Jesus, ““Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked….” The same is true for me. Jesus already knew me before I ever accepted Him. More importantly He knows me today as well; He knows my struggles, my victories, and sadly my sin. But He is always with me through it all. There is no hiding, there is simply accepting the fact that He has accepted me.
Daily Devotion 
I agree Dino, I love the words in 12 & 13, “But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12, 13 HCSB) It’s awesome to know that I can be called a child of God. It’s equally awesome to think that I have nothing to do with it. Our salvation comes to us by God and through God because he calls us. This thought is so humbling and also so encouraging.
Hmmm, I noticed something interesting here, and I’m not sure what to make of it. John the Baptist doesn’t seem to know that his own relative is destined to be the Messiah until the dove lands on Jesus’ shoulder. Twice John says that he had no idea who the Savior was; John just knew to look for the Holy Spirit descending on a man, that was the sign. I’m a little confused, to me, John should’ve known it would be Jesus. Weren’t the prophecies about Jesus (given to Mary and Elizabeth) told to John? Plus, the two men were relatives, and I’m sure they hung out at family gatherings. Didn’t spending time with a perfect person give John a hint? Maybe I’m missing something here or maybe I’m misreading the text. Perhaps Jesus’ future as the Messiah stayed on the down-low until it was time for His ministry at age 30?