Faith as Appropriation
“As many as received him...them that believe on his name” John 1:12

In John’s gospel, ”believe” occurs about fifty times. In every case “receive” can be substituted with equal good sense. To appropriate is to receive, to take to oneself as one’s own. The central verse of the Bible is reputed to be Psalm 81:10:”Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it. ”It pictures a nest of little birds with mouth wide and I will fill it. ”It pictures a nest of little birds with mouths stretched open beyond belief. Their attitude is the expectation of faith. Nor does the mother-bird disappoint it. The fledgling’s sole responsibility is to close its mouth on the mother’s provision.
The holiest saint has no spiritual resources than those imparted to us in Christ. The vast discrepancy in our experience stems from the fact that the great saint appropriates more of what God has bestowed than we do. He lays hold of God’s revealed facts and turns them into factors of his own experience. The wonderful father in Luke 15 divided his property between his two sons. ’He divided unto them his living”(15:12).Despite his glaring faults ,the prodigal at least did his share. Not so the elder brother. He even accused his father of not giving him a kid. The deeply hurt father responded, ”Son, all that I have is thine. ”The difference was not in bestowal but in appropriation.
It seems easier to appropriate tangible things than spiritual blessings. But are we not constantly appropriating intangible things than spiritual blessings. But are we not constantly appropriating intangible things, but it is not enjoyed until it is appropriated and reciprocated. Forgiveness may be freely bestowed, but release comes only when it is believed and accepted. The unvarying spiritual principle is, ”According to your faith-appropriation-be it unto you.”

Faith as Appropriation
“As many as received him...them that believe on his name” John 1:12

In John’s gospel, ”believe” occurs about fifty times. In every case “receive” can be substituted with equal good sense. To appropriate is to receive, to take to oneself as one’s own. The central verse of the Bible is reputed to be Psalm 81:10:”Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it. ”It pictures a nest of little birds with mouth wide and I will fill it. ”It pictures a nest of little birds with mouths stretched open beyond belief. Their attitude is the expectation of faith. Nor does the mother-bird disappoint it. The fledgling’s sole responsibility is to close its mouth on the mother’s provision.
The holiest saint has no spiritual resources than those imparted to us in Christ. The vast discrepancy in our experience stems from the fact that the great saint appropriates more of what God has bestowed than we do. He lays hold of God’s revealed facts and turns them into factors of his own experience. The wonderful father in Luke 15 divided his property between his two sons. ’He divided unto them his living”(15:12).Despite his glaring faults ,the prodigal at least did his share. Not so the elder brother. He even accused his father of not giving him a kid. The deeply hurt father responded, ”Son, all that I have is thine. ”The difference was not in bestowal but in appropriation.
It seems easier to appropriate tangible things than spiritual blessings. But are we not constantly appropriating intangible things than spiritual blessings. But are we not constantly appropriating intangible things, but it is not enjoyed until it is appropriated and reciprocated. Forgiveness may be freely bestowed, but release comes only when it is believed and accepted. The unvarying spiritual principle is, ”According to your faith-appropriation-be it unto you.”

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