The word receive means to take into one’s possession something offered or delivered. Receive is an action verb.
Receive is the reason why proposing is so nerve-racking. I invested my thoughts, time, emotion, motivation, energy, and money into a gift of lifelong significance and my beloved has the opportunity to receive or reject my gift. If my gift is received with joy, I realize that my love is believed to be true and faithful. In relationship, receiving is the response of believing one’s character and expecting one’s faithfulness.
As we turn to God and praise Him, we also believe His character, expect His faithfulness, and receive His grace. God extends His grace to provide salvation and purpose for our lives. We must respond to His offer. We may receive or reject His gift. If we postpone our response, by default, we are rejecting. He desires that we accept with eager anticipation all that He offers.
In Luke 18, Jesus talks about receiving God’s gift. He presents a word picture of how we are to receive.
Luke 18:15-17 (CSB)
People were bringing infants to him so he might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 Jesus, however, invited them: “Let the little children come to me, and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
As we accept and receive like a child, we gain the greatest gift of all—relationship with God.
John 1:12-13 (CSB)
But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, 13 who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
In 1 Timothy, Paul reminds us that God is gracious, faithful, loving, trustworthy and deserves acceptance. We are privileged to receive mercy, believe in Jesus, and praise God forever.
1 Timothy 1:14-17(CSB)
And the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life.17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
God is honored when we receive from Him and give Him praise. Our faith is increased and others see the hope, joy, peace, and purpose of God in us as we receive and praise.