Today as we dive back into John chapter 3 and finish it off we begin in  verse 22 and discover a controversy which was struck up between John's  disciples and a Jew over the work Jesus was doing! As it is revealed  once more through John that Jesus is the Messiah and John acknowledges  he must decrease there seems to be a confusion among the crowd. This is  when that great statement made by John, that no one has, or can, receive  anything lest it be given to them from God comes into play. There is no  possible way those folks, in that moment, could understand what was  being said (or what was happening) unless God revealed the truth to  them! The same is true for us. If we have figured anything out at all  from God's Word it is because God gave His truth to us! and at the last  we discover the inseparable nature between belief and obedience as  revealed in verse 36! That one may say they believe, but live and  practice a life filled with ungodliness as to reveal in their  disobedience the reality of their lack of true belief, but in that one  who seeks to be obedient and lives a life of genuine repentance for  those moments where they are in rebellion, this is one who truly  believes and this is one who truly is born again! Lots to be received  today, so hang on tight!