The Greek Word Lambano - "Receive"

The Greek word of the day is Lambano.  Lambano is the word used in the bible translated many different ways but they all mean "to lay hold upon", "to take possession of", "to receive".  It's an active rather than passive word.  One person said it's the difference between someone throwing a ball into an open window in your house and you actively catching a ball which was thrown to you.

Lambano is a very important word in the scriptures because God is the giver and we are the receivers. Actively receiving from God requires the will or desire to receive.

But to as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.  -- John 1:12

Sometimes, receiving from God is simply to engage the will and at other times, the way we receive has everything to do with whether we receive.

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.  -- Mark 10:15

In my opinion, the kingdom of God is received when we engage our will with the attitude of a little child.  It's important to note that Jesus made the above statement just prior to the rich young man asking what he must do to inherit eternal life.  Jesus told him that the key to inheriting eternal life was to keep the commandments.  He told Jesus that he had kept the commandments from his "youth".

And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.  -- Mark 10:20

By claiming that he was no longer a child (a youth), he kind of knocked himself out of the running for the kingdom of God - which REQUIRES receiving as a little child.

One other thing to remember is that "it is more blessed to give than to receive."  We like "giving to God" but when it comes to receiving FROM Him, we sometimes don't do so well.  We LOVE to make promises for God to believe.  We mistakenly think that if God believes our promise then we are righteous - as long as we carry through with our promise.  This is the gospel in reverse.

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. -- Romans 4:3

We are justified (righteous) when we believe the promises of God - not the other way around - but the doctrine of "strong commitment" toward God is drilled into many sincere Christian's heads by well-meaning teachers and preachers.  But it makes us happier (more blessed) to give God our promises than it does to put ourselves in the uncomfortable position of believing on and waiting for the promises of God.

Trusting God, therefore, is absolutely essential to receiving (lambano) the gift of God's righteousness.  We can keep a lot of religious rules - cross our T's and dot our eyes - and have a form of righteousness that the bible calls self-righteousness.  We all know people who put on a great show of piety but they can't bring themselves to trust in the promises of God.

Test yourself.  When you read God's exceeding great and precious promises in the scriptures, how do they make you feel?  I have personally witnessed the passage in John 15:7 cause the leadership of churches to stumble.  Are these leaders important?  Maybe.  Are they righteous?  Definitely not.  They cannot receive (lambano) God's righteousness because they cannot bring themselves to believe that God is as good as the bible says He is.

Challenge yourself this week, this year, this lifetime.  Read the word of God and whenever you see a promise of good things from God, pray and ask God to soften your heart so that you can trust Him, believe His word, and receive (lambano) His promises.  It will revolutionize your walk as it has mine.