John 14:2 English Standard Version (ESV) In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

John 14:2 King James Version (KJV) In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

John 14:2 My Version (MV) In my Father’s family there are many children: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

My version is in consideration of yesterday’s devotional. God loves and wants to be loved. What better expression is there of love than to be included in the family of God? We all want to be treated like a loved one. One of the problems of living in a large family is finding your place within the family dynamic.

Jesus declares that He will show you were you fit. Nothing solidifies security like being found useful, appreciated and loved for being yourself. You can be real and accepted.

My version brings my natural desire into focus. I don’t want a room and I don’t want a mansion. I want to love and be loved. My heart has been changed to want the same thing that God wants.

There are many things that could be said of why the different translations use houses and mansions and rooms. We can imagine why but does that fulfill our own personal desires. What it is in us that creates these emotional desires we call needs. God declared what our needs are in life. He declared He would meet those needs. What He was expressing in the promise of provision was love.

We are not an accident of birth. God chose to place us in His family.