Day 24: The Fulfillment of Faith
Scripture to meditate on: John 1:1-18 The Word Became Flesh
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
Devotional:
The beginning of the book of John stands out to me for many reasons – not the least of which is its lyricism. When I read it or hear it quoted, it never ceases to swell my heart like an anthem of love. Here is that amazing point in God’s perfect timing when Jesus came and fulfilled God’s promises. There are so many truths in these verses that have impacted my life. Today, I only have room for two.
The first is straight-forward prose woven among the poetic. In moments when I feel far from God or am doubting or cannot understand – at all – what is going on, I turn to verse 12 which reminds me that, having said, “Yes,” to Jesus, I am a child of God. Regular old me. Wow. Thank you, Jesus. This helps me to keep trusting him.
With respect to the second truth, it’s about focusing on Jesus; I want to walk with him every day. As I face a myriad of people and situations, I find myself regularly going to verses 14 and 16: Jesus is full of “grace and truth.” Grace. Truth. Both. At so many different times in my life, in work, in parenting, in relationships, I have prayed and will continue to pray that Jesus will guide me according to his grace and truth.
Questions to ponder:
- What does this passage say about God?
- What does this passage say about me or my relationships?
- What should I do in light of this passage?
