Grace — Week 1 – Monday
TODAY’S VERSE
John 1:1, 14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (ESV)
Aside from Jesus’ love and forgiveness, along with my marriage to Beth and the birth of our four children, I would say one of the most defining experiences of my life was a trip to Israel a little over three years ago. We were able to literally stand in and around places I had read about in the Bible for years. We looked over the valley David referenced when writing Psalm 23; stood on the banks of the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized; visited Nazareth, Jesus’ childhood home; we visited Capernaum, the town where Jesus lived for a time, as did Peter and his family, and where Jesus taught in the synagogue; and we walked through the Garden of Gethsemane.
During the trip, I carried a special Bible given to me when I was in middle school. I have several pictures of that Bible opened to verses corresponding to our location at the time. In those moments, God’s Word took on a whole new level of meaning and became multidimensional, something I could literally see with my own eyes, and even touch.
John begins his Gospel by talking about the Word. Referring back to the opening statement of the Bible in the book of Genesis, he reminds us that the Word was from the very beginning. And that the Word became flesh. By intentionally using logos in Greek to describe the Word, John signaled to his readers that what was previously just a theological concept or understanding had finally become something that could be seen and touched. Something real. Heaven had literally come to earth.
APPLICATION
What’s something you can do today to bring the Word to life in your world? This week, love in such a way that moves it from just being a concept to something that actually impacts someone.
PRAYER
Lord, I pray I will notice someone on my path today who needs to see the love of Jesus through me. Like Jesus, may I bring love to life to those around me.
