Friday, February 22, 2013

John 1 // What I'm meditating on tonight

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." (John 1:1-4)

The Word. God from before time began. The Creator of all. Life. Light. . . .
All-sufficient, sovereign, supreme, glorious Lord.  Truly, apart from Him we are nothing and have nothing, for apart from Him there is no life, there is no light, there is no creation.

"That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.  He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.  He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him." (John 1:9-11)

The true Light came to the world He created and freely offered light to every man.  But what did He meet with?  Rejection.  Ignorance.  Indifference.  Ingratitude.

"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12-13)

Blessing incomprehensible, joy unspeakable, to be called a child of God!  To be a child of the One who formed the earth, the Light of the world, the God who is Life.

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."  (John 1:14) 

The Word became flesh.  He dwelt among us.  He walked this earth.  His glory is on display for all to see.  His grace and truth are evident.


What will our response be?  Will we believe?  Will we receive Him?  Will we worship?  Will we turn to Him as our sufficiency, our Light, our Life?  Will we rejoice in being His?

Saturday, February 9, 2013

His love



"For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."                                                   ~Romans 5:6-8

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How incredible is the love of God?  As I've been meditating on His love recently I've been struck by how unbelievable it is that He could love us in the first place, and then how astounding the greatness of His love is.  We are so unworthy, yet His love for us is not small and grudging; it's abounding and unending.  While we were still sinners, rebelling against the God who made us, loving and living for the very things that were killing us, Christ died for us.  He gave us life.  He drew us near.  He took away our shame.  He set us free from sin.  We are so far from perfection.  We will never be "good enough" for God.  We can't get our act together enough to deserve His love.  Yet He loves us anyway and transforms us by His love.  As you go about your day today, I pray that the love of God would overwhelm you in the most blessed and beautiful way.  Draw near to Him and allow Him to transform you by His love so amazing.