The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
I want to spend some time thinking about what grace and truth means. Jesus is FULL of them. I was thinking about a weekend retreat some of my friends went on this weekend. They had to wear a badge at the beginning of the weekend of their own choosing, either: "Broken" "Angry" and "Deceiver. Jesus was not an angry man. He was not a deceiver. He was not broken. He was the only whole person ever to walk the face of the earth. That is what grace and truth is not. What grace and truth is...well don't look to anyone or anything except Jesus.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
353
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
Now we see why believing is so important. Because everything hinges on whether or not you can believe this: that you matter. The universe - all 400 billion galaxies and expanding - that the God who created all of it like that - would take all of himself and place it in a man to rescue you from sin so that you can share in his glory - can you believe that? Do you believe you matter that much to God?
John 1:14
Now we see why believing is so important. Because everything hinges on whether or not you can believe this: that you matter. The universe - all 400 billion galaxies and expanding - that the God who created all of it like that - would take all of himself and place it in a man to rescue you from sin so that you can share in his glory - can you believe that? Do you believe you matter that much to God?
Thursday, January 26, 2012
352
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
John 1:14a
I have grown fond of Eugene Peterson's translation of this verse:
The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.
Possibly, the most profound moment in the history of the Universe.
John 1:14a
I have grown fond of Eugene Peterson's translation of this verse:
The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.
Possibly, the most profound moment in the history of the Universe.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
351
Yet to all who received 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.
John 1:12-13
When you receive Jesus, you join a family. You not only get a heavenly Father, you get earthly fathers, too. Fathers and mothers and sisters and brothers and by the grace of God sons and daughters as well. Thanks be to God! Perhaps the thought of family doesn't spring forth thanksgiving for you. Then be thankful all the more. Because there is no family like the family of God. Amen.
John 1:12-13
When you receive Jesus, you join a family. You not only get a heavenly Father, you get earthly fathers, too. Fathers and mothers and sisters and brothers and by the grace of God sons and daughters as well. Thanks be to God! Perhaps the thought of family doesn't spring forth thanksgiving for you. Then be thankful all the more. Because there is no family like the family of God. Amen.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
350
Yet to all who received 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.
John 1:12-13
To who received him. To those who believed in his name. There's something that rubs us the wrong way about this. Receiving. Believing. They seem so passive. They seem too simple. How could God allow such an "easy" thing be the determinant for a soul's destiny?
I don't know if I have a satisfactory answer for this...there's this: based on all other determinants, we fail. That is the reality of our hearts. That is the reality of sin. We are unqualified, undeserving, and without hope.
Then, there's this: what did you do to become the child of your parents? If you have children, what did they do to become your children? Nothing. They were made. Two became one. And the miracle happened.
This is the nature of God. The beginning. The right. Is a Gift. If we are to be his children, it can't be otherwise. All the child must do is accept the reality.
Think of a child's faith. My children believe I am their daddy. Yes, I am. But think about how much of that reality they have to take by faith. They don't remember the delivery. They don't remember when my wife and I brought them home to the house. They have to receive this reality by faith.
Sure, they could demand a DNA test, but even then - they are putting their faith in something (science) to prove to them what they have inherently have believed for themselves.
John 1:12-13
To who received him. To those who believed in his name. There's something that rubs us the wrong way about this. Receiving. Believing. They seem so passive. They seem too simple. How could God allow such an "easy" thing be the determinant for a soul's destiny?
I don't know if I have a satisfactory answer for this...there's this: based on all other determinants, we fail. That is the reality of our hearts. That is the reality of sin. We are unqualified, undeserving, and without hope.
Then, there's this: what did you do to become the child of your parents? If you have children, what did they do to become your children? Nothing. They were made. Two became one. And the miracle happened.
This is the nature of God. The beginning. The right. Is a Gift. If we are to be his children, it can't be otherwise. All the child must do is accept the reality.
Think of a child's faith. My children believe I am their daddy. Yes, I am. But think about how much of that reality they have to take by faith. They don't remember the delivery. They don't remember when my wife and I brought them home to the house. They have to receive this reality by faith.
Sure, they could demand a DNA test, but even then - they are putting their faith in something (science) to prove to them what they have inherently have believed for themselves.
Monday, January 23, 2012
349
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
John 1:12
Why is it important that we begin this relationship with God as a child? Elsewhere, it was Jesus who said this:
I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.
Luke 18:17
I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.
John 3:3
What is it about new life that it is made to begin the way our first birth began? How might our children teach us about what it might mean to be born again in Christ?
Those are big questions. The thing that sticks out first to me is that children need everything. They are helpless without a parent. Babies/Children depend on parents to supply food, shelter, security, and love. Does God want us to depend on him like that?
Sure sounds like it.
John 1:12
Why is it important that we begin this relationship with God as a child? Elsewhere, it was Jesus who said this:
I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.
Luke 18:17
I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.
John 3:3
What is it about new life that it is made to begin the way our first birth began? How might our children teach us about what it might mean to be born again in Christ?
Those are big questions. The thing that sticks out first to me is that children need everything. They are helpless without a parent. Babies/Children depend on parents to supply food, shelter, security, and love. Does God want us to depend on him like that?
Sure sounds like it.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
348
I'll get back to John soon, but wanted to encourage you to get my friend, Rick Lawrence's book called Sifted. It's 260 pages on two verses in the Bible - two you probably skim right over because they are unsettling and disturbing and confusing and you would rather not think about the implications - those verses are Luke 22:31-32
Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.
Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
347
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
John 1:12
Many years ago, Philadelphia was preparing for a Billy Graham Crusade at Veterans Stadium. I don't remember all the circumstances, but at some point I found myself attending at least one of the training sessions. I can't even remember if I ended up volunteering. But I do remember one thing: this was the verse that Billy Graham had chosen as his key verse for the crusade. I don't know if it was the key verse in all his crusades. But I do know that it was the verse he had us memorize as we prepared to help people as they received and believed in the Jesus Christ.
I wish I remembered more. But tonight, let's allow this key verse open the door of our hearts to Christ.
John 1:12
Many years ago, Philadelphia was preparing for a Billy Graham Crusade at Veterans Stadium. I don't remember all the circumstances, but at some point I found myself attending at least one of the training sessions. I can't even remember if I ended up volunteering. But I do remember one thing: this was the verse that Billy Graham had chosen as his key verse for the crusade. I don't know if it was the key verse in all his crusades. But I do know that it was the verse he had us memorize as we prepared to help people as they received and believed in the Jesus Christ.
I wish I remembered more. But tonight, let's allow this key verse open the door of our hearts to Christ.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
346
Yet to all who received 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.
John 1:12-13
Not a natural descent
Nor of human decision
Or a husband's will...
I think John's trying to get the point across here. This family God is growing is his doing. We have no right to determine how God goes about it. And we cannot determine who is and who is not a part of it. This family is not a blood family. We cannot pass it on. It is a family of individual members. And it is a family with individual rights...yes rights...if you receive, if you believe, God gives you the RIGHT to become a child of God.
John 1:12-13
Not a natural descent
Nor of human decision
Or a husband's will...
I think John's trying to get the point across here. This family God is growing is his doing. We have no right to determine how God goes about it. And we cannot determine who is and who is not a part of it. This family is not a blood family. We cannot pass it on. It is a family of individual members. And it is a family with individual rights...yes rights...if you receive, if you believe, God gives you the RIGHT to become a child of God.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
345
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.
John 1:10-11
Yesterday, we talked about how we can relate to Jesus in his experience of being misunderstood. We can also relate to Jesus in his experience of being rejected. Granted, the degree Jesus was misunderstood and rejected is far and away more severe than any misunderstanding or rejection we might ever experience - the experience is the same. Rejection is rejection. Misunderstanding is misunderstanding. These are the moments we can truly relate to Jesus, and we can let Jesus relate to us...
But then we read verse 12, and again we are blown away:
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
Jesus did not react to misunderstanding and rejection the way we are apt to react to it. He received it. He received us! The rejectors! He invites US into His Family!
John 1:10-11
Yesterday, we talked about how we can relate to Jesus in his experience of being misunderstood. We can also relate to Jesus in his experience of being rejected. Granted, the degree Jesus was misunderstood and rejected is far and away more severe than any misunderstanding or rejection we might ever experience - the experience is the same. Rejection is rejection. Misunderstanding is misunderstanding. These are the moments we can truly relate to Jesus, and we can let Jesus relate to us...
But then we read verse 12, and again we are blown away:
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
Jesus did not react to misunderstanding and rejection the way we are apt to react to it. He received it. He received us! The rejectors! He invites US into His Family!
Monday, January 16, 2012
344
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.
John 1:10
Yesterday, we saw two ways in which Jesus is different than us. He is infinite (past, present and future); we are finite. He is light; we are darkness.
Today, we see one way in which we are similar to Jesus - He was misunderstood. We get that. We experience the experience of being misunderstood often. Here Jesus meets us face to face - in our misunderstanding, in the ways we are not appreciated, not given what we asking for...there are many ways to say it - the feeling is the same - that emptiness of not being known. Jesus understands that. He made the world and that world rejected him. How awful is that?
Let your moments of misunderstanding therefore bring you to the understanding arms of Jesus. Amen. Amen.
John 1:10
Yesterday, we saw two ways in which Jesus is different than us. He is infinite (past, present and future); we are finite. He is light; we are darkness.
Today, we see one way in which we are similar to Jesus - He was misunderstood. We get that. We experience the experience of being misunderstood often. Here Jesus meets us face to face - in our misunderstanding, in the ways we are not appreciated, not given what we asking for...there are many ways to say it - the feeling is the same - that emptiness of not being known. Jesus understands that. He made the world and that world rejected him. How awful is that?
Let your moments of misunderstanding therefore bring you to the understanding arms of Jesus. Amen. Amen.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
342
He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
John 1:8-9
Here again is the "witness to the was coming." Only a being that is past, present, and future and be a was coming. Jesus is such a being. We have such a God.
Again, we see a distinction between Jesus and the rest of us. He is the light. No one else is the light. Any light you see in man was put there by the true light, Jesus.
So there are two things here that set Jesus apart -
(1) he was, is, and will be - all at the same time.
(2) he is light, we are not.
John 1:8-9
Here again is the "witness to the was coming." Only a being that is past, present, and future and be a was coming. Jesus is such a being. We have such a God.
Again, we see a distinction between Jesus and the rest of us. He is the light. No one else is the light. Any light you see in man was put there by the true light, Jesus.
So there are two things here that set Jesus apart -
(1) he was, is, and will be - all at the same time.
(2) he is light, we are not.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
341
There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.
John 1:6-7
Two things intrigue me in these verses:
The first, that God would send a person to attest to the person God was sending. John was the herald. The horn as the engine approached the intersection. It was the warning and the announcement. It's what good advertisers do. It intrigues me God would consider it as an integral piece of the plan.
And now that Jesus has ascended and is returning. We are now the John's. The heralds. Called to attest to the one who is returning.
The second intriguing thing is that John was to be a "witness". This is a strange thing to call somebody who comes before the fact. How do you witness to something that hasn't yet come? I don't have a great answer to that. Other than his witness was to testify to "that light", which we learned earlier was been around since the beginning - so if that's the case, he could certainly bear witness. Everyone could.
And so, now to us, what are we waiting for? We have plenty to witness about don't we?
John 1:6-7
Two things intrigue me in these verses:
The first, that God would send a person to attest to the person God was sending. John was the herald. The horn as the engine approached the intersection. It was the warning and the announcement. It's what good advertisers do. It intrigues me God would consider it as an integral piece of the plan.
And now that Jesus has ascended and is returning. We are now the John's. The heralds. Called to attest to the one who is returning.
The second intriguing thing is that John was to be a "witness". This is a strange thing to call somebody who comes before the fact. How do you witness to something that hasn't yet come? I don't have a great answer to that. Other than his witness was to testify to "that light", which we learned earlier was been around since the beginning - so if that's the case, he could certainly bear witness. Everyone could.
And so, now to us, what are we waiting for? We have plenty to witness about don't we?
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
340
There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.
John 1:6-7
Last night, I was led to this verse.
They overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
Revelation 12:11
Testify...
Testimony...
comes from the Latin - testimonium - which, in the Vulgate is what I believe the Ten Commandments are called.
this is from Webster's online dictionary:
Testimony
What's yours? Would you be willing to stand up in court and give it? Would you be willing to die for it?
John 1:6-7
Last night, I was led to this verse.
They overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
Revelation 12:11
Testify...
Testimony...
comes from the Latin - testimonium - which, in the Vulgate is what I believe the Ten Commandments are called.
this is from Webster's online dictionary:
Testimony
1 a (1) : the tablets inscribed with the Mosaic law (2) : the ark containing the tabletsb : a divine decree attested in the Scriptures
2
a : firsthand authentication of a fact : evidenceb : an outward signc : a solemn declaration usually made orally by a witness under oath in response to interrogation by a lawyer or authorized public official
3
a : an open acknowledgmentb : a public profession of religious experience
What's yours? Would you be willing to stand up in court and give it? Would you be willing to die for it?
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
339
There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.
John 1:6-7
In verse 7 we get the first glimpse into God's plan for humankind: that...all men might believe. Who is Jesus after? Everyone. What does he want for them? To believe.
To believe in what? Again, it's in verse 7: God wants man to believe in THAT LIGHT.
We just learned what that light is: the Word. God's Son. Jesus Christ.
What is God's desire for humankind? To be good? NO! To obey him? NO! To believe in his Son? YES!
John 1:6-7
In verse 7 we get the first glimpse into God's plan for humankind: that...all men might believe. Who is Jesus after? Everyone. What does he want for them? To believe.
To believe in what? Again, it's in verse 7: God wants man to believe in THAT LIGHT.
We just learned what that light is: the Word. God's Son. Jesus Christ.
What is God's desire for humankind? To be good? NO! To obey him? NO! To believe in his Son? YES!
Monday, January 9, 2012
338
In him was life, and that life was the light of men. the light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
John 1:4-5
Here John is setting up the ground rules for the rest of his gospel. When we meet Jesus, which we will in verse 29, we need to see him with these two distinct qualities: life and light. Everything else is in contrast to this. In other words, everything else is death and darkness.
Apart from Jesus death and darkness is what we are faced with. In Christ is lightness and life.
John 1:4-5
Here John is setting up the ground rules for the rest of his gospel. When we meet Jesus, which we will in verse 29, we need to see him with these two distinct qualities: life and light. Everything else is in contrast to this. In other words, everything else is death and darkness.
Apart from Jesus death and darkness is what we are faced with. In Christ is lightness and life.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
337
In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
John 1:4-5
I have been struck lately with the thought that people really do want to believe. There's a part of all of us that really wants to believe there's a God - there's something really big out there that loves us.
Whether you believe it or not - do you want to? Is there something inside that stirs when you think of the possibility that there might be something out there worth believing in?
That's the life I think we see in people. When we see that light - that life - we all have seen it. That magical beautiful unmistakeable reality. Maybe you have even experienced it...
John tells us what it is.
It's Jesus.
Maybe you haven't understood it before. But trust these words for once. Jesus is life. He's the light you find yourself drawn to. You may not be able to believe it. But is there something inside you that wants to? What if you let desire lead this time? Maybe there is a time to follow your heart.
John 1:4-5
I have been struck lately with the thought that people really do want to believe. There's a part of all of us that really wants to believe there's a God - there's something really big out there that loves us.
Whether you believe it or not - do you want to? Is there something inside that stirs when you think of the possibility that there might be something out there worth believing in?
That's the life I think we see in people. When we see that light - that life - we all have seen it. That magical beautiful unmistakeable reality. Maybe you have even experienced it...
John tells us what it is.
It's Jesus.
Maybe you haven't understood it before. But trust these words for once. Jesus is life. He's the light you find yourself drawn to. You may not be able to believe it. But is there something inside you that wants to? What if you let desire lead this time? Maybe there is a time to follow your heart.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
jan 7 (post 336)
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
John 1:3
Made. What were you made for? What were you made to do? to become? These are the questions that keep me up at night. What is my purpose? Why am I here?
Through him all things were made...Only through Jesus do we fulfill our ultimate purpose.
Without him nothing was made that has been made...in other words, any purpose without Jesus meets no purpose whatsoever.
Why are you here, my friend? What is Jesus purposing through you?
John 1:3
Made. What were you made for? What were you made to do? to become? These are the questions that keep me up at night. What is my purpose? Why am I here?
Through him all things were made...Only through Jesus do we fulfill our ultimate purpose.
Without him nothing was made that has been made...in other words, any purpose without Jesus meets no purpose whatsoever.
Why are you here, my friend? What is Jesus purposing through you?
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
jan 6
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God
and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
John 1:1-2
No doubt this was on purpose, but notice the symmetry of the above verses. It begins and circles back around to beginning. Life is a circle and the definition - the line on which that circle is drawn is God and everything that is within that circle is God. All is God. God is all.
That is the meaning of the first verses of John. Everywhere you look in the universe you will see this circle, and the line on which it is drawn is the Creator's line and everything that circle contains is Creation and everything outside of that circle is His Creation as well. The only thing not created is the line, for the line is God as much as God is God.
And that line for lack of a better word is Word. Who is the Word? Well it was and is and every more will be the name above all names: Jesus.
and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
John 1:1-2
No doubt this was on purpose, but notice the symmetry of the above verses. It begins and circles back around to beginning. Life is a circle and the definition - the line on which that circle is drawn is God and everything that is within that circle is God. All is God. God is all.
That is the meaning of the first verses of John. Everywhere you look in the universe you will see this circle, and the line on which it is drawn is the Creator's line and everything that circle contains is Creation and everything outside of that circle is His Creation as well. The only thing not created is the line, for the line is God as much as God is God.
And that line for lack of a better word is Word. Who is the Word? Well it was and is and every more will be the name above all names: Jesus.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
jan 5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. - John 1:1-2
This is a scene from a novel I've been working on...it's interesting, I think in the context of these opening words of John's Gospel.
This is a scene from a novel I've been working on...it's interesting, I think in the context of these opening words of John's Gospel.
…the skeleton man’s feeble body…the door closing, not quite all the way…Sam nudged it shut with his hip then helped the old man to the edge of the lake. They stood together above the shallows – Vino and Sam, one dying, the other helpless, the two of them side by side.
Sam wondered if this would be the last time Vino smelled fresh air. He wondered as they ambled around the perimeter of the lake. Vino was determined to make it around. Sam knew that much. It took forever.
Even so, his great uncle had been as expressive as ever: “The pattern of the world is circular, Sammy. That’s why history repeats itself.” That’s what Vino said as they circled Colonial Lake
Sam sighed. He loved Vino’s lessons even if they made his head spin.
“That is what bothers me about the literalists,” said Vino, continuing, “they don’t know their etymology. They think beginning has to do with a point in time, as if the root of beginning is gen. However, the phrase ‘in the beginning,’ when understood etymologically correct, should be read to mean ‘at the open,’ like in one’s experience with a book. In fact, you could correctly translate the first three words of Genesis, ‘once upon a time.’ It makes the Bible no less true, mind you. Many times, stories hold more truth than facts, which is why I have always maintained the opinion that the Bible is better understood when read as a story as opposed to an instruction manual.”
Bernard smiled. At that point, he turned to Vino to ask him what in the world he was talking about. “I’m talking about the way all stories go,” Vino said. Bernard remembered the look in his eye.
“Whose?”
“Yours. Mine. God’s. One thing you need to know about God, Sammy, he returns.” A cloud darkened the sun; it darkened the lines in Vino’s face. “Thou shalt return unto the ground; for out of it thou wast taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” Vino paused to watch a mallard find his mate. “Are you listening, Sam?”
He was. He just didn’t like the subject.
“Pay attention because this is the pattern: If you ever take something from God; rest assured, he won’t rest until he gets it back.”
Monday, January 2, 2012
jan 4
Fulton J. Sheen Lift Up Your Hearts
St. Augustine says Amor pondus meum; love is the law of gravitation. All things have their center. The schoolboy finds it hard to study, because he does not love knowledge as much as athletics. The businessman finds it hard to think of heavenly pleasures because he is dedicated to the filling of his "barn." The carnal-minded find it difficult to love the spirit because their treasure lies in the flesh. Everyone becomes like that which he loves; if he loves the material, he becomes the material; if he loves the spiritual, he is converted into it in his outlook, his ideals, and his aspirations. Given this relationship between love and prayer, it is easy to understand why some souls say: "I have no time to pray." They really have not, because to them other duties are more pressing; other treasures more precious; other interests more exhilarating.
What do you find yourself being gravitated toward? Do you really love it? Does it love you? Will it provide for you all of the things your heart desires?
Turn, in this moment, to Jesus. Let him love you. Be pulled by his gravitational love.
St. Augustine says Amor pondus meum; love is the law of gravitation. All things have their center. The schoolboy finds it hard to study, because he does not love knowledge as much as athletics. The businessman finds it hard to think of heavenly pleasures because he is dedicated to the filling of his "barn." The carnal-minded find it difficult to love the spirit because their treasure lies in the flesh. Everyone becomes like that which he loves; if he loves the material, he becomes the material; if he loves the spiritual, he is converted into it in his outlook, his ideals, and his aspirations. Given this relationship between love and prayer, it is easy to understand why some souls say: "I have no time to pray." They really have not, because to them other duties are more pressing; other treasures more precious; other interests more exhilarating.
What do you find yourself being gravitated toward? Do you really love it? Does it love you? Will it provide for you all of the things your heart desires?
Turn, in this moment, to Jesus. Let him love you. Be pulled by his gravitational love.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
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