Friday 5 December, 2014

14 The Word became a human being. He made his home with us. We have seen his glory. It is the glory of the one and only Son. He came from the Father. And he was full of grace and truth. 15 John gives witness about him. He cries out and says, “This was the one I was talking about. I said, ‘He who comes after me is more important than I am. He is more important because he existed before I was born.’” 16 We have all received one blessing after another. God’s grace is not limited. 17 Moses gave us the law. Jesus Christ has given us grace and truth. 18 No one has ever seen God. But God, the one and only Son, is at the Father’s side. He has shown us what God is like.

John writes in verse 17 (NLT): “For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.” The New American Standard Version puts it this way-

“For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realised through Jesus Christ. ”

Were realised – came to be – through Jesus Christ.

The law – the rules – “behaving right” over “believing and trusting right” – seem to be my go to – my measurement of successful spiritual living. Even though I read that I do not live under the law – somehow I fall into the habit of living under the law – instead of realising the amazing grace and truth Jesus has brought and wants to keep bringing into my world. I so need to keep reading and holding onto the truth of God’s Word. Allowing it to renew my thinking – which then informs my doing.

Lord – forgive me for choosing to live under the wrong belief that You love me based on what I do and how many rules I get right. Free my thinking (again) – to realise that grace and truth – Your unfailing love and faithfulness are mine because of You Jesus. Thank you.

Written by Ps. Linda Quinn