Tuesday 12 February, 2019

14 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. 15 (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.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and[a] is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

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