Grace and Truth

"The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 

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.

Yet to all who did receive 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.

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."

John 1:9-14 (NIV)

When I read this verse this morning, I felt so much sorrow and joy at the same time.

Sorrow for those who don't recognize Him, who reject Him.  May you never be one of those!

And joy because Jesus Christ gave us the right to be children of God!  That truth is pretty overwhelming when you think about it.  By the very definition of God, He is perfect, holy, absolutely righteous, and cannot come into contact with our sinful beings.  But because Christ was the Perfect Sacrifice for our sins... when God looks at us who have received Christ and believe in His name, all He sees is the righteousness of Christ in us.  Therefore, He allows us to be called children of the Most High God!

I pray that you are able to experience Christ more than anything else during this crazy-busy, family-filled, beautiful time of the year.

Every day of Advent this year, Passion City Church sends out a daily email "Embracing Christ in the Midst of Christmas."  That verse was on the email today.  And this is the prayer included in that email:

Father, thank You for stepping down into the darkness of a broken world and shining the true light of life through Jesus for all to see. We are stunned, grateful and amazed to have the privilege of seeing His glory, the glory of the One and Only! Help us to keep our eyes on Jesus today, knowing that just as He was born from above, so too, are we born again in Him.

Jesus, precious Son of Righteousness, thank You for healing us and raising us up today as sons and daughters of the Eternal Father. By Your miraculous work in us we are fully alive...and we are Yours. Help us to see and know that we are the children of God as we wait in hope for all You have promised. Use us as agents of healing today as we move throughout a hurting world with the message life that never ends.

Amen!