He came to His own,and His own did not receive Him.-John 1:11 (Our Daily Bread)
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John 1:1-14
The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
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.
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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Moment Of Grace
Every year, I enjoy listening to the BBC’s worldwide live radio
broadcast of the Christmas Eve service from King’s College Chapel in
Cambridge, England. This Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols combines
Scripture readings, prayers, and choral music in a moving service of
worship. One year, I was struck by the announcer’s description of the
congregation leaving the magnificent chapel, saying they were “stepping
out of this moment of grace and back into the real world.”
Wasn’t it that way on the first Christmas? The shepherds heard an
angel announce the birth of the Savior, Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11),
followed by a “multitude of the heavenly host praising God” (vv.13-14).
After they found Mary, Joseph, and the Baby in Bethlehem, the shepherds
couldn’t help telling others about this Child (v.17). “The shepherds
went back to work, glorifying and praising God for everything that they
had heard and seen, which had happened just as they had been told” (v.20
Phillips).
They had been changed by their “moment of grace.” As they stepped
back into their real world, they carried the good news about Jesus in
their hearts and voices.
May we too take God’s grace into the real world this Christmas and every day of the new year.
May the grace that we encounter
At this time of Christmas cheer
Not be true just in this season
But remain throughout the year. —Sper
Take the joy of Christmas with you every day.
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