Local Global Gospel
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, at the beginning of the new year, I praise You who was with the Father in the beginning.
Read John 1:1-18
[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. [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 is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Who do you think John is calling "the Word" here?I love the HSBC bank tag line: “Your local global bank.” John introduces us to a local global gospel. “In the beginning was the Word, and … the Word became flesh” (1,14). God, above time and space, breaks into his world in the person of Jesus. From God’s side it was an incredible sacrifice, coming to his world, not powerfully as its rightful owner, but as a humble guest longing to be made welcome. “The Word became flesh … and moved into the neighborhood” (14, The Message). But God’s sacrifice is our redemption as he lifts us up to become his beloved children (12), “ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven.” Gently he will invade our lives with purpose and rescue us into reality, enabling us to face a new year with hope and confidence. So much hinges on our openness to his coming. Read the verses again and note the cascade of good things: life (4) for our inertia, light (9) to guide us, grace (14) to combat our greed, and truth (14) to stand in a confused culture. “One blessing after another” (16) is how John describes it. It’s breathtaking! It’s amazing! Happy New Year!
Apply
Meditate on how the Lord could be life, light, grace and truth to you during the year now beginning.
Closing prayer
Thank You, Father, for coming so close to me. Please help me to stay close to You every day of 2014.
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