Quote for the Day

Exulting in the liberating greatness of God ultimately means that disease will have to go. You may waver at first, as I did, when you’re caught in the tension between your all-too-real symptoms and the immutable truths of the Word, but a true sacrifice of praise will get you up the mountain! Terry Law

Reflection on John 1:1-18

Scripture

In the beginning the Word already existed;

The Word was with God

And the Word was God

He existed in the beginning with God.

Observation

Before time was, the Word (i.e. Jesus) already existed with God, because He was God. God created everything through the Word.

The Word is the source of life and He is the light.

God sent John the Baptist to tell about Jesus. Jesus is the light who gives light to everyone

The Word, the light, Jesus, came into the world He had created, but people did not recognise Him; in fact they rejected Him. To everyone who accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of god by being reborn.

From Christ we have received blessing upon blessing. No one has ever seen God, but Christ, who is Himself God, and is near the Father’s heart, He has revealed God to us.

Application

Jesus was not born at Christmas, at least not in the sense that this was the start of his existence. No, as the divine Son of God, Jesus has always existed.

We see a man, but He is also God. Divine and human natures come together in one person.

The Word was with God, and He was God. The Son of God was God, but separate from the Father.

Christmas is all about the coming of God into the world. The divine Son of God became the Son of Man to show us how our lives should be lived and to pay the penalty for our sins.

All of this is too big for human minds to fully comprehend. What we can comprehend is that God loves us and desires us to be reconciled to Him.

When we accept that love and receive Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, then we are born again, and we can walk in friendship with God.

Prayer

Lord, you are greater than human minds can fathom. But your love is something we can hold on to and receive by faith. Thank you for loving me and saving me. Amen

Quote for the Day

Your sacrifice of praise, more than anything else, means that you constantly glorify God by continually saying the same thing with your mouth that He says in His Word. It means bringing your day-to-day speech into agreement with the written Word of God. Terry Law

Reflection on Jeremiah 31:7-14

Scripture

Tears of joy will stream down their faces,

And I will lead them home with great care.

They will walk beside quiet streams,

And on the smooth paths where they will not stumble.

Observation

The Lord is going to bring His people home from every corner of the earth. He will not overlook the blind, lame, expectant mothers, and women in labour. He will guide them beside quiet streams and along smooth paths.

The Lord who scattered His people is gathering them back. He has redeemed Israel and all their crops will be abundant. Everyone will celebrate and dance for joy.

Application

The primary focus of this prophetic word is the release of Israel from its exile in Babylon. The Lord promises to bring them home and to prosper His people in the land He has given them.

To us, it is a reminder of the joy of salvation. God loved us so much that He sent His one and only Son to bring us home to Him.

Christmas is a season of rejoicing. One of the biggest sources of joy for many people is families getting together again. In my family there has been so much laughter and celebration as we have gathered together.

Jesus is calling people home to Himself. We were once far away, but now we are coming home with tears of joy.

The best home coming ever is still in the future. One day all of the followers of Jesus from all of history will be called home to Heaven to start an eternity of joy.

Prayer

What an awesome gift you are to the world, Lord Jesus Son of God! I thank you for the anticipation of the great home coming. Amen