This is the miracle of Christmas: the word became flesh and dwelt among us. This is the miracle of everyday in the life of a Christian, as Vicky so eloquently said at our last Women of Hope meeting. This word that became flesh is our Emmanuel, “God With Us.” And this word, this word is the word of all words, the one word that saves the world.

Merry Christmas everyone. May this word life in your heart each and every day.

[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 in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 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 bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ What verse compels you most in these 18 verses? For me it is v. 11 – “He came to his own and his own people did not receive him”. It compels me to spread the love of the gospel for the sake of His Kingdom and to pray for those who don’t get see Him as he truly is.

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ Is there any action the Lord may be asking of me this holiday season?

+ How may the Lord be calling me to obey him through these verses?

+ What truth in these verses can I begin to apply to my life every day but especially on Christmas Day?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?

+ What sins may I need to confess after reading todays scriptures?

+ Who can I love like Jesus loved today?