Christ-Full of Grace and Truth

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

John 1:1-14; Isa. 9:6; Matt. 17:1-8; Rom. 8:3; Phil. 2:4-11; Col. 2:9; Rev. 3:20

What Is God Saying?

John closes his Gospel by referring to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved. He was one of the three who saw Jesus transfigured, and he was with those near Jesus in Gethsemane. Furthermore, he was the one whom Jesus chose to care for his Mother as his earthly life ebbed away on Calvary. John knew Jesus best. He leads us to the wondrous mystery of The Word made flesh, God becoming man. Paul also pinpoints the reality of what happened when God became Man, ‘For in him the whole fullness of deity dwelt bodily’ (Col. 2:9). John, in his Gospel, states the truth—God became a human being and dwelt among us on earth, but oh! so much more. He was as Christ and in Christ, full of grace and truth. That is not a part of a Gospel. It is the heart of the Gospel. Jesus is God's message to the world (Christ was full of truth) and God’s gift of loving forgiveness to the world (Christ was full of grace).

How Does This Apply To Us?

He who made and knew the infinite reaches of matter, light years away, came down to live and show us the face of God in a very limited region of a very tiny planet revolving around a small sun in a galaxy that is only one of countless others. Jesus took the immensity of space that we cannot and never will be able to grasp and showed that the Creator of the vast universe is also the loving Redeemer of the most insignificant person, the guiltiest sinner, and the loneliest outcast, who turns to Him in repentance and faith. He who is full of truth is also full of grace. John gives us the truth of an event often lost in the trivia and revelry of Christmas: ‘God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.’ The Savior we worship is the God who created. He wants to live among us, but He also wants to live within us. Each of us must ask one question, ‘Have I opened the door of my heart to Him?’ (Rev. 3:20). He patiently waits. Time is on His side but not on ours.

Pray With Me

Lord, I accept Your right to rule the universe from the infinity of space to the hidden depths of my heart. You are the Lord of all

• all that is and all that shall be,

• all that is seen and all that is unseen,

• all that is known and all that is unknown.

This I acknowledge to be true, and I would bring every thought of my mind, every desire of my heart, and every deed of my hand into line with this awesome fact. Since You are the Lord of all, You are the Lord of all grace and truth. By this, my faith is strengthened. By Your truth, I come to see things as they are. By Your grace, I come to see things as they could be. By Your truth, I see where I have failed and am failing. By Your grace, I am shown that I am loved and forgiven and worth restoring.

The Eternal God, the Lord of all that is or ever shall be, the Lord of all truth, is also the Lord of all grace. He who knows me best loves me most. He who came to show me the truth is the One who comes to show me grace. He brings all this to suffering humanity, not a little here and there, not a little now and then. He is full of grace that is never exhausted and truth that will never be extinguished.

Jesus came, born as a child, to wear the mantle of humanness, be touched with our sorrows, and have compassion for us in our broken dreams and hopes. Lord of all grace and truth, awaken me by the light of Your truth to life as it is, then lead me to life as it may be in the fullness of Your grace.

In the name of Jesus whose glory I would behold with my eyes and hold in my heart. Amen.

Moving On In The Life of Prayer

As we pray, we should avoid being astronomically intimidated. Worship Him in His incomprehensible greatness. It is right and good that we bow in reverence before Him. We should follow the lead of the Psalmist (148:3), ‘Praise him sun and moon, praise him all you shining stars!’ True prayer should never do less. But we are bringing our petiti0ns and sharing our life with One who not only dwelt among us but who wants to be and will be a living Presence, a loving Friend, and, through the Holy Spirit, a constant Companion. Let us start with the great things out there, but move on to the great things God wants to do for us, in us, and through us.