2013 Advent Devotions from the Lutheran Hour Ministries – Saturday, 28 December 2013 "From His Fullness We Have All Received" Read John 3

2013 Advent Devotions from the Lutheran Hour Ministries – Saturday, 28 December 2013 "From His Fullness We Have All Received" Read John 3: 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20 For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21 But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”[a]

Footnotes:

a. John 3:21 Some interpreters hold that the quotation concludes with verse 15. TEXT: And from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace (John 1:16).

The fact that God became human and actually lived here among us is the mystery and wonder of Christmas. But how often do we lose sight of that mystery after we celebrate Christmas, put away the decorations, and go back to our normal day-to-day lives?  It's almost as if Christmas never came, and everything goes on the same.

If Christmas is merely recalling God's Son becoming human and being born in Bethlehem we're missing something truly significant. The important thing is to remember why He came and what He accomplished in those brief 30-some years He dwelt among us.

Unless we look in the right place, it looks as though His life really didn't change much of anything. There is still suffering, sickness and death. There is still misunderstanding, fear and hate. There is still crime, violence and war. All of these evils flow from our first parents' sinful disobedience when Adam and Eve ate the fruit God had forbidden, and continue today through all our sins.

Jesus came to deal with that sin, and the wrath of God it stirs. Jesus came to take our place, carry our guilt and sins to the cross, and suffer the punishment we deserve, paying the debt we can never repay. He did it all out of pure, undeserved love and mercy. And He is always here to give us the fullness of His love and grace.

THE PRAYER:  Lord Jesus, You pour Your love and grace upon us in a never-failing supply. Give me humility and grace to know my need and receive from Your generous hands. Amen.

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Mail:

Lutheran Hour Ministries

660 Mason Ridge Center Drive

St. Louis, MO 63141 United States

Telephone: (800)876-9880

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