[Daily Scripture] Daily Scripture Email – Devotion - Wednesday, 1
January 2014 – GOD MOVED INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD - SCRIPTURE: The Word became
flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.(JOHN 1:14)
The Incarnation is, in my mind, one of the most beautiful
doctrines of our Christian faith. It is also one of the most difficult to truly
understand. I mean, God deciding to put on human flesh is one thing, but deciding
to do so in the form of a helpless infant born in an animal-filled stable with
the trough from which they ate their food for a bed, well, that is something
altogether different. In fact, when you consider that generation after
generation of God’s people had been waiting for 400 years to hear from God and
had heard nothing until that silence was broken by the cry of a newborn baby,
the idea of the Incarnation and how God chose to make himself known to us
becomes downright incredible.
One of my favorite descriptions of the Incarnation comes from
this verse from John’s Gospel, as paraphrased by Eugene Peterson. I believe it
to be one of the best images for helping us understand what the Incarnation
really means. God, in the person of Jesus Christ, became flesh and dwelt among
us. God Himself moved into our neighborhood.
God, in the person of Jesus Christ, came to show us the way, the
truth, and the life. Jesus shared life together with us. And, fortunately for
us, this was not a limited-time engagement. Jesus is still with us, beside us
for every step of our lives, sharing His resurrection life with us.
John Wesley said it best at the end of his life, “The best of
all is, God is with us.” Yesterday, today, and forever. Glory to God!
PRAYER: Jesus, Son of God, thank you for moving into the
neighborhood and showing your people the way, the truth, and the life. In the
new year, help us to become more fully the people you created us to be and
reflect your face in all that we do. AMEN.
Reverend Aaron Rousseau
-------
Trinity United Methodist Church
4000 NW 53rd Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32653 United States
(352)376-6615
-------
No comments:
Post a Comment