“(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.’) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known” (John 1:15-18).

What would people say are your two best characteristics? Maybe they would say that you are “cheerful,” or “loving and gentle.” For others, it may be “adventurous and fearless,” or “quiet and kind.” But think about the implications of someone being described by “grace and truth.”

These two qualities are very powerful for us to consider. Jesus is the complete embodiment of grace and truth. He is the source of grace, and the source of truth. The richness of these two qualities flows directly from our Savior. The more we know Jesus, the more grace and truth can flow through our lives. Is your desire to grow more in grace and truth?

Essentially, grace is God’s favor. It is the overflow of God’s unlimited kindness to all people. Grace is not something we deserve. When God chooses to grant favor, it is entirely His doing. Grace is not something we earn, nor is it something that we can buy. God’s grace towards us is fully expressed through Jesus. Jesus is the living example of God’s grace.

Truth has to do with what is real. We don’t always like the truth, and we may not always want to accept it. The mother who says, “My child is an angel,” even after seeing her son captured on video destroying school property, is not accepting the truth. Whether or not we like it, truth has to do with the way things really are. Truth can be tested. It is irrefutable. Jesus is the fullness of truth. He is also the fullness of grace.

We know that our lives are properly aligned with God when grace and truth flow freely. Instead of swift judgment when others sin, grace should be our first response. Grace should serve as our filter. Truth is equally important. We need to know the realities of the way things are. Truth does not sacrifice grace, and grace does not sacrifice the truth.

Read:  Open your Bible and read Ephesians 2:8-9.

Reflect:  Consider the following: Am I extending the same grace to others as God has extended to me? Is there a truth that I am ignoring?

Respond:  As a result of these truths, what might need to change in my attitude, beliefs, and actions? What steps do I need to take outwardly?

The source of this content comes from our book, Walking with Jesus.

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

Filmmakers have perfected the element of surprise. With advanced technology, they can create special effects to get audiences to laugh, cry, or even scream. When Jesus arrived on earth there was an element of surprise. People were not expecting the Messiah to arrive quietly. They were waiting for the Messiah to establish His eternal throne and rule.

No doubt the disciples were also waiting for a spectacular demonstration of political power. They even argued about which disciples would have positions of authority in this new Kingdom. They totally missed the point. John later reflected profoundly on what really happened: God came near. Jesus became one of us, and the disciples experienced all of it.

Does it really matter what our title is if God is present in our lives? Does it really matter how much money we make or how many things we can acquire if the presence of God lives within us? Each of the disciples experienced the majestic glory of God. They literally lived with Jesus.

The disciples spent time eating, talking, and watching the Creator of life in action. They witnessed His healing touch and learned from His teachings. It did not matter if they were near the ocean or on top of a mountain. The key was that God was present among them. He was close and available.

Don’t forget what’s important in life. Regardless of where you find yourself on the “corporate ladder,” there is so much more to life. Making time to talk with God and listen to His voice are essential elements of the faith. Reading God’s Word and letting Him make the necessary adjustments in your life can be painful, but necessary. God prunes you to grow you.

In Christ Jesus we find the glory of God. We reflect this glory when our lives match our identity. Your identity is found in a person, Jesus, not in a position. Be encouraged! Even at this very moment, God is near you. He understands what you are experiencing. Cling to Him right now in prayer.

Read:  Open your Bible and read John 15:4-5.

Reflect:  Prayerfully consider the following: How can I make more time to get closer to Jesus? Am I seeking approval from people, or from God? Do people see God’s love, mercy, and justice living through me?

Respond:  As a result of these truths, what might need to change in my attitude, beliefs, and actions? What steps do I need to take outwardly?

The source of this content comes from our book, Walking with Jesus.

“He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:3-6).

Are you ready for rejection? If not, prepare yourself! Every follower of Jesus will experience rejection at one time or another. Jesus shared the Parable of the Ten Minas with a group of elite religious leaders in Luke 19 to express the reality of His rejection in light of the prophetic writings.

Jesus was angered and grieved over the hardness of their hearts. He used this parable to remind them of the judgment to come for those who reject the Messiah (Luke 19:14). Even after Jesus performed many signs and wonders, there was a relentless rejection of the message of salvation.

The Apostle John would later write, “But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: ‘Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’ ” (John 12:37-38). If people rejected Jesus openly, what do you think they will do to you?

“For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets, which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death” (Acts 13:27-28).

Jesus was rejected for you. It was a rejection that paved the way for your salvation. If people rejected Jesus, they will certainly do the same to you. Do not get discouraged when people reject you for following Jesus. In fact, if everyone loves you, there may be a problem! When you radiate the light of Jesus, not everyone wants that light to reveal the reality of their heart.

Read:  Open your Bible and read Isaiah 53:1-12.

Reflect:  Prayerfully consider the following: How would you describe the price Jesus paid for being rejected for your salvation? What was the cost?

Respond:  As a result of these truths, what might need to change in my attitude, beliefs, and actions? What steps do I need to take outwardly?

The source of this content comes from our book, Walking with Jesus.

“He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him” (John 1:10-11).

Has this ever happened to you? You are working on a difficult group project. Those whom you are counting on to help decide to check out along the way. Now you are all by yourself, without help, and without much time left before the deadline. The need to sleep is displaced by the need to finish on time. You decide to spend the entire night working on the project to make sure everything is just right. When you turn in the project, the professor asks, “How much did you personally contribute?”

You tell him the simple truth, “I did all of the work.” Suddenly, your “partners” reject you by refusing to talk with you again. Although your intentions were good, it does not matter. Even though your strategy involved including everyone, they deliberately chose not to participate. If you have ever felt the pain of rejection, you know how much it hurts. If you follow Jesus, rejection from others is inevitable.

Jesus is the one who created all things: “Yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live” (1 Corinthians 8:6). It is hard to understand, and even harder to believe. Even though Jesus created all things, He was despised and rejected by His own people.

This was not new territory for the Lord. The prophets struggled with this same rejection and rebellion throughout the entire Old Testament as they proclaimed the word of the Lord to the children of Israel. Isaiah declared, “I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, according to their own thoughts” (Isaiah 65:2). Can you picture the deep disappointment in God’s heart? He sent His people a good prophet to point them in the right direction, but they rejected him.

God sent many others to communicate His word and the result was still the same—rejection, rejection, and more rejection. Jesus was unknown and rejected by His own people. He was despised by His own creation.

Read:  Open your Bible and read Jeremiah 7:25-27.

Reflect:  Prayerfully consider the following: How did God describe the people in Jeremiah 7:25-27? What did they do? What did they not do?

Respond:  As a result of these truths, what might need to change in my attitude, beliefs, and actions? What steps do I need to take outwardly?

The source of this content comes from our book, Walking with Jesus.

“The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world” (John 1:9, NLT).

Jesus is the True Light. He gives light to everyone. The world was in complete darkness until Jesus arrived on the scene. Although many claimed to be the True Light, this title has been reserved exclusively for the Lord Jesus. As you can imagine, many have rejected the True Light.

God reveals Himself in a variety of ways: His wisdom is revealed through creation; His love and mercy is displayed on the cross; and His power is demonstrated through the resurrection of His Son, Jesus. It is really no secret. God’s ways are clear, but people still choose to reject the truth and live in complete darkness. People enjoy living in the darkness.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:19-20).

Jesus is the One who brings all people out of darkness (Isaiah 60:1-3). Consider this for just a moment: Jesus is the only one who can break the chains of darkness in the lives of those you know. Can you picture the number of relationships He can restore and the deep emotional wounds He can entirely heal and transform?

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge
of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6, ESV).

Jesus is the one people need to know and experience. The Apostle Paul wrote, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). The light of God shines through you. Therefore, walk in the Light! There is only one True Light. Jesus is the True Light. Keep walking faithfully in God’s ways. Don’t get distracted by the darkness. Let the True Light of Jesus shine through your life today!

Read:  Open your Bible and read Romans 1:19-20.

Reflect:  Prayerfully consider the following: Am I responding in faith as I hear God’s truth? Is there an area of truth I am choosing to ignore? Do I struggle with lying? What’s keeping me from walking in the light?

Respond:  As a result of these truths, what might need to change in my attitude, beliefs, and actions? What steps do I need to take outwardly?

The source of this content comes from our book, Walking with Jesus.

“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light” (John 1:6-8).

After many months of preparation, the moment has finally arrived. The guests all made it early to this highly anticipated ceremony. The wedding planner synchronized every detail with complete beauty and grace. The Pastor finished his message after the bride and groom exchanged their vows. They look deep into each other’s eyes and display radiant smiles. The crowd gets ready to stand to their feet and the wedding party gets ready to celebrate. This is a moment that they will cherish forever.

It is the moment everyone has been waiting for—the proclamation, the public announcement of husband and wife. The Pastor raises his voice and boldly declares, “I now pronounce you husband and wife.” He looks at the groom and says with a large smile, “You may now kiss your wife!”

After 400 years of revelatory silence and much anticipation, God began to speak through His servant John the Baptist. John was a bold and adventurous individual. Although he was a prophet, John the Baptist was not a religious scholar, a political hero, or a shrewd entrepreneur. John was given a simple mission: be a witness to the Light of Life—Jesus Christ.

His purpose consisted in giving evidence to all men that Jesus was the Christ, the promised Messiah. The prophet Isaiah declared, “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine” (Isaiah 9:2, NLT). John’s reason for living was to prepare the way for Jesus and boldly proclaim who He was: the Light of Life. John was a simple man with a simple task: He was sent to proclaim.

In the same way, you were sent by God to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. God chose you to tell others about His great love. He wants all people to know about Jesus’ substitutionary work of redemption on the cross for their sins, and the power of His resurrection for eternal life. Your mission is simple, but significant. You were sent by God to proclaim.

Read:  Open your Bible and read John 3:25-28.

Reflect:  Prayerfully consider the following: Is my life attracting others to Jesus? What can I do to increase my witness for the Lord Jesus?

Respond:  As a result of these truths, what might need to change in my attitude, beliefs, and actions? What steps do I need to take outwardly?

The source of this content comes from our book, Walking with Jesus.