Devotional:Grace and Truth:John 1:14-18

“For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17, NASB).

My daughter called me. She was having trouble with her car. The windshield wipers were not working properly. She would try to get repairs, but if she could not would I take her home? Abra came over. She had purchased a part, a fuse that she would try to exchange for the old fuse. When I went outside to see how she was doing she was not having much success. Abra said told me that she felt so ashamed because people acted like she should know how to do things.

I put my arms around my daughter. I said to her, that’s not true (not my exact words). No one knows how to do everything and everyone needs helps. I reminded her that God created a woman because the man needed help. People were created to live in community. I assured my daughter that I am her daddy and she is my daughter regardless of what takes place in our lives; sometimes good, sometimes not good.

This reminds me of the purpose for which Jesus was born into the world. The author of John gives us a history of Jesus. First, He was the Word that created all things. The world did not receive Him. The Word was made flesh and lived in the world. Before He was made flesh God gave the people His Law through Moses. The Law stated what God required of them. It told them about justice and righteousness. However, the Law was written on stone tablets. It could not reconcile us to God and give us peace with God and our fellow man.

The Word became flesh. A man named Jesus lived among the people. His presence in the world was not for the sake of telling us what God requires only. Rather, His presence was an act of God. God’s love issued God’s grace. Grace means that God gives another chance. We not only have another chance to get right with God. Through Jesus we know the truth fully, because Jesus is the truth. “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me’” (John 14:6, NASB).

I wanted my daughter to know that she did not need to be ashamed. Even though she might regret some things that she had done, she could not go back and change things. She just needed to repent and move on with her life. That’s the reason that Jesus Christ came into the world. He is full of grace and truth.

Prayer: Thank You God for Your grace; another chance to get things right. Amen.