God's Mission
John 1:1-14
The Word Became Flesh
[The true light] came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Pondering Point
Looking at the multi-faceted mission of God from the angle John 1 provides, we see that Jesus, the true light, has come into the world that we might be given the right to become children of God -- to be born of God.
Farther into this same gospel (John 3:6) we are told that flesh gives birth to flesh but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. The mission of God is dependent on the Spirit of God, Who brings our spirits alive. The initial disciples were told “you will be My witnesses,” helping the Holy Spirit with His testimony (John 15:26-27). We too look to the Holy Spirit to use us already-born children to welcome other children to the light, into Jesus’ fold.
Prayer
Spirit of God, as You once breathed life into me both physically and spiritually, continue to enable me to thrive to God’s glory as I live in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Celebrate with Us!
Come celebrate the birth of Jesus,
The presence of God among us,
The Hope of God within Us
And the joy of Christmas between us!
At Hope Lutheran Church:
7:00pm (carol singing from 6:30 -7:00)
8:30pm Shepherds ‘out in the fields’ campfire
11:00pm (carol singing from 10:30 -11:00)
No Christmas day worship
Micro-Meditation
Psalm 150:1-6
A song of ascents. Of Solomon.
- Praise the Lord.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens. - Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness. - Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre, - praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe, - praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals. - Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.
Read the versus of the Psalm.
Mark the words or phrases that catch your attention.
Meditate: talk (or better, write) with God about those words. Ask him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect responses.
Teaching or Command of God
James 5:13
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.
The Promise
Psalm 16:8-9
- I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. - Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
Pondering Point
Jesus told the woman at the well (John 4:21-24) that there would be a time when worship would not be limited to a specific place or mountain, but praise was to be poured out everywhere in spirit and in truth. Live this truth out.
John 4:21-24
21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”