THE DAILY

[John 1:14]

[14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Our singular verse this morning greets us with a truth so remarkable that it is difficult to take in. God, in all His heavenly fullness and incomprehensible glory, chose to relinquish His exalted position in order to dwell with us, His people. In His humility, He gave us a glimpse of a radically different way to live. 

Jesus, The Word made Flesh would actually come to die. He gave up His throne, His dreams, His own desires. His future. The Lord of Hosts entered the world in poverty as a helpless baby. As He grew in wisdom and stature, He willingly walked towards the most gruesome and humiliating death, in obedience to the Father.

Jesus, John 1:1 tells us is God! 

[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

God, Himself chose to come as a man to do what no man ever could. He would live a sinless life and then choose to die a sinner’s death. God paid our ransom so we could live in glory with Him forever.

God’s saving grace is extended to you and I. God’s grand rescue is available. Will we accept it and willingly take up our cross and follow Him in humility rather than eagerly seeking our own glory today? 

-Kimberly Williams

[WHAT] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn? 

+ This verse begins with the word, “and.” What might you want to know as you study and pray this morning?

+ John uses the pronouns “us” and “we” in this verse. Who is he referring to!

+ Glory is used twice in this passage. What glory did “we” see as Jesus dwelt among us?

+ How does God hold glory and humility and obedience in tension in his redemptive narrative?

+ What do we learn about God in this particular verse? 

+ Why is this event pivotal in God’s Grand Story of Redemption?

[HOW] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience? 

+ Is there a sin to confess or a next step to take?

+ If the Lord returned today, what would He find you and I dwelling among His people in humility or seeking our own glory?

+ How might walking obediently in humility alter a current relationship?

[WHO] am I walking with and praying for in order that they might know Jesus?

+ Who do you give permission to hold you accountable to walking in Jesus’s way of humility?

+ What truths about God, His Word and His unified redemptive story are we helping others “wonder about” on our journey. How can we be more intentional about doing so?

+Who am I discipling as I live and grow and learn to obey Jesus? If this hasn’t been a priority, pray today about who God wants you to reach out to in His Name.

[Matthew 1:21-23] 

21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23  “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). 

Joseph, Mary’s betrothed, receives this news from an angel in a dream. We should stop and consider how this news would impact Joseph. What would people say about his betrothed being pregnant? What would it mean to try to parent the Savior of the world? 

We should also pause and consider this message more closely. The name Jesus means “Yahweh saves” or  “Yahweh is salvation.” His name signifies his purpose. Jesus is the one who would save God’s people from their sins. To do this, he must first be Immanuel. 

Immanuel, meaning God with us, reminds us of how God dwelled with his people throughout history: he walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden, guided Israel as a pillar of fire and cloud in the wilderness, rested His presence in the ark of the Covenant in the Holy of holies. 

Since the fall, our dwelling with God has been limited by the impact of our sin. In Immanuel, God dwells with us in a new way. Jesus is God made flesh, the Son of God incarnate. Because Jesus is Immanuel, he dwelled on earth with us to work salvation for us and to leave his Spirit within us. Because of Immanuel, a 700 year prophecy is fulfilled, when Jesus is born in Bethlehem. Because of Immanuel, God is always with us, His Holy Spirit dwelling in us, until we will be with Him in glory for eternity.

– Monica Godfrey

[WHAT] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn? 

+The prophecy is found in Isaiah 7. What is the original context of this prophecy?

+What is significant about the prophecy? 

+What do we learn about God, his character, and his redemptive plan? 

+ What are you beholding about Christ this Christmas?

[HOW] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience? 

Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ What are you beholding about Christ this Christmas?

+ What is your response to this truth?

[WHO] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step? 

+ Is there someone to share this with? Or invite to Christmas Eve church?

[Galatians 4:4-5]

4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us, who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

Advent shows us that God’s timing is always perfect.  He is never rushed or delayed. Jesus came at just the right time, not only to rescue us but to welcome us into His family. As we count down to Christmas, remember this: Jesus came right on time to save us, and one day, He will come again to make everything new.

- David

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn? 

+ What does this passage teach about God’s timing?

+ What did Christ purchase?

+ What does it mean that we are God’s very own children?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?

[Philippians 2:6-8]

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be

grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the

likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming

obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

This passage is likely an early Christian hymn or poem that summarizes the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. These verses, in particular, capture the wonder and beauty of the God of all the universe stepping down out of eternity to enter human history. This Christmas season, we celebrate God becoming human. Far from a romanticized birth, the reality of Christmas is messy and hard but reveals the incredible humility of God.

The God that created all things and who sits in glory and honor chose to be born in obscurity and shame. A pregnant unmarried woman would have lived in dishonor potentially even under the threat of death because of the law. Mary’s pregnancy and Jesus’ birth would have meant marital unfaithfulness in everyone else’s eyes and it is possible that Jesus lived under that stigma for his whole childhood.

From never having to experience discomfort, God chose to come into the world through the birth canal of a woman. Pregnancy for most of human history has been dangerous and plagued by uncertainty and death. God’s humility and willingness to be born of woman is incredible. The risk and the pain demonstrate God’s desire to enter humanity fully.

From being completely free of limitations, the God of the universe chose to take on immense limitations. Although all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present, in his birth Jesus became limited by humanity and an embodied existence. If moving from being all-present to walking along dirt roads was not a large enough shift, Jesus was born as a baby who couldn’t even hold up his head. In this sense, Jesus embraced the very human need to learn even basic human functions that, as God, he never had to be concerned with.

What could compel someone to give up so much? This Christmas, we celebrate God’s immense love. Even though he was in the form of God, he embraced unimaginable limitations for our sake.

Grace and Peace

–John Barzal

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that I/we learn?

+ How does this passage relate to Christmas?

+ What is this passage saying about Jesus?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

[ WHO ] am I walking with (and praying for) to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?

[Revelation 21:3-4]

3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

Christmas is a glimpse of an incredible promise. When Jesus was born, God came to dwell with us.  This is a foretaste of the day He will dwell with us forever. The manger points us to the throne, where every tear will be wiped away and all brokenness healed. This is the hope we cling to during Christmas. The baby in Bethlehem is also the King who will make everything new. Let this promise fill your heart with wonder and joy as you celebrate the Savior who came and is coming again!

- David

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn? 

+ What is promised in this passage?

+ What does God do with our tears?

+ What does God do about death?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?