Kara Hackert 00:09
Welcome to Elmhurst CRC's daily dose of the Word of God. It's Friday, December 31, and Sundays comin'.. This is Kara Hackert. And today I'll be reading from John one. Verse 10, through 18. "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. 15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and[a] is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known."
Kara Hackert 01:36
The Creator of all things, the author and Giver of Life has come into his creation. He became flesh and it is dwelling among us. Why did he do this? He wanted to be known by his creation, by his people, by His children. He came full of grace and truth, to rescue us his children from our sin. He became flesh so that you could die in our place to be a sacrifice. And what do we do? Know him? Look for him and recognize him, receive Him, and believe in his name. He brings us the gifts of grace, forgiveness, truth, and salvation. These are not things to be earned. These are gifts from him. We can open up our hearts and let him in.
Kara Hackert 02:34
Let's pray. Our dear Father, thank You for Your gifts of grace and mercy. Thank you for loving us and water relationship with us. Please help us to recognize you and know you fully. Please help us open our hearts to you. Amen.