Wednesday November 29, 2023

Today is Wednesday, November 29 and we are studying what the Bible says about the Incarnation.

As I enter this time of prayer, I still my mind, slow my breath and draw my heart near to God. As Christmas approaches, I prepare my soul and wait for the coming of my Lord Jesus with quiet anticipation.

Pause and Pray

Holy and loving God, I come here to listen for your voice speaking to me from the sacred words of the Holy Bible. Remind me of the truth of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ and the miracle of your Word made flesh for the salvation of the world. Amen.

I praise God and seek his eternal truth in the ancient words of the prophet Micah.

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Micah 5:2

Pause and Pray

Jesus was the divine Word that existed before time and was One with God at Creation. The divine Word put on flesh and became human. That is the Incarnation. Jesus came to dwell among us. He came into our dirty, broken, lost world to pitch his tent and share in our humanity. Jesus experienced everything humans experience yet was without sin. We believe in a God who was a baby in a manger, a toddler, a teenager. We believe in a God who did physical labor, sweated and had sore muscles. We believe in a God who knew pain, grief, heartbreak, and joy.

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. 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.” Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. John 1:14-18

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The Divine came into our world in human skin to live with us – all the dirty messy smelly parts of us. The Word had hands that were calloused from labor, feet that were sore from walking miles on dirt roads, a stomach that growled from hunger and a heart that could break with sorrow. Jesus knows me. Jesus is an almighty, powerful and mighty Savior who understands my inner pain, loneliness, grief and shortcomings. Jesus understands my life and my nature. I might feel isolated from a big faraway God, but God is with me because of Jesus.

Ask: Do I comprehend Jesus as more human or divine? How might I broaden my understanding of a divine Word who put on flesh?

Pause and Pray

Lord Jesus, thank you for putting on flesh and coming to dwell with us. You are the glory of God, his one and only Son. You are the fullness of grace and truth. Out of your generous love I have received grace upon grace. Thank you for coming and making God known to me. Thank you for suffering for the forgiveness of my sin. Thank you for dying and saving my soul. I read the words from John again and listen for the message you have for me.

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. 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.” Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. John 1:14-18

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

As I ruminate on the words or images that strike me most when I read John’s prologue, I consider what God might want to say in my life through this passage of Scripture. Maybe God wants to reveal the glory of his Son in a new way this Christmas season. Perhaps there is grace that I have yet to receive. Or a grace that I am resisting. Maybe God wants to make Christ known to me in deeper, more tangible ways. Whatever I might be lacking in my current spiritual journey, God wants to supply what I need. I can look to Christ, my Savior, because Christ is here this Christmas.

Pause and Pray

Come, Lord Jesus, I open the doors of my heart and invite you in. Come and show me your glory, reveal the boundless mercies of your grace, and dwell in the poor emptiness of my lonely soul. Jesus, I need you, bring your love into the corners of my brokenness. Comfort me and give me strength. Amen.

Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Psalm 24:9

I leave this time of prayer to praise the King of glory. I go to share his love and extend his grace to everyone I meet.

Amen