Full of Grace and Truth!!!
Psalm 107:23-32
23 Some went out on the sea in ships;
they were merchants on the mighty waters.
24 They saw the works of the Lord,
his wonderful deeds in the deep.
25 For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
that lifted high the waves.
26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
in their peril their courage melted away.
27 They reeled and staggered like drunkards;
they were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
29 He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.
31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
32 Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people
and praise him in the council of the elders.
Reflection: Here we have an image that is used quite often in bible, the analogy of the storm at sea, the stormy tempest that only God can calm. Of course, since God is the Creator, only He is sovereign over such storms. Anybody who has been at sea in a storm like this knows how terrifying it is. Even unbelievers turn to God at such times. As the people cried to God in their troubles, God stilled the storm in a whisper, again showing how His power is much greater than the storms of life.
Are you facing a storm in your life? Sometimes God allows storms in our lives but guides us back to Himself as we seek Him. As God calms the storm and shows us His sovereignty in all of our lives. Let us give thanks to God that though trouble may last for the night His joy comes in the morning!
1 Samuel 10
10 Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, “Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over his inheritance?[a] 2 When you leave me today, you will meet two men near Rachel’s tomb, at Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you set out to look for have been found. And now your father has stopped thinking about them and is worried about you. He is asking, “What shall I do about my son?”’ 3 “Then you will go on from there until you reach the great tree of Tabor. Three men going up to worship God at Bethel will meet you there. One will be carrying three young goats, another three loaves of bread, and another a skin of wine. 4 They will greet you and offer you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from them. 5 “After that you will go to Gibeah of God, where there is a Philistine outpost. As you approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, timbrels, pipes and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying. 6 The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. 7 Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you. 8 “Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, but you must wait seven days until I come to you and tell you what you are to do.”
Reflection: Today again we see God’s hand in the anointing of Saul, son of Kish, the Benjaminite as the first king over Israel. Importantly we see God’s hand in it as Saul is filled the power of the Holy Spirit and the Samuel says to Saul, “You will become a completely different person for God will be with you in whatever you do!” Although God was reluctant to give Israel a king, once He chose Saul He equipped Him with the power of the Holy Spirit so that he could carry out the kingship which was granted to him. Notice too when all the tribes gather he was chosen by lot to show the people he was God’s choice. Though this kingship starts with God’s blessing and power and over time we will see that unfortunately Israel’s kings will be more concerned with personal pride and ambition than God’s anointing.
John 1:14-28
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 is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
John the Baptist Denies Being the Messiah
19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders[b] in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” 24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” 28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Reflection: Here we have the miraculous words of the incarnation. God came down to earth in the flesh and dwelt among us full of grace and truth. When we see Jesus we see God! Jesus was part of the Trinity and was in the Word who was with God in the beginning creating all things, and then the pre-existent Word came to earth to dwell with us to reveal the full extent of who God was and is. And John the Baptist is His messenger from the words of Isaiah John called from the wilderness to make straight paths for Jesus.
John’s baptism of water was only a preparation for the baptism Jesus would bring with fire and the Holy Spirit. I love the words Jesus was full of grace and truth. While Moses brought only the Law, which is holy and good; Jesus brought us the fullness of the grace of God. In everything we will see Jesus do, and with everyone with whom we will see Jesus meet and interact with, He will always be full of grace and truth. He speaks truth into their lives but always with grace and unconditional acceptance. The Pharisees are expecting a powerful Messiah who will wipe away all of their enemies, but by grace and truth Jesus will wipe away the biggest enemy our sin. As we journey through this 4th gospel remember that Jesus came full of grace and truth.
We often err on the side of either being too gracious or too truthful, and we can only be full of both grace and truth as we follow our Savior and are filled with the same life He came to reveal on this earth.
I the Lord will speak the word that I speak, and it will be fulfilled. Ezekiel 12:25
The centurion said to Jesus, “Only speak the word, and my servant will be healed.” Matthew 8:8
Speak Lord, your servants are listening. Let your voice resound, fulfilling all your purposes in the world today. Just as you spoke light into darkness and healing into pain, speak your word of truth again to an unbelieving world. Whisper your compassion and mercy, giving us ears of faith to hear. Amen.
23 Some went out on the sea in ships;
they were merchants on the mighty waters.
24 They saw the works of the Lord,
his wonderful deeds in the deep.
25 For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
that lifted high the waves.
26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
in their peril their courage melted away.
27 They reeled and staggered like drunkards;
they were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
29 He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.
31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
32 Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people
and praise him in the council of the elders.
Reflection: Here we have an image that is used quite often in bible, the analogy of the storm at sea, the stormy tempest that only God can calm. Of course, since God is the Creator, only He is sovereign over such storms. Anybody who has been at sea in a storm like this knows how terrifying it is. Even unbelievers turn to God at such times. As the people cried to God in their troubles, God stilled the storm in a whisper, again showing how His power is much greater than the storms of life.
Are you facing a storm in your life? Sometimes God allows storms in our lives but guides us back to Himself as we seek Him. As God calms the storm and shows us His sovereignty in all of our lives. Let us give thanks to God that though trouble may last for the night His joy comes in the morning!
1 Samuel 10
10 Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, “Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over his inheritance?[a] 2 When you leave me today, you will meet two men near Rachel’s tomb, at Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you set out to look for have been found. And now your father has stopped thinking about them and is worried about you. He is asking, “What shall I do about my son?”’ 3 “Then you will go on from there until you reach the great tree of Tabor. Three men going up to worship God at Bethel will meet you there. One will be carrying three young goats, another three loaves of bread, and another a skin of wine. 4 They will greet you and offer you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from them. 5 “After that you will go to Gibeah of God, where there is a Philistine outpost. As you approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, timbrels, pipes and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying. 6 The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. 7 Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you. 8 “Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, but you must wait seven days until I come to you and tell you what you are to do.”
Reflection: Today again we see God’s hand in the anointing of Saul, son of Kish, the Benjaminite as the first king over Israel. Importantly we see God’s hand in it as Saul is filled the power of the Holy Spirit and the Samuel says to Saul, “You will become a completely different person for God will be with you in whatever you do!” Although God was reluctant to give Israel a king, once He chose Saul He equipped Him with the power of the Holy Spirit so that he could carry out the kingship which was granted to him. Notice too when all the tribes gather he was chosen by lot to show the people he was God’s choice. Though this kingship starts with God’s blessing and power and over time we will see that unfortunately Israel’s kings will be more concerned with personal pride and ambition than God’s anointing.
John 1:14-28
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 is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
John the Baptist Denies Being the Messiah
19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders[b] in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” 24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” 28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Reflection: Here we have the miraculous words of the incarnation. God came down to earth in the flesh and dwelt among us full of grace and truth. When we see Jesus we see God! Jesus was part of the Trinity and was in the Word who was with God in the beginning creating all things, and then the pre-existent Word came to earth to dwell with us to reveal the full extent of who God was and is. And John the Baptist is His messenger from the words of Isaiah John called from the wilderness to make straight paths for Jesus.
John’s baptism of water was only a preparation for the baptism Jesus would bring with fire and the Holy Spirit. I love the words Jesus was full of grace and truth. While Moses brought only the Law, which is holy and good; Jesus brought us the fullness of the grace of God. In everything we will see Jesus do, and with everyone with whom we will see Jesus meet and interact with, He will always be full of grace and truth. He speaks truth into their lives but always with grace and unconditional acceptance. The Pharisees are expecting a powerful Messiah who will wipe away all of their enemies, but by grace and truth Jesus will wipe away the biggest enemy our sin. As we journey through this 4th gospel remember that Jesus came full of grace and truth.
We often err on the side of either being too gracious or too truthful, and we can only be full of both grace and truth as we follow our Savior and are filled with the same life He came to reveal on this earth.
I the Lord will speak the word that I speak, and it will be fulfilled. Ezekiel 12:25
The centurion said to Jesus, “Only speak the word, and my servant will be healed.” Matthew 8:8
Speak Lord, your servants are listening. Let your voice resound, fulfilling all your purposes in the world today. Just as you spoke light into darkness and healing into pain, speak your word of truth again to an unbelieving world. Whisper your compassion and mercy, giving us ears of faith to hear. Amen.
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