1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:1-5
What did I learn about God?
I learned that God is the centre of the universe. He is not spatially so, but rather in being the origin and ongoing source of life. He is the beginning and sustainer of all that lives. This means that he is distinct from creation as the Creator. He is not the creation itself.
I learned that life is in God, and that the life in God is the light of humanity. God’s light shines in the darkness, but the darkness does not comprehend it. This means that people are blind to God. They see God’s creation with their eyes, but they do not see God himself, his image, his purpose, or his love for them through creation.
What does this teach me about how I should live?
I would like to be the grace of God to people. I would like them to experience God’s grace through me. I want to learn to see people through God’s grace and to be gracious myself.
Strategies for seeing and being gracious:
- Look for common ground. Instead of seeing how someone is different from me, or not as good as me, or worthy of rejection, I should look for how we are similar.
- How we are similar. How do we both suffer? How are we both able to reflect God’s image? How are we both sinners in need of Christ’s redemption? Seeing how we are similar will make it easier to be gracious.
- Be gracious. Be present. Make eye contact. Listen to what they mean, not just to their words. Think and explore. What are their fears? Their hopes? Their joys? How are they hurting?
- Be kind. What do you appreciate about them? Tell them what you appreciate. Pray for them.
Photo by Rachel Strong on Unsplash
Life with Christ 