Today's Verse - John 1:11

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

—John 1:11

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Jesus came to his own things - the world he had created and the land God had promised his people - and his very own people didn't receive him. Sometimes we are misled by OUR desires and OUR dreams for what Jesus will do for us that we miss what God wants for us and from us. Let's not let the following be true in our lives. "Jesus came to me, but I wasn't ready to receive him. I had other things I wanted to do and other things I wanted to experience before I fully surrendered my heart to him."
Each time we put off surrendering our will to Jesus, each time we push him away as LORD, we allow our hearts to harden, and it becomes easier and easier to push him away. Now, while our hearts are still attentive to his grace, let's renew our commitment to him, wholly and afresh, offering Jesus our hearts and lives to be used for his glory and grace. Let's not put it off. It may be too late for us if we do!

My Prayer...

Holy God, I surrender my heart to your will. Precious Jesus, now more than ever, I recognize you as my LORD. I want to serve you and honor you in all areas of my life. Please forgive me for resisting your guidance or turning away from your commands. I know you left everything and gave up everything to save me. So now, dear LORD, please mold me into the person you want me to be and use me in ways that bless others and bring you glory. Amen.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

Today's Verse - John 1:18

No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only [Son], who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

—John 1:18

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Jesus IS God's greatest message. He not only proclaims and declares God's love, mercy, and grace, but he has also made them known to us. Only Jesus can display God to us fully, for he is one with the Father. When we "see" Jesus ministering in the Gospels, we "see" God ministering. If we want to know how God feels about us, all we have to do is look at how Jesus ministers to others. If we want to know what God would do for us, we can notice what Jesus does to bless others. Jesus is our window to the Father's heart. So, as this year winds down, and as you stand in the afterglow of Christmas, why not make a commitment to get to know Jesus better in this coming year by spending more time with him in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). If you read one chapter a day, you can go through all four gospels four times in the coming year - and have a day or two left over. When you do, you will not only better know Jesus, but the Holy Spirit will also help you better know the heart of the Father!

My Prayer...

Thank you, Father, for giving me a window to your heart through the life and ministry of Jesus. Please bless me as I seek to know you better by knowing, understanding, and following Jesus more passionately. O Father, please make me more JESUShaped* as I seek to know him more completely. I pray in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, my LORD and Savior. Amen.

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* JESUShaped is being transformed by the Holy Spirit to more closely resemble Jesus in word, thought, and deeds (Luke 6:40; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Colossians 1:28-29).All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

Today's Verse - Luke 2:20

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

—Luke 2:20

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Can you imagine the shepherds returning to their flocks after the night they had? They had seen God's glory. They had experienced the presence of the angel of the LORD. They had seen the newborn King, the promised Messiah, the Savior of the world. It was just as they had been told by the holy heavenly messenger. As amazing as the angel's words of announcement had been, they were gloriously fulfilled. Jesus the Christ was newly born; he was also the absolute answer to God's greatest promises and the greatest assurance that God keeps his word. Incredibly, God had chosen shepherds, unnamed to us and unimportant to their peers, to be the first human witnesses and participants in God's glorious story of salvation in sending his Messiah. I believe Luke wanted to remind us that no matter who we are or where we seem to be on the social pecking order, Jesus came for us. Joseph and Mary were peasants. The shepherds were young and outcasts. Simeon and Anna were old and devout frequenters of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. The Magi were foreigners from Persia. The coming of Jesus to our world tells us immediately that Jesus came for all people - young and old, insider or outsider, powerful or powerless, influential or inconsequential in influence. Jesus came for us... for you... for me!

My Prayer...

LORD God Almighty, I can only imagine what it was like for those shepherds who experienced your glory. However, dear Father, I do know how much Jesus means to me. I praise you for loving me and reaching my heart with your grace. In Jesus' glorious name, I offer you my life and praise. Amen.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.