December 2nd

December 2: John 1:1-5, 14

John 1:1-5, 14 (NIV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

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.

Reflection

There are three rules for deciding the value of a house in real estate: location, location, location! The better the neighborhood, the better the value. People want to live in good places. Well, when you consider the great realm of the universe, the heavens would be very much the nice part of the city, and little ol’ earth would be the edgy part of town. If this is the case, the Christmas story is really a story of God leaving the heavens and moving to the edgy side of town.

Eugene Peterson, in his paraphrase Bible, the Message, translates verse 14 like this: “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.”

What would it be like if God became a human today and moved into your neighborhood?

Prayer

God, the One who draws close, help us this Advent season to sense you amongst our neighbors.