Now that Thanksgiving’s over, I’m getting ready for Christmas!
I was writing out John 1:14 on the little cards that I’ll send with the books people order for Christmas this year. By the fourth card, I was starting to memorize the verse, but I would still look to my Bible just to make sure I was getting it right.
I wish I lived my entire life more like that -- always referring to my Bible for guidance. I know God doesn’t expect me to memorize His entire Word and do everything perfectly, but man, if I only looked to my Bible more often. I’m sure I would be filled with more love and peace. I’d make better decisions and walk more confidently.
I’ve been listening to a sermon series based out of Acts about the early church and how the disciples spread the news of Jesus after his death. Some of the stories that come out of that are incredible. It makes me wish God still did cool stuff like that today.
And I was thinking about the disciples and the faith they had. They had lived and walked with Jesus. They knew him and his heart so they knew better than anyone how to live like him (even though they often messed up). I feel like they got to live in the most exciting times as they watched the Church grow across nations.
I’m sure I could live a lot more like them if I knew Jesus better. But instead of using the excuse of living a couple thousand years too late, I’m going to start reading their accounts of Jesus and the things they got to experience with him. I’ve started reading the Gospels as we lead up to Christmas, and what better time to learn about the life of Jesus than the season when we celebrate his birth?
At the beginning of the semester, one of my friends kept talking about the Gospel and I was intrigued by her passion for the Bible. She’s been a Christian for quite a while, but to hear her talk about Jesus and His life and what that means for us with such excitement and awe was simultaneously inspiring and challenging.
I’ve heard the way Jesus inspired his disciples and the things they did as a result of that in Acts, and I’ve seen the way the Gospels encouraged my friend to share her story in great ways too. These books are real and alive still today.
"So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his gory, the glory of the Father's one and only son." John 1:14
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