Day 42: John 1:14-18

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. (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.’”) Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 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.

Six years ago when my boys and I were in a severe car accident that resulted in major plastic surgery for one of my sons and broken bones for me, I began asking God where He was in all of it. Assuming God would lead me to a Psalm that captured how I was feeling and then lift my spirits with a renewed sense of who God is, I was surprised when the Holy Spirit urged me to go to the book of John. As I read the first chapter in John, the eyes of my heart were drawn to the phrase, “The Word became flesh and lived among us.” I mulled these words over in my mind, wondering why those particular words were standing out at a time like this. Then the Holy Spirit began to bring to mind the individuals who had brought meals, given rides, visited us in the hospital, sent cards, provided funds, and assured us they were praying.

Although I have never seen God, those who were close to His heart were making Him known to our family. The Word had become flesh and was living among us in real, tangible ways. These extensions of the tangible love of God were a means of grace to our family. We were being given what we could not provide for ourselves in our moment of need. Grace and truth extended in such a way that pointed us to see the Word living among us and the glory of God revealed as the Father’s heart was made known to us in a very real way!

Kari Taylor | Executive Director, Cornerstone of Hope Lima