Focus

Stop and thank God for being present with you today. Ask for God’s guidance as you hear God’s voice through scripture and the writer.

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Read

John 1:1-14 (NRSV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

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Reflect

Total darkness can be terrifying when we don’t know where we are or where we’re going. One day I decided to take a short cut along an unfamiliar country road. I was hoping to arrive before dark because the headlights of my ragged old car didn’t work, but had foolishly waited too long to return home. As the road took unexpected turns, sending me in confusing directions, no starlight from the overcast sky helped. I was lost. Dusk faded, and total darkness descended. I was terrified. Would I run into a ditch? Would another automobile coming along and hit mine?

As I crept along, my heart pounded and my hands shook. How could I escape catastrophe? Then I saw a small light in the distance. Perhaps someone had turned on a porch lamp in anticipation of guests. Whatever the reason, it provided enough glow for me to discern the curve of the road and to proceed. Other such bits of illumination helped me get to the lighted main road and home.

Jesus is the light who can guide anyone through this life. We who have experienced the joy of his marvelous light must witness that he has come so that everyone we tell may have the chance to believe and become God’s children.

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Pray

Loving God, thank you for Jesus. Grant us boldness to let our lights shine and to share with everyone around us the greatest gift of all time, our Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Go with God.