Great Plains Daily Devotional for 12/29/2021

 John 1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word
    and the Word was with God
    and the Word was God.
The Word was with God in the beginning.
Everything came into being through the Word,
    and without the Word
    nothing came into being.
What came into being
    through the Word was life,
    and the life was the light for all people.
The light shines in the darkness,
    and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.

A man named John was sent from God. He came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that through him everyone would believe in the light. He himself wasn’t the light, but his mission was to testify concerning the light.

The true light that shines on all people
    was coming into the world.
The light was in the world,
    and the world came into being through the light,
        but the world didn’t recognize the light.
The light came to his own people,
    and his own people didn’t welcome him.
But those who did welcome him,
        those who believed in his name,
    he authorized to become God’s children,
        born not from blood
        nor from human desire or passion,
        but born from God.
The Word became flesh
    and made his home among us.
We have seen his glory,
    glory like that of a father’s only son,
        full of grace and truth.

John testified about him, crying out, “This is the one of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than me because he existed before me.’”

From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace;
    as the Law was given through Moses,
    so grace and truth came into being through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God.
    God the only Son,
        who is at the Father’s side,
        has made God known.

The Word became flesh and made His home among us. We have seen His glory, glory like that of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

This is an exciting time of year! We are in the Christmas Season; our hearts are filled with joy from celebrations and time with family and friends. We worshipped! We welcomed the Christ-child into our lives once again, and made our hopes and prayers known for a world of peace. During the days of Christmas, we reflect and expect. We are longing for a world of stability. We are looking for change, for a better way, for relationships to be of one accord. 

We can be the movement that brings all of this, and much more into full realization. "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light. (v.5)” One person can make a difference.  When all of us join together to keep the light of the Word beaming brightly, there is nothing in this world that can extinguish it. Yet, it takes each of us, pulling together to keep the light glowing. 
Racism, unemployment, under-employment, food insecurity, the pandemic, politics, hatred, and so much more are working so hard to extinguish the light of the Word. There is a tug-of-war taking place, and it is my desire that we are like the Christ-Child, heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain ...

Prayer for Reflection

1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
Psalm 148
Colossians 3:12-17
Luke 2:41-52