Great Plains Daily Devotional for 1/3/2022

 John 1:1-9, 10-18

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. (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

Monday's we invite you to meditate over the gospel in the lectionary for the week and ask a series of questions that you can answer on your own, with your small group or we hope you will share your answers and insights on our Facebook page. 

The gospel reading comes from the first chapter of John.  The familiar first verse can seem a little circular upon first reading. 

When you read John 1:1-5 what thoughts immediately come to mind?  

How would you reword this passage in today's language to simplify and/or clarify it's message (if at all)?

There are different ways to interpret light as a metaphor.  Light in a biblical context can be used as a symbol for holy persons, for Israel, and for God according to Jewish traditions.  How do you interpret light in this passage?

Visit our Facebook page and let us know what you think! Remember to add #GPUMC to your answers. 



 

Jeremiah 31:7-14
Psalm 147:12-20
Ephesians 1:3-14
John 1:(1-9), 10-18