Welcome to Day 1 of our 40 Day challenge! John 1:1-18

Today we are reading John 1:1-18.

Our goal is to prayerfully read through the passage each day. Over the last several years, I’ve focused on slowing down and reading Bible passages a few times. Before my journey into focusing on Sabbath and rest with God, I would pride myself on how many chapters I could read each day. I completed numerous Bible in 90 days challenges. And I definitely recommend doing it at least once! But I have really been blessed by slowing down and reading thoughtfully and prayerfully with the Holy Spirit in my routine, sometimes lingering on short passages for weeks.

Let’s begin with prayer:

Father God we consecrate this time with you, today and over the whole 46 days. We ask for your Spirit to guide us, each day, opening up your Word to our hearts. Give us ears to hear and eyes to see what You have for each one in this time. We ask for You to move mightily in the lives of everyone in this challenge, and bless them abundantly. Protect their relationships, homes, and work during this time of seeking You, Lord. We seek to know You more and become more like You each day. And we seek to share this love you have for us with all we come in contact with. Let us be shining lights for those who need it. Open doors of insight, understanding and opportunity, and transform all in this challenge to be more like you each day. In the precious name of Jesus, we pray. Amen

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John 1:1-18

The Word Became Flesh

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome^[a] it.

⁶ There was a man sent from God whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. ⁸ He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

⁹ The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him,the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

¹⁴ 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.

¹⁵ (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.’”) ¹⁶ Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and^[b] is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

 

If you have the time, you can read this passage a few times, asking the Holy Spirit to highlight any words or phrases to focus on.  Our goal is to spend time with Jesus in His Word, letting Him open our hearts and minds and change us through it.

Options for further  journaling or discussion throughout the challenge:

• Choose a part of the passage to write out by hand. Writing by hand helps us slow down and focus on what the Lord might highlight for us in the passage. Our brains can focus and remember better by writing than just reading alone.
• Journal about what the passage brings to mind. Does the passage tell us anything about God? Does it tell us anything about our response to Him?
• Does your heart respond in gratitude to any part of the passage? Write or pray your gratitude to the Lord.

 

We’ll see you tomorrow, for Day 2 and Luke 2:41-52 !

♥ Samantha