(Read Chapter 1 first)
“For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” John 1:16
It is only through God’s fullness that we have any hope. It is only when we truly believe that God is in fact who He says He is that we can find rest. When we study Scripture, we must realize that God is in no deficit – that He has all He needs.
Then why make man?
He makes man, not because He is lonely or needs completion – the reason why many of us pursue relationship – but because He merely delights in the work of his hands. His creation pleases Him. On the top of this creation is you. Beautifully flawed you. In fact, He digs his creation so much, that He gives them his likeness and the incredible opportunity to “become children of God” (v.12).
But it doesn’t stop there.
Because of this great fullness, we are given His son Jesus. This is where Christianity breaks from all other religions and philosophies. We get God Himself. John describes Him as the light and life of the world. And because of His nature, His character, and His drive, we get “grace upon grace”. Our God is ever the gift giver. This grace is enough for our past, present, and future. It multiplies through the streams of sin and creates rivers of life. This compounded grace is given from His fullness. We didn’t earn it, yet it overflows.
And so the great challenge of man becomes us recognizing God as who He says, then accecpting His grace from fullness, and finally following. “Follow me” (v.43).
Today we follow Him in light of His fullness. That He doesn’t need anything from us but merely loves to hear from us. May today be a day where we follow Him in the chaos and the mundane. May today we experience the oceans of grace that only He can give because only He can define words like grace, redemption, and love.
Pray: thank you Lord for your fullness. That you are so complete, so big, and steadfast, yet you chose to love us, not out of our merit but yours. May today we start to understand the mystery and richness of your grace. May it drive us to forgive others and ourselves, while pursuing people around us who need this grace. Thank you for loving us. Thank you for delighting in us. Thank you for Jesus. Amen
Matt simon blog 