JOHN 1:14

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.

TO PONDER

Have you ever met someone with some level of fame or renown who has exceeded all your expectations of them as a person? I did once.

While studying for ministry at Australian Lutheran College in Adelaide, I had to get involved in one of the local church youth groups as part of my practical field work. This particular group had a tradition of having their end of year event at a place in Glenelg called ' the Beachouse'. It was a combination of amusement arcade and water park, and to be honest, It was a lot of fun.

More importantly though, on that night it was also the same place that Eddie Betts (a well known AFL player who had just finished an outstanding season for the Adelaide Crows) had decided to take his children. Now I'm not a huge AFL fan, but my family are and the Adelaide Crows are what they live and breath. I knew I would be such a hero if I could ell them I had met Eddie Betts - but he was having a night out with his kids, and I was supposed to be supervising the kids from our youth group - I didn't think I should impose myself on him and interrupt his family time.

Well, he must have seen me looking at him, because he nodded at me at one point and I took that as an invitation. I introduced myself and told him how much we had all enjoyed watching him play for the Crows that year (he had only just been traded from Carlton). He was very gracious, accepted my praise and adulation patiently and I went home that night and some of the Eddie Betts "glory" must have rubbed off on me because I was so excited to tell my family that I had meet him, that I didn't really get the chance before they asked me what had happened, because I could not wipe the grin off my face.

I often wonder why so many Christians don't display the same kind of joy I obviously did when I met Eddie? So often Christians are so busy complaining about the state of the world, or bemoaning the dropping weekly attendance at their local church that they can sometimes be the most miserable people getting around.

But we know Jesus, we have seen his glory and know that he loves us, and welcomes us, and accepts us. He is full of grace and truth and that grace and truth is now ours because of his death and resurrection. Why then is it often so hard for people to encounter or see Christ in us?

Maybe, as you go about the rest of your summer and this week of 'holidays' between Christmas and New Year, you might take some time with Jesus so that you might bear something of his likeness, his glory, his grace, and his truth wherever you go and others might actually encounter a Christian who is excited that they know Jesus!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you that I have come to know you and your glory, grace and truth in my life. Please help me to remember the significance of all you have done and to not lose sight of how exciting it is to now be alive in you. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.