Unashamed Reading Plan – W2D4
Check out all the previous Unashamed readings here.
Unashamed Reading Plan | Week 2 | Day 4
Prayer
Take a moment to be silent and still. In order to be fully present in body and mind, take a deep breath in and let it out slowly. Do this three times. Ask God to give you His wisdom today.
Bible Reading: John 1:1-14
Read these verses three times slowly.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
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.
Reflection & Questions
This week we have been looking at what is wrong with the world. Looking back to day 1, Paul said that “people are without excuse” regarding their wickedness and God’s wrath because He “has made plain” His existence.
Some might argue, “well if God would just show up, maybe that would be different.” Today’s verses build on that idea and make the reality of the brokenness of mankind even more sad. For Jesus Himself came into the world, “and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.” It’s an unbelievably grievous statement. How dark is this world to reject the One who “gives light to all.” For some, the answer can be right in front of their eyes and they sadly still walk away.
But some saw Him for who He was! John says, “We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” They basked in the glory of the Son. And in that glory they saw His goodness. Whereas some reject the light, the followers of Jesus saw that He is full of grace and truth and they love Him. This is our prayer for our ONEs! This is why we invest in their lives, invite them to church and pray for them – that they would come to see Jesus as He really is – so GOOD!
- Why do you think even Jesus showing up in flesh and blood didn’t make a difference in some people’s lives?
- What would it look like if Jesus was full of truth with no grace? Or all grace with no truth? Why is it a fantastic thing that he is full of grace and truth?
Prayer
Talk to God in response to today’s reading.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
Bible Reading: John 1:1-14
Read these verses three times slowly.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
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.
Reflection & Questions
This week we have been looking at what is wrong with the world. Remember on Day 1 when we talked about how everyone has the opportunity to know God because He reveals himself through nature and in our hearts? Some people might say, “Well maybe if He just showed up in real life, then that would be different!” It’d be easier if we just saw Him, right?
Today’s verses from John tell us that Jesus actually DID show up. “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.” How sad! The God who made them was rejected by them. The answer for good life in Jesus was right in front of their eyes and they still walked away!
But there were some who saw Jesus for who He was! They actually got to be in His glory and see His goodness while He was here on earth. The followers of Jesus saw that He was and is full of grace and truth and they love him! This is our prayer for our ONEs, the people God has put on our hearts to pray for. This is why we spend time with them, invite them to church, and pray for them – so that they can see how awesome Jesus really is!
- Why do you think that when Jesus DID show up on earth, people still didn’t change from their wickedness?
Pray
Thank Jesus for being willing to show up on earth as a light and ask Him how you can be a follower just like His disciples.
Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.
Questions?
Ed Applegate
