The Gift in the Box

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.”
John 1:14 (NIV)

Billy Joel's daughter celebrated her 12th birthday in New York City, but her dad would miss it because he was in Los Angeles. He called that morning, apologized that he couldn't be there, but told her to expect a large package before the end of the day. Late that evening, the doorbell rang. There was a seven-foot tall brightly wrapped box. She tore it open and out stepped her dad, who had flown all day to be with her.

God did the same thing. God the Son left heaven and came to us, wrapped in human flesh, to give us the greatest gift we could ever receive—Himself.

John 1:14 describes the gift of Jesus Christ, giving us the two things we needed most. Jesus came full of grace and truth. You need both. 

Grace tells us that redemption is possible, and truth tells us repentance is necessary. Jesus had grace in one pocket and truth in the other one. 

In Mark 2:5, Jesus heals a paralyzed man’s body, but doesn’t fail to call out the man’s deeper paralysis when He says, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 

When the woman caught in adultery was thrown before Jesus in Luke 7:11, He pulled grace out of one pocket and said, "Neither do I condemn you." Then pulled truth out of the other and said, "Now go and sin no more." 

Even when you’ve messed up, you can run to the Lord. He's got truth in one hand to set you straight and grace in the other to lift you up. 

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for coming as the ultimate gift. Help me receive both your grace when I fall and your truth when I need direction. You're everything I need. Amen.