John 1:14

Jesus came into the world to bring salvation, to grant His people a chance at a new life, a new way to live.  Jesus came to lighten our load to convict our hearts and to speak truth to us.  He did not take on human form to condemn us but to convict us.  He came into this world to provide light so we could see the path laid out for us.

I don't know the moment when the light bulb came on for me.  I cannot identify the date I could see the error of my ways and begin to step out on a new path.  Like the dawn, it happened so very gradually.  Darkness began to lift and inch by inch things I could not see before, came into view.  I know know that it was the Light of Christ entering my heart that caused me to see.  I know that it is His glory that convicted my sin-filled life and began the change of all changes.

Perhaps it was the day I was at my church working on a project and I noticed the bulletin board.  It was late fall and there was the promise of Christmas right around the corner.  I can still see the layout of that bulletin board, the picture of the rough manger and pieces of straw sticking up out of it in all directions.  The words below this picture were the same as the scripture verse for today.

John 1:14 (NIV)
 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.    

I remember being so taken by this scene.  I did not know why, I did not understand what God was doing to my hard heart, but I do know something changed that day.  I looked to Jesus in a new way. It was the beginning of a new dawn; one filled with grace and truth.  I will never be the same again.  

Grace and Truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)