I received a gift bag today. Everything inside was made for me, in someone’s kitchen, not at a store, not at a warehouse bakery, not even at Sluys here in Poulsbo. Made by hand with carefully selected fresh ingredients and a plan for each piece to work with one another for maximum delight. Delight for the eye, for the nose and tongue, for the heart. I feel so loved.
How much more love is revealed to us (each one of us) as we consider our verse this week:
All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1.3
Everything we might delight in . . . Sunshine, and (yes!) rain, and every color of the rainbow. Trees and flowers and clouds. Children’s giggles and mountains with their streams of clear water. Forests and bubbling brooks. Musical notes and the talents to reach our heart with them. A wrinkled hand to hold. A warm cup of tea and bees to produce the honey for your tea.
Without Jesus was not any thing made that was made!
From a Christmas devotional . . .
Therefore, we must begin at the right starting point when we think about this journey of love called Christmas – though it is not, as many imagine, in the manger at Bethlehem. Rather . . . Before the foundation of the world, Jesus existed and was actively involved in the creation of all things because He is God. He set the sun, moon, and stars in their places; divided the heavens from the earth and land from the waters; created all living things – every genus of plant and animal – and breathed life into Adam and Eve. He is the eyewitness of all history, the miracle-working deliverer of Israel, and the One who sustains everything from the smallest subatomic particles to the vast workings of the universe. Charles F. Stanley, The Gift of Jesus, pp.4-5
This week we are memorizing verse 3 of John chapter 1:
All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1.3
And so we will have three verses together, from our first two weeks in December and this week:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1.1-3
In the beginning . . . where was Jesus? With God. What was Jesus doing? Creating all things!
Capture these verses in your heart’s memory and it will expand how you consider the depth and breadth of Jesus’ unfathomable love for you … He who has always been, He who made all things, He came down from heaven to rescue you.
It’s worth the effort. It’s worth the knowing. It’s worth the believing!
Just in case you forget . . . you are SO loved!
Blessings, Colleen