Verse of the Day 12/23

Verse of the Day 12/23

John 1:14   The Word became flesh and blood,
    and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
    the one-of-a-kind glory,
    like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
    true from start to finish.    The Message (MSG)

Most of us are very familiar with this verse, most likely in a translation such as the NKJV (below) that states "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us".  When I first read this translation from The Message it stuck with me and has become one of my favorite verses from that translation.  Just think about it then in Bethlehem, God came down in the form of baby Jesus and took up residence in this world, He moved into the neighborhood.  When He did, everything changed.  The angels sang, the shepherd's rejoiced and Mary and Joseph themselves, and all around them stood in wonder.

He didn't come with great fanfare, He came quietly, silently but the gift was the greatest ever.  Many back then as today heard about this Jesus that was born and simply went about their way.  Others took Him in, believed in Him.  For those, a wondrous gift has been given.

One of my favorite Christmas hymns is "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and as I think about today's verse, in any translation; I think of the line "so God imparts to human hearts, the blessings of His heaven."  To those who receive Him God "imparts", takes up residence, and the dear Christ enters into their hearts as Savior".

How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is given;
so God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him, still
the dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem,
descend to us, we pray;
cast out our sin, and enter in,
be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell;
o come to us, abide with us,
our Lord Emmanuel!

May He dwell in your hearts today and forever.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

John 1:12-14 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹² But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, ¹³ who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son^[a] from the Father, full of grace and truth.