[Membersandfriends] Saturday, November 20, 2004

Fri Nov 19 22:01:37 PST 2004

The Upper Room Daily Devotional -- E-mail Edition
Brought to You by Upper Room Ministries
Saturday, November 20, 2004

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The Gift that Lasts All Year

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A REASSURING HAND
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John 1:1-14 (NRSV)

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 came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.

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The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
- John 1:9 (NRSV)
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WHEN I was a little boy I lived in a rural area of Tennessee.  One day my uncle and I went to see some friends in another valley.  I remember traveling on foot across a logging trail for two or three miles before we got there.  While my uncle visited with friends, I played with the children in the family.

By the time we left for home, it was almost dark.  When we reached the logging trail, it was completely dark.  I began to stumble over roots and stones in the trail because I could not see the trail.  My uncle told me to look up and I could see the sky through the branches overhead.  When I did that, however, I could not watch for the rocks and roots in the trail.  Finally, he took my hand and reassured me that we would make it home safely.  It was a frightening experience.

Reflecting on that walk with my uncle reminds me that in our frightening experiences, we can always look to God for help and assistance.  When we are not able to see clearly the way ahead, God knows where we are and how to get us home.  Just as my uncle held my hand and helped me when I stumbled, God holds us with a strong and careful grip.  No matter how rocky the road, God will help us find a way home.

Prayer:  Thank you, O God, for the assurance that we are never alone or lost because you hold us by the hand.  Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
In a dark and fearsome world, God walks with us and holds our hand.

-- William R. Gentry (Tennessee, U.S.A.)

PRAYER FOCUS: Those walking home

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RELATED READING ...

THE WAY OF GRACE is a nine-week study in the Companions in Christ series. It explores the Gospel of John and, specifically, how divine grace is at work in our lives today, just as it was in the lives of biblical characters 2000 years ago.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/desc.asp?ep_id=30&item_id=178192

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The scripture quotation is from the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION of the Bible, copyright (c) 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.