Walking in Human Skin
Scripture Reading — John 1:1-14
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." John 1:14
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch sits down to talk over a difficult first day of school with his daughter: "If you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks... You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view ... until you climb into his skin and walk around."
The apostle John was excited to tell us something: Jesus climbed into our skin and walked around with us.
In The Message, Eugene Peterson captures the spirit of John's writing: "The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood." In a dark, smelly place, Jesus came into our world to become one of us. He chose to experience all the aches, pains, and disappointments of human existence. He chose to touch people who were labeled untouchable. He made friends with sinners and despised traitors. He preferred to live in our neighborhoods, which are full of wrong thoughts and unhealthy habits. He wanted to make our hearts into homes of his peace and blessing. It was the only way to truly understand-and change-the human condition from the inside. Jesus chose inconvenience because he loves us more than we can imagine.
How do we respond to God's infinite love shown through Jesus? Can we allow him to enter into our lives?
<p>Thank you, Jesus, for becoming one of us. Thank you for loving us more than we can imagine. Please make your home in us today, we pray. </p><p>In your name, Amen.</p>
About the author — Reginald Smith
Dr. Reginald Smith is senior pastor at Roosevelt Park Community Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he has served for seventeen years. He has also served as a pastor in Paterson, New Jersey. He and his wife, Sharon, have three daughters, Janelle, Katrina, and Mariah.
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