Grace and Truth Came Near
Month 1: The Word Became Flesh · Loving Others
Today's Scripture
Read together: John 1:14–17
14 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’” 16 From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Memory Verse
“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”— John 1:14 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Genesis 17–20
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Day 6 of 365 — God keeps His promise and Isaac is announced.)The Heart of It
Our memory verse says Jesus came "full of grace and truth." And John repeats it. He says, "the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (). Hold those two words together. They show us exactly how Jesus loved people. And they show us how He teaches us to love others. Grace means kindness we don't deserve. Jesus welcomed sinners, touched lepers, and forgave the worst. Truth means He never pretended sin was okay. He told people what was real, even when it was hard to hear. He was never harsh without love. He was never soft on the truth. He was full of both, all the way.
That's a high calling for how we treat people. It's easy to pick one and drop the other. Some of us are "all truth." We are quick to point out what's wrong, but cold. Others are "all grace." We are sweet, but afraid to ever say a hard thing. Jesus shows us a better way. He shows us love that is warm and honest. In our home, with our friends, with people who are hard to love, we get to imitate Him. We can be gentle and gracious, but also truthful and brave. When grace and truth came near in Jesus, it drew people in. When grace and truth flow through us, they draw people toward Him too.
Around the Table
Jesus was kind to everyone AND always told the truth. We can be kind and truthful too!
Let's do it: Practice saying something kind and true to someone at the table right now.
Grace means being kind even when someone doesn't deserve it. Truth means being honest even when it's hard. Jesus did both.
Let's talk: Is it harder for you to be gentle, or to tell the truth? Why?
Many people are good at grace or truth, but they drop the other one. Jesus held them perfectly together, and He calls us to love the same way.
Let's go deeper: Think of someone hard to love. What would it look like to show them both grace and truth this week?
💬 Conversation Starter
Can you think of a time someone was honest with you but still kind about it? How did it feel compared to honesty without kindness?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
People sometimes say Jesus was "loving" but never confronted anyone. Others say He was only about rules. Both miss Him. says He came full of grace and truth together. Real love tells the truth. Real truth is told in love. We can model and explain that balance gently ().
For Dad · Go Deeper
Grace and truth is more than a description of Jesus. It's a parenting blueprint and a marriage one too. Homes tend to tilt. Some are heavy on rules and short on warmth, and they raise children who obey but feel unloved. Others are heavy on affection and afraid of correction, and they raise children who feel loved but undirected. The gospel holds both, because Jesus held both. Ask yourself honestly which way you lean, and ask the Spirit to balance you. Children who grow up under grace-and-truth love tend to find the God of grace-and-truth believable, because they've seen Him at the dinner table. Loving others starts at home, in the way you correct and the way you comfort.
Draws on: Paul David Tripp, Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You that Jesus came full of grace and truth. Make our family like Him. Help us be kind and honest, gentle and brave. Draw the people around us closer to You. In Jesus' name, amen."
Like Jesus, I can be full of grace and truth. I can be warm enough to welcome and honest enough to help.