Always Full of Grace and Truth

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 (ESV) The Apostle John’s description of Jesus is profound. Jesus, “full of grace and truth.” He did not balance grace and truth. He didn’t measure out truth to make it palatable. He didn’t measure out grace. He is always “FULL” of truth. He is always “FULL” of grace. “Truth without grace is mean. Grace without truth is meaningless. Truth and grace is medicine.” Chris Hodges Jesus isn’t looking for followers full of truth but short on grace. Neither is he looking for followers full of grace but short on truth. Jesus is looking for followers who are “full of truth and grace.” Most people know the term intervention. An intervention is when family members, friends and others team together to help a person struggling with addiction, or destructive choices and lifestyle. An intervention is an act of grace and truth. Loved ones intervene by presenting the truth about choices, habits and addictions. They intervene because they love the one they are challenging. If they didn’t love, they wouldn’t speak the truth. They speak the truth, often painfully, because they love. The needs of society, the choices people are making, the ideas that are taking over mainstream thought and practice require that the church live “full of grace” and “full of truth.” Jesus has assigned his followers a mission. The Apostle Paul describes Jesus’ mission this way: God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 2 Corinthians 5:19-20 (NLT) Jesus’ mission of using His followers to reconcile people to God will only happen when His followers live and die “full of grace and truth.” Jesus, start with me. I want to live and die “full of grace and truth” pleading with people to “Come back to God!” Amen