January 27

Morning

From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace. — John 1:16 BSB

These words remind us that there is a fullness in Christ. There is a fullness of His divine nature, for “in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead.” There is a fullness of His perfect humanity, for in Him, God was revealed in human form. There is a fullness of power in His blood, for “the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.” There is a fullness of righteousness in His life, for “there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” There is a fullness of saving power in His prayers, for “He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.” There is a fullness of victory in His death, for through His death, He defeated the power of death and the devil. There is a fullness of hope in His resurrection, for by it, “we are born again to a living hope.” There is a fullness of triumph in His ascension, for “when He ascended on high, He took captives and gave gifts to His people.”

Christ has a fullness of blessings of every kind: grace to forgive, grace to transform, grace to make us holy, grace to sustain us, and grace to perfect us. His fullness is always available: fullness of comfort in hardship, and fullness of wisdom in success. There is a fullness of every divine quality—wisdom, power, love—that we cannot even begin to fathom. “It pleased the Father that in Him all fullness should dwell.” How amazing is this fullness that we all receive from! Even though the blessings continually flow, the source remains full. Come, believer, and receive all that you need. Ask boldly, and you will receive abundantly, for this fullness is inexhaustible, stored up for all who seek it in Jesus, Immanuel—God with us!

Evening

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. — Luke 2:19 BSB

This blessed woman, Mary, engaged three powers of her being:

Her memory—she kept all these things. Her affection—she kept them in her heart. Her intellect—she pondered them.

So, her memory, affection, and understanding were all focused on the things she had heard.

Beloved, remember what you have heard about your Lord Jesus and all He has done for you. Let your heart be like the golden pot that preserved the manna, treasuring the spiritual bread that has nourished you throughout your life. Let your memory hold on to everything you know, believe, and have experienced of Christ. Then, let your love for Him remain strong and constant. Love the person of your Lord! Even if your heart feels broken, let your love pour out, like the precious ointment Mary poured on Jesus’ feet. Let your mind also engage with Him—don’t just skim the surface, dive deeper! Don’t be like the bird that just touches the water but like the fish that swims to the depths. Stay with your Lord, don’t let Him be a fleeting visitor in your life. Say to Him, “Stay with me, for the day is almost over.” Hold onto Him and don’t let Him go!

The word “ponder” means to weigh. But what scales can weigh the Lord? “He takes up the islands like dust,” so who can measure Him? “He weighs the mountains,” so what scales could ever hold Him? If your understanding falls short, let your love hold fast. And if your mind cannot grasp the Lord Jesus, then let your heart embrace Him with deep affection!