Appreciate

In John 1:1-15, we see the fullness of the person of Jesus, both in His eternal role as God as well as His personable character, that being, "full of grace and truth."

Recognize Jesus.

In Him being God, He is completely gracious in giving life to His creation. He is gracious furthermore in giving His life that the same creation may live, both here on Earth and in Heaven forever!

He is full of truth in that, "without him was not any thing made that was made." All of creation points to the fact that a Creator exists! Because there is a seed, which forms a sapling, which grows into a mighty tree... there must be a Creator. Because there are atoms, which form molecules, which form blood cells, which run through veins and arteries, which fuel lungs and organs; because we have been given minds to think, hearts to feel, souls to live... there must be a Creator!

The question then comes of, "who is this creator?"

The fact is, absolute truth exists, and not two truths which are contradictory can coexist. History, archeology, extra-biblical sources, eye-witnesses, the inerrancy of the Bible proves that Jesus is truth and all the words in the Bible establish that truth.

Jesus Appreciates Us.

In knowing that Jesus is truth, what does that mean for us today, how does He view us? It is evident in this passage that Jesus appreciates us. Appreciation is not a meaningless word, it is not just another way to say, "thank you!" Appreciation is a word of such depth and value! The definition of appreciate is:

"To recognize the full value of!"

This word carries such beautiful meaning. Jesus, in taking on flesh, coming to this world, living to love us and impart His wisdom on us, dying to save us and bestow eternal life, shows the magnitude of His appreciation for us. The irony comes in when we realize, what value do we have? What value is within us that the Lord of all creation would give His life that we may life? In of ourselves, we have no value, but in God we are made everything!!!

Praise the Lord that He appreciates us so much that He would send His only begotten Son so that whosoever believes on Him would not perish but have everlasting life!

Praise the Lord that He recognizes the full value of us.

Appreciate Jesus.

Do you recognize the full value of Jesus?

Because Jesus appreciates us, what are we then called to? We are called to nothing less than appreciating Jesus, appreciating His Word, appreciating the commandments we are given, and appreciating all the people who He came and gave His life for!

Few Christians would admit they do not appreciate Jesus, but how many understand what that word truly means. "to recognize the full value of." This does not mean to merely see that Jesus has some value, that the Bible has some value. This word, appreciate, means that those who appreciate Jesus must recognize the full value of Jesus and that He is full of value!

Any philosopher would admit that the Christian life is considered, "good." They would say that the Bible has ethical value. But only a true follower of Jesus would proclaim that He is full of value!

look at how John the Baptist viewed Jesus,

"John bear witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me."

When John went before Jesus, proclaiming His coming to the world, he did not go timidly, but he cried out! John truly recognized the full value of Jesus!

Do you recognize the full value of following Jesus, of your Savior, of the Bible, of the power of prayer?

Do you appreciate Jesus?