Getting Started
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through Him all things were made; without Him, nothing was made that has been made. 4In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. 11He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. 12Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God–13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15(John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’”) 16Out of His fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, who has made Him known.
John 1:1–18
Resources
Bible
Video: Greater Than All by Hillsong
Background Information
A second essential aspect of thinking ethically and morally as a Christian is remembering that Christianity is about what God has done and is doing and not about our own agenda. God, in the person of His son, left heaven to pursue a relationship with us; take the judgment for our sins upon Himself; and show us what real light, grace, and truth look like. It is God who is at work, reconciling the world to Himself and we are His ambassadors. We are part of a bigger plan. The mindset of a Christian social worker is to continually ask how he or she can partner with God and be used by Him in His reconciling work.
Your role as a social worker puts you in a key position to guide, help, and give hope to others. This role is a profound responsibility and puts you in a place of leadership and authority in the lives of individuals, families, organizations and communities. Your influence will shape the values, choices and paths of many over the course of time either toward God and the truth of His word or away. Will you listen for God’s voice to guide your words and lead your actions and interventions? Will you thoughtfully consider how God may want to use you to share His grace and truth in the process of helping others or leading organizations and communities? Thinking about yourself as partnering with God and being sent as His ambassador can change the way you think about your role, purpose and ethical responsibilities.
As you read the passage above and reflect on your place and role in God’s bigger picture and plan for helping people (all of us included), reflect on who Jesus is and how He is calling you to be a part of His story and plan for helping people. Think about the intervention strategy God used to reach people and how it is described. What does it tell about Him? What can you learn from His example? How will you need to rely on Him as the source of life, grace, and truth to be effective in helping others and shaping culture for God’s glory? How will you be a witness to Him and partner with Him in His work of reconciliation.
Take time to “recognize” and “receive” Him today, as the passage says, and listen for His voice as you reflect on this devotion.
Pray
Lord Jesus. I am in awe that You who created all things would humble and limit Yourself to come and live in a human body so that I could see what real life, light, grace, and truth look like. You are full of grace and truth, and I am so often not. Thank You for giving me the opportunity to serve others in Your name and to partner with you in reconciling the world to yourself. Give me wisdom and reveal Your truth to me so that I can testify through my life, words, and actions that You are the true source of life. Amen.
Instructions
Watch the video Greater Than All–Hillsong (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnOnRnZLAC8)
Navigate to the threaded discussion and respond to the following:
How might knowing that Christ is the source of life and that He made all things from the beginning help you in your practice as a social worker? Identify and describe one or two practical implications of this for your practice as a social worker.
Like John, we are not the light, but only witnesses to the light, so that others might believe in the true source of life and light. Describe how you can be a witness to the light in social work and in what areas of darkness the light of Jesus is most needed.
The passage reminds us of the Incarnation. God put on flesh and came to dwell among us. Discuss what this means about the character of God, His motives, and His way of helping us. Discuss how God’s example can provide a model for how we approach social work and helping others. Give an example.
The passage tells us that Jesus was “full of grace and truth.” Describe what it means to be full of grace and truth and why it is significant that Jesus was full of these things. Discuss why grace and truth are important to you and your role in sharing grace and truth as a Christian Social Worker.
