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John 1:14 - This is a foundational passage. You can tell by it's tone that it is meant for the world to read and get the gravity of it's message. With that in mind think about how John describes Jesus. He could have used any two descriptors for Jesus to be "full of". Hope and peace; power and glory; Humor and Wit. Of all the options John is faced with he knew there were only two that topped the lists of Jesus' attributes. Grace and Truth. Why those? Let's explore. I have heard Grace described as "God's riches at Christ's expense". It is what Jesus left us when He left us. When I pray I usually ask for Grace to do something. I am firmly convinced of my inadequacy thus thrusting me to cry out for Grace. Lord, I need Grace to parent, pastor, lead. And we in turn have His promise that his Grace is sufficient (enough). Grace is not a force or a magical tablet we put in our orange juice. Grace is simply the actions of the Holy Spirit in God's people. If I counsel someone and it hits the mark and solves the problem, I don't do it because I'm great. I do it because the Holy Spirit in me directs me to do so. I lean on His Grace (Spirit). When Jesus left for heaven, he didn't leave us a force. He left us the person of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. The spirit performs God's Grace. The other thing is Truth. John 17:17 clearly informs us that HIs Word is Truth. God gave us Jesus. Jesus gave us Grace (His Spirit) and Truth (His Word). Let me paint a picture. When God wanted to build His Kingdom, he first laid the cornerstone . . . Christ. If Christ is the cornerstone then the rest of the structure extended out from him in two directions. He was full of Grace. He was led by his spirit and that same spirit remained in us to continue the advancement of the same kingdom. He was also full of Truth. Jesus spoke words while he was here. Those words were written. Those words combined with the words recorded in the Old Testament were left for us to build the kingdom. There must be a constant utilization of the two. Grace without truth becomes structureless and dead. You end up doing things because you "feel" you are supposed to but never filter things through the Word of God. And conversely- Truth without Grace becomes religion. Rules and passionless doing are a sure result. As we go forward to live and extend this Kingdom that God began in Christ. Let us immerse ourselves in Grace (God's Spirit) and Truth (God's Word).