Dear Reader, have you ever stumbled over a passage of Scripture? I certainly have! Usually after some digging, I just move on. This is one I’ve moved on from many times:

Take heed then how you hear; for to him who has will more be given, and from him who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.

Luke 8:18 rsv

My brain would absolutely scream, “Have what? Why would you give to someone who already has xyz, and take away from poor Joe Schmoe?” I just didn’t get it.

But God is patient when we are not, and He knows when we’re ready to receive His message. When I read these two translations of the same verse back to back recently, I felt like flames in my spirit had been rekindled:

So be careful how you listen; for whoever has [a teachable heart], to him more [understanding] will be given; and whoever does not have [a longing for truth], even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.

Luke 8:18 amp

So be careful that you don’t become misers of what you hear. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes.

Luke 8:18 MSG

Oh my gosh, Dear Reader! A plethora of negative emotions attached to not understanding one passage dissipated in a heartbeat. It was like puzzle pieces rushing together into something that finally made sense.

My brain started spinning, or the Holy Spirit began tapping into my “teachable heart.” All of a sudden, Luke’s words, the words of the Apostle John, plus coursework from over fifty years ago exploded into revelation.

I love words, Dear Reader, can you tell? I was introduced to the next Scripture in a high school Humanities class in the 1970s, of all places. It’s stuck with me ever since, and I immediately recalled it when the words of Luke 8:18 suddenly began to make sense.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

John 1:1 Rsv

(Please stick with me. I promise we’re on the way to Bethlehem.)

I was a new Christ-follower in high school, still trying to make the leap from homegrown religion to personal faith. In Humanities, I learned that John was writing to Greeks, whose culture was very different to his Judeo-Christian one. He was trying to make Jesus Christ real in a way they could understand.

“Word” translates as “logos” in Greek. It’s a philosophy they were familiar with. John was so excited to connect and tell them about Jesus he steered over into their lane of understanding.

To me, both Gospels are trying to tell us the same thing: God will use whatever it takes to connect with us. He loved us so much He was willing to send the “Darling of Heaven” into neighborhoods, workplaces, families, our own lives or those of others, so He might live among us.

Once we have connected with the Word Incarnate, Jesus Christ, and seen His glory, our most fervent praise and thanksgiving is to share the One who came to bring us into the Kingdom of God with those who walk among us.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.

John 1:14 rsv

Click on the image below for an unlikely Christmas hymn.