The Word in the Beginning

-


Scripture: John 1:1-5 (ESV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Devotion:

            John’s gospel begins with a clear echo of the creation story in Genesis chapter one. In John’s gospel we learn that the Word (logos in the Greek) was present in the beginning with God. This Word was in God as the Word is uncreated and uncaused. Like God, the Word simply existed with God in all of eternity. Later in this chapter of John we learn that the Word became flesh and walked among us. The Word is the second person of the trinity, Jesus was his human name.

            What does this mean for the merely Christian believer like you and me? It means that our salvation was planned in eternity past. There was never a time when God’s Word, Jesus, did not exist. Our adoption into the family of God was planned from before there was time. This means that God knew all about us and our propensity to disobey his commandments. We could not even get it right when there was only one. How are we going to do with multiple commands? We failed our Creator from the beginning, but the Creator was ready for us with undeserved mercy in the person of his Son.

            We live in a dark world. But we have light in Jesus Christ to light our way. Those who are children of the darkness will stumble and fall because they cannot see the light of Jesus shining in the world. However, there is hope for all of this world because Jesus came to be the light of the whole world.

We are not the light, but we reflect the light that Jesus shines into our lives, so that others may see where they are going and not stumble and fall. The gospels tell us that Jesus is the light of the world. Those who are God’s children see that light and are drawn to it like a moth to a flame. However, those who are children of the darkness hide from the light of Jesus because they know their deeds are evil. But it is impossible to hide from God, so all of God’s creatures are will one day see the light.

Prayer:

            Lord, light our way in this dark and hostile world. Let us always hold on to hope since we have seen Jesus the Light of the world. We pray that those living in darkness will one day see your light and come to be your adopted children. Let us fill this world with your light by reflecting the light of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you, Lord, for the salvation you have provided by giving us your son to be the light of your world. Amen.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Welcoming the Unwelcome

-
  Scripture: Luke 7:36-38 (NIV) 36  When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37  A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38  As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them. Devotion:             First of all, some warnings to my readers. This post will exceed the 500 words I try to limit my posts. Second, this post will contain content people may find offensive or otherwise unfit for print. Please understand that my purpose is neither to offend nor upset but to provoke thought and, hopefully, respectful dialog.             We will use Luke chapter seven as an aid to interpreting the events that occurred last Thursday at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. On that da
Read more

Father Forgive Them

-
  Scripture: Luke 23:33-34 (ESV) 33  And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34  And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Devotion:             The situation Jesus finds himself in here in today’s scripture is difficult for us to even imagine. A sham trial, no credible accusations of any kind, let alone any deserving of death, and yet here he is. A brilliant Rabbi, a teacher of the people who never led even one person astray from God’s will. This Holy One of God soon to be food for vultures.             This man who had done nothing wrong had no one in all the crowds who would speak up in his defense lest they be next to face the cross. An innocent man hung between two scoundrels. No voice from heaven declaring that this was the man that they were killing was actually the true Son of God. (See Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5, John 12:28) No the heaven
Read more

Transgenderism letter

-
  This is a copy of my letter to my senators, representative, and President Biden. January 15, 2024 Dear President Biden, Senators T. Duckworth, R. Durbin, and Representative D. LaHood             I am writing to you because I am concerned about the situation affecting our children and grandchildren, namely transitioning them from one gender to another. This nation must adjust course concerning these “interventions” because they are dangerous, irreversible, and life-changing. Our country should not be permitting these procedures on minor children under any circumstances. We must also make sure that adults who seek this care are given informed consent as to the risks versus benefits of sex reassignment treatments.             There are many drawbacks to gender-affirming care for minors. Besides the loss of any ability to give or receive sexual pleasure and sterility these treatments cause, there are social and psychological effects that we have no way of identifying because these
Read more