The Word
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men
” (John 1:1-4).
These are some of my favorite verses in the Bible. They provide crystal clear teaching regarding the power, preeminence, and personality of the Lord Jesus Christ. Consider what these verses tell us. Jesus is the beginning. Jesus is God. Jesus is the creator. Jesus is life. Jesus is true light in a world of spiritual darkness. All things were made by Him and for Him. Jesus is all-knowing, all-powerful, and ever present. And He is the incarnate Word.
That’s what I’d like to share with you. Jesus is the Word! The Word made flesh, full of grace and truth. What an amazing gift we have. Why is the Bible a living book? Why do the words in the Bible discern our thoughts and our intentions? Why does the Bible both comfort us and reprove us? Do you know?
The Bible is life, light, and truth because Jesus Christ is life, light, and truth. He is the incarnate Word. In the pages of Holy Scripture we see Jesus declared and exalted. We hear His still, small voice speaking to our inner man. We walk with Him and talk with Him. In the written word we know the incarnate Word and realize He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. In Christ we are never abandoned, never rejected, never unloved. And it is in our vital relationship with Him through belief in His death for our sins, His burial, and His resurrection that we enter into this glorious life of spiritual perception and understanding.
Jesus Christ is the key to abundant life, He is the key to illumination and understanding, and He is the key to spiritual reality and truth. If you desire enlightenment as you read scripture, I exhort you to specifically identify Christ. Make this a practice in your life. Responsibility will become relationship. Duty will become desire. Work will become worship. I am not suggesting you search the Bible for His name. I am admonishing you to identify Him in ALL scripture. He’s there. It’s not difficult to find Him. And the more you grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord the more you’ll love Him and long to be with Him. He is the door we should enter. The way or path we should follow. Jesus is the light that illuminates the path. And He is the final stop. Jesus is the entire Christian life. Ask and you’ll receive, seek and you’ll find, keep knocking and the door of understanding will be opened. It is the will of God that all fullness dwell in Christ.
July 13th, 2009 at 11:12 am
Forrest,
Thank you for this wonderful reminder. The more I read God’s word, it becomes a source of hope and strength for me. One can read many books and never get filled until they understand God’s word only through the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
Take care, we love you.
In Christ always,
Don DeSimone
Col 3:14
July 13th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Thanks, brother Don. I want to emphasize something I wrote in my devotional thought above:
“Jesus Christ is the key to abundant life, He is the key to illumination and understanding, and He is the key to spiritual reality and truth. If you desire enlightenment as you read scripture, I exhort you to specifically identify Christ. Make this a practice in your life.”
Why not make it a project for the next month to specifically identify Jesus Christ as you read the word? For example, say you’re reading Philippians 4:8 which says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Now regarding that verse, we could go a lot of places. There are a whole bunch of “things that are true” in scripture. But ALL TRUTH is in the very person of the Lord Jesus Christ. THINK ON HIM! Jesus is honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, full of virtue, and worthy of all our praise. THINK ON CHRIST!
He is the fruit of the Spirit, the whole Armour of God, and the personification of the beatitudes. He is the wisdom of Proverbs and the comfort of Psalms. Jesus is the creator, the Word, the hope of our salvation, and our eternal life. He is our light, our joy, and our love. Do you get the point? “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of my faith.”
When we specifically identify JESUS CHRIST and speak HIS name in conversation with our friends, there is new found power, understanding, and comfort. When we specifically think on Jesus Christ, He becomes personal and our dearest and closest friend. And I can assure you of this…your mind will be fixed on Him and you will naturally and spontaneously speak of and exalt Him!