Devo 44: In the Beginning was the Word

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (Jn 1:1). And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (1:14).


He is the beginning and the end (Rev 1:8, 21:6). He was in the beginning with God. By Him and through Him all things exist and have their being (Rev. 4:10-11).

Jesus is the incarnate Word of God. This tradition of the Word (logos) is found throughout the Old and New Testaments.

In Proverbs, the Word is wisdom personified. Proverbs 8:22ff reveals that wisdom was there before the world was created. “When He prepared the heavens, I was there...Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him, Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men” (Prov 8:27, 30-31).

In John 1, the writer is showing the connection of Jesus with Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” God was there, and the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) was hovering over the waters. Jesus was the Word. When God said, “Let there be light,” Jesus was the Word that He spoke. “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (Jn. 1:3-4).

He was there from the beginning. He is eternal. His name is Alpha and Omega—in the same way that His Father is the beginning and end, so is He.

All three persons of the Trinity were intimately involved in the creation of the world. All three were present and working together. This same Word—Jesus—came and dwelt among us. He made Himself known to us.

When He walked on the earth as a man, He was in intimate relationship with God the Father and Holy Spirit. He performed miracles. He walked on water. He spoke and the wind and waves obeyed Him (Mt. 14, Mk 4).

Jesus demonstrated the power of God’s commands that is revealed in Psalm 107:28-32, “Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven.” This is why Jesus rebuked the disciples for not having faith. The power of God to calm storms was recorded in the psalms. He was confronting the fact that they did not truly believe He was God. The power of Jesus to calm the storm was the same power of the Word of God that created the world.

Imagine the furious swirl of activity as God said, “Let there be…Let there be…Let there be…” Each time He spoke, mountains sprang up, seas parted, plants and animals were created. This is the power of the Word of God.

All of this power was contained in a man. Galaxies were in His eyes. By Him and through Him all things exist and have their being.

This is the power of God living in us. He came and dwelt among us, yet He said that it was better for us that He went away, because then the Holy Spirit would come to us (Jn 16:7). Even though Jesus did all of those miracles such as calming storms, He said for he who believes in Him, “Greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (Jn 14:12b-13).

This is amazing. All the power of the Word of God that created the world has been given to us. This is the power of prayer. This is the power of praying in agreement with the Spirit and the Word. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, “He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you” (Jn 16:15). Holy Spirit will take of what is the Father’s and give it to us.

So I encourage you to pray. Ask Holy Spirit to teach you how to pray. Pray the prayer Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come…” (Lk 11, Mt. 6). Ask Holy Spirit to give you authority on your words. Ask Him to teach you to walk in the Spirit so that you will live in righteousness and your prayers will be effective (Gal. 5:16, Js 5:16). Ask Him to let you see the greater works. Ask Holy Spirit to take was is the Father’s and give it to you. Ask Him to teach you to pray according to His will and the Word.

“Thank You, Jesus. Thank You for giving us the kingdom. Thank you for coming and dwelling among us. Thank you that you are the Living Word. We praise you and lift up Your Name. There is no one like You. Amen.”


Grace and Peace,

Amanda
 
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