THE WORD BECAME FLESH!

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . . And theWord was made 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" (John 1:1,14, KJV).

Devotion 2 of 10

IN THE BEGINNING

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." This is more than the affirmation of a historical fact. It is not a mere point of sound theology. This is the beginning point of flawless spiritual reasoning. It is where we collect our bearings, and gather our perspective. We do not begin with a problem, but with our God! We do not begin with a crisis, but with our God. "The Word," in this case, is the pre-incarnate Savior. The Spirit does not move us into the realm of eternity, but back to "the beginning," when our domain was formed, and the human enterprise was initiated. It is the same "beginning" of which Moses spake: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Gen 1:1). We are informed that the Person of Christ existed at that time, though as a spirit. He was not "the Man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim 2:5) "in the beginning." He was "THE WORD." First, this affirms that the Word was no part of the creation itself. Before creation, the Word "WAS." He is, therefore, "eternal," which is the declaration of this verse. It was "the Word" that gave being to all things, for "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3). This again affirms His eternality, for that One who gives beginning to all things cannot have a derived beginning. The term "Word" is unique, and is intended to establish that the pre- incarnate Christ was the Source of all things--the Means through which God created all things. He is the Expression of God, the revelation of His purpose, and the Initiator of his work. The "Word," however, was not subordinate to God, but was Himself God. Though a separate Person, He was a co-equal, as it were, with Jehovah God. Apart from unique Personhood, Jehovah and the Word were not divisible in any sense. They were Oneness in perfection. The Spirit has summoned us into a high realm, where frivolity and shallowness have no place. He has taken us back to "the beginning" to show us the source and effectiveness of our salvation. The fountain of eternal life has its origin in eternity. It is not a response to the human condition, but an immutable and eternal purpose, conceived before the foundation of the world, and made known in the fulness of time. Both the purpose and the Person initiating the purpose came from eternity. PRAYER POINT: Father, teach me to reason from the beginning of all things, and not from the beginning of my experience. Ground me in Your purpose, and, through Jesus Christ, give me an awareness of your Person that is so great it will eclipse the world.

-- TOMORROW: THE WORD BECAME FLESH --