THE WORD BECAME FLESH!

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . . And the Word 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 10 of 10

CONCLUSION

In this world, there are a variety of things with which we can become preoccupied. Under the administration of the "old serpent," men and women are being distracted to lesser things, inferior considerations. They appear noble on the surface, but they are not worthy of the place of preeminence. It is good that we be concerned for them, but they must not allowed to sit upon the throne of our hearts. Some are preoccupied with people, others with government, and some with self advancement. Still others are enamored of the church, while some are preoccupied with sinners. Such pursuits are fraught with sorrow and emotional ups and downs. The reason for this is quite simple. The pursuits I have mentioned all center in mankind. The wisest among us will acknowledge men are, by nature, erratic, inconsistent, and unstable. A house built around them will crumble to the ground! I have become preoccupied with Jesus. My single quest is to know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings. The loss of all things is a small price to pay for His fellowship. I call you to a deeper consideration of the Son of God. I summon you to make Him your quest. There is no more noble pursuit, no more venerable goal, no more rewarding enterprise. You can possess the same driving compulsion Paul had. Hear his own words, and take them into your heart. "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead" (Phil 3:7-11). But it will require all of your effort. As seasoned as you may be, you have not yet attained to the goal. Hear the Apostle once again on this matter. "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil 3:12-14). The greatness of Christ demands a wholehearted effort. If He humbled Himself, coming so far to save me, He will surely give me power to come to Him, experience grace and truth from Him, and at last dwell forever with Him! The upward call CAN be fulfilled because of the Word, Who, in the beginning, came down! PRAYER POINT: Father, fill all of my vision with the Person and accomplishments of your Son--my Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Draw a veil over all that is temporal, and give me grace to see Christ clearly.

-- TOMORROW: LOOKING BACK -- --MONDAY: New Series, Great and Precious Promises