"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1
This week our focus will be on the Word of God. We often hear the importance of it stressed, but what is the "Word." When we think about this statement, "The Word of God," we tend to focus on the written Word, or the Bible. But to fully understand the Bible, we must first realize that the Word is Jesus. "The word was with God and was God." That means Jesus is God. Then it says, "the word was made flesh and dwelt among us." He is the Word the Father sent us. Whether it was during creation, through a prophet, or when He walked the earth, Jesus is the Word.
The Everlasting Word
"In the beginning, was the word." From the beginning of creation, the Word was present. "And God said..." It was the Word that came forth from God that began creation, and it is still the Word that perpetuates the ongoing production of creation. It just keeps working and working and working, and it is Jesus working in us.
LORD, Your word is forever; it is firmly fixed in heaven. Psalms 119:89
The Word of God is everlasting and accomplishes what God has sent it to do (Is. 55:11). Think about it, God spoke His Word, and creation appeared, but then in His Word was the seed to sustain the continued growth of creation. His Word has the same effect on us!
The Written Word
The written Word of God is still Jesus or, better said, the story of Jesus. We have the written Word to know, remember, and pass on to the next generation what God has said and done. We call it the Bible, a collection of books we can read and see how God has interacted with people from the beginning. It is essential to know that many parts of the Bible are a narrative to help us understand His Word (Jesus) and build a relationship with Him. A relationship with God is the whole point of why we emphasize reading the Word of God. Jesus came so that humanity could regain a relationship with God. So the entire point of the Bible is to help us grow in our relationship with God. It is God communicating with us to let us know Him. This is why we emphasize the Word in our church. Like prayer, we learn who God is as we read and study this Word.
Activity
As we read the Word today, let's focus on the fact that the Word is a person. Hear God speaking to you as you read the written Word, as if someone is sitting across from you having a conversation. As you pray, you are responding to what He said to you. This is how we create a conversation with God. If you are reading about an event that took place, read it as if your Father is telling you a story from His past. Our Bible reading will become more intimate with God as we do this together.