Tag: the Word

The Word

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Yesterday’s name for God, Wonderful Counselor, focused my attention on Jesus and a name given to Him, The Word. Most places in the Bible speak of the Word of God as the Holy Scriptures, the words spoken by God or by Jesus. The Bible is referred to as the word of God. Psalm 119 is all about God’s Word. Psalm 119: 105 ” Your word is a lamp to my feet  and a light to my path.” Psalm 160 “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.” We all depend upon God’s word to guide us in our daily lives. However, scripture refers to Jesus as The Word in John in various places and in his heavenly vision in Revelation.

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The essence of God, His Words to us, spoken at creation are embodied in Jesus. He represented God’s Words to us when He came to earth.

John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Here John is more specific and defines the Word as the flesh and blood Jesus who was filled with the grace and truth of God himself. He was God come to earth.

1 John 1:1 “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—” John wanted his readers to know and believe that the Jesus they knew was God and that He brought the words of life from God to them.

John had a vision from God on the island of Patmos. It foretells of Jesus coming again and many things that are to come in our future. It tells how the story of creation and battle with Satan will end and reveals that Jesus will reign eternally. Sin will be eliminated and we will live with Him forever in a New Heaven. In Chapter 19 he saw a vision of Jesus- the one with a robe dipped in blood, known as The Word of God. Revelation 19:11-14 “11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.” 

The Word of God is a name filled with power and might. He is one to be feared and revered but also remember He has the Words of life! Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I am open know the Word of God and His transforming power in my life. I pray you too know Jesus, the Word of God, and feel His presence in your life. His Holy Spirit will transform your life if you walk with Him.

Linda

What a Beginning! The Word is revealed !

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I have been praying about the direction God wants me to go with my blogs this fall. I loved writing through Isaiah during Lent 2023 and then into summer. I’m being led to walk through the book of John as I study it this year in Bible Study Fellowship. Blogging about passages gives me time to spend with them, and reflect in a personal way. I pray this study will be meaningful to you. Follow along as we work through John together.

John 1:1“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” are the beginning words of John’s Gospel. Unlike Matthew who starts with Jesus’ genealogy, Mark with Jesus’s ministry and calling, Luke with the idea of eyewitness accounts and John the Baptist, John begins with ancient history and power. John wants to establish that Jesus is eternal and was preexistent with God at creation. He wants us to know and believe that Jesus is God and has always been in existence with God. When you consider the depth of this verse you can see eternity in Jesus, completeness in Jesus and Omnipotent power in Jesus.

John continues in verse 2-3 “ He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” John wants us to know that Jesus was there at creation and is creator God himself. Jesus was no after thought, not created being, no helper to God. HE IS GOD! This is an important distinction when you are considering putting your faith in someone. John is saying we can trust Him to be all in all, all powerful, creator of all things. There is nothing beyond His reach and power as He is the eternal creator.

John finishes these powerful thoughts with verses 4-5 “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” We can trust in creator Jesus as He is the source of all life, truth and light. He will shine goodness into us and through us. He will not be overcome with evil. As we live in this world and see and experience the corruption of mankind, we can cling to John’s words-“the darkness has not overcome it.” Darkness and evil have not in a continuing sense ever overcome the light of Jesus, his truth and love, nor will they ever. Jesus promised in John 16:33 these encouraging words. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John’s gospel is a powerhouse right from the first verses as it challenges us to think and consider who Jesus was and is. What part did Jesus have in the world before He was even born? What power does He possess when confronted with the darkness of this world? I pray that the light of John’s words will seep deep into your thoughts and being this week as you look for His light in your life.

Linda

Thankfulness Day 14: Holy Spirit’s guidance

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John 16:12-14 holds precious promises for us for which I am thankful. Jesus spoke to the disciples at the last supper prior to His crucifixion. “12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

These encouraging words show Jesus’ compassion for the disciples. He knew that they were not in the right place and time to hear about things that were to happen sooner and later too. He promised that the Spirit of Truth would come and guide them when the time was right. The Truth from Jesus would be given, revealed to us in time by His Holy Spirit. Acts 2 records the arrival of the Holy Spirit with power to indwell so that the words and truths of Jesus are available to all who believe. I love the promise of the Holy Spirit which will guide me, reveal things from God the Father and Son and declare to me the things of Jesus now and in the future.

Are these promises cause for rejoicing and thanksgiving? You Bet! The Holy Spirit brings Christ into me and makes me a part of Him. Though His Holy Spirit we can study His Word and know truths in our hearts about Jesus. We can be assured of the truth of His Words and promises. No doubt, No fear through the power of His Spirit that lives within. Romans 8:15-17 tells us how we can know for sure, “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,” His Spirit lives within each believer assuring them in heart, mind and soul that they belong to Him. Praise God!

Be thankful today that you belong to Him, His Spirit indwells you, His Spirit guides you and gives you insights into His truths. Rejoice in the richness of your inheritance as a child of God!

Linda

Find Hope for Living in 2020

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The Bible assures us of  Hope in various ways.   As I mentioned first we have survival hope, that is filled with God’s promises, mercy, care and  love.  It is continual hope that never quits and demand our praise because of its consistency and unendingness.  Psalm 71:14 “But I will hope continually  and will praise you yet more and more.”

psalm 119 114Today let’s look at the Hope we have in Scripture.  Psalm 119:114 “You are my hiding place and my shield;  I hope in your word.”   Psalm 119:147 “I rise before dawn and cry for help;  I hope in your words.”   Psalm 130:5 “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,  and in his word I hope;”   The psalmist knows that God protects him,  as He says so in His Word.  He know that in all of life’s circumstances when he calls to God for help, he knows God will answer as He says so in His Word.  He also knows that timing belongs to God and that as he waits he has hope because of God’s faithfulness in His Word.

Do you have Hope because of the assurances God gives in His Word?  For this to be true, you have to open the Bible daily and feast upon His Word.  You have to hunger to know Him more fully and rely upon His Word.  Make it a priority this New Year to join a group that studies God’s Word each week.  Perhaps your local church has such a group, if so join and make it a priority.  Perhaps you need another place to study, look up the following organizations and see if there are classes meeting in your city.  Both groups have studies for men, women and children.  These are both Bible base interdenominational, internationally available studies that systematically delve into God’s Word seeking to know Him more fully and to apply scripture to life. Bible Study Fellowship and Community Bible Study classes are both found world wide!  Look up you city, country and see if a class is close to you.  https://www.bsfinternational.org/  and  https://www.communitybiblestudy.org/

Your Word -my hopeDelve into God’s Word in 2020 and discover HOPE for living.

Linda

 

I AM… the Bread of Life

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I amAll summer I have been writing about God’s names in the Old Testament seeing that God is our refuge, our glorious sword, our King, our provider and so much more. As we enter fall, I want to switch to the New Testament voice of Jesus and who He says He is to us.  He made 7 ‘I am’ statements that are equal in measure with God’s statement to Moses in Exodus 3:14  when he questioned God, asking who shall I say has sent me?  God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”

Picture the scene that John portrays in John 6.  The crowds were pressing Jesus and asking Him for a sign to show that He was God.  They wanted a tangible sign from Jesus and reminded Him of the manna that God sent to the children of Israel while wandering in the desert.  Jesus told them God had sent them true bread from heaven to give life to john 6 35the world.  Of course, “They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”   Jesus replies with His first of the 7 I AM statements.  Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. John 6:34-35  Jesus goes on to assure them further, “36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.”     Jesus came to show us the Father, to do His will and hold us as His own.  We never need to fear what man can do as God holds us tighter than tight and sees to our needs.  Knowing Jesus brings satisfaction for your spiritual hunger to know God and to be fed by Him.  

Do you allow God to feed you daily from His Word?  Jesus, the very bread of life, is john 1ever present in God’s Word and John even refers to Jesus as the Word in John 1:1-4 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.”   Jesus is the Word and has the very words of life for us in the Bible.  Read the Word today and let Him feed and nurture you as you seek to know Him.  He will sustain you with pure spiritual food that will always satisfy.   Jesus promises He is the true bread of life that we need for living an authentic life before Him.

Linda