| January
2009 - Vol. 26
Jesus,
the Word of Life continued
When Jesus spoke he not only conveyed spiritual truths. He imparted
spiritual life as well – the abundant life that comes from God.
“The words I have
spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63).
Jesus’ words communicated the reality and power of God’s kingdom. From
them flowed the power to dispel the darkness of sin and unbelief, and to
mend broken lives. From his words flowed the power to overcome Satan and
the fear of death. Jesus’ word brought truth, freedom, and abundant life
to those who received it.
“If you continue
in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and
the truth will make you free” (John 8:31-32).
John in his first epistle testified: What we have seen, heard, and touched
we proclaim as the word of life which existed from the beginning
(1 John 1:1-4). John bears witness to what has existed from all eternity.
This word of life is Jesus the word incarnate, but also Jesus as
the word announced by the prophets and Jesus the word now preached throughout
the Christian church for all ages to come.
God’s word
is active and alive for us
The Word of God is not an abstract concept or idea that we engage our
minds with if we so choose. God’s word is something more powerful and dynamic
than that. Scripture tells us that God’s word has power to accomplish what
he purposes. It is an agent of change and transformation. God keeps his
word and he fulfils what he promises to do through his word.
“For as the rain
and the snow come down from heaven, and return not thither but water the
earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread
to the eater, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall
not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and
prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11).
If we allow God’s word to penetrate our hearts and minds, it will consume
and purify. It will cut away sin and everything else that would keep us
from the love of God or hinder us from doing God’s will.
“Is not my word
like fire, says the LORD, and like a hammer which breaks the rock in pieces?”
(Jeremiah 23:29)
“The word of God is active
and living, sharper than any two-edge sword, piercing to the division of
soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and
intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
As disciples of Jesus Christ we are called to conform our lives – the way
we think, act, and speak – to his word.
“He who does not
love me does not keep my words; and the word which you hear is not mine
but the Father's who sent me” (John 14:24).
“Let the word of Christ dwell
in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom” (Colossians
3:16).
(using the Apostle Paul as
an example, we should) “take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians
10:5).
God’s word, through the action and power of the Holy Spirit, will shape
and transform us into the image of Christ, if we submit to it with faith
and obedience.
“And we all, with
unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into
his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the
Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
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Also
see > Icon
of Christ from Mount Sinai
[Don
Schwager is a member of The
Servants of the Word and the author of the Daily
Scripture Reading and Meditation website.] |
Jesus Christ the Word of Life
by Michael
O'Brien
[click to see elarged version]
See
related page
on the original icon of Christ Pancrator
|
