The Word of Life

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE/S

Please take time to read these passages: 1 John 1; John 1:1-14

THINKING ALOUD

The Apostle John was describing Jesus Christ, the very Word of Life. He was there and he was with the Son of God; ate with him, journeyed with him, heard his voice and teaching, and saw the life changing miracles and healings taking place right before his very eyes. When John wrote the letter of 1st John, he was an old man. He was the last one of the disciples still alive. See how he reminisced about his Master and Saviour. See the intimacy in his language as he described his Lord.

Let us take a little time to discover what he had heard, seen and touched concerning Jesus the Word of life.

HEARD. It is not a case of hearing about him or heard what others said about him. When John said that “we have heard” he meant the words of Jesus – the amazing teaching, the profound answers that he gave to the Pharisees and Scribes, and the mysteries that surround his words like the parables. Likewise, the record of all that he had spoken is found in the Bible. We would do well to search it out and in reading the account and the words of Jesus may we hear him speaks once again into our hearts. Some of the things that still amazed me about the sayings of Jesus are: “Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly,” “Love one another so that the world will know that you are my disciples,” and “Let not your heart be troubled, believe in God believe also in me. I go to my Father’s house and prepare a place for you.” Wow…John must have had those words ringing when he said that “which we have heard!!”

SEEN. John went on to say that it is not only that which we have heard but also seen with our eyes. I believe he was referring to the miracles, the healings, and all the deliverances from demonic possession that was taking place. Just imagine yourself in John’s shoes – water turning into wine, the lame walk, the blind see, the deaf spoke, the dead raised, and demons coming out of a lunatic and he became completely whole again. Just think about it. John was relating that this Jesus is still alive, he is the Word of life and he will send his Word to heal and to deliver. Today, we can still have the miracles, we can still have the healings, and the deliverances because Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

LOOK UPON. I think John went very deep into describing his Master. He was saying that what Jesus spoke was amazing and dumb-founding at times. He was saying that what the disciples had seen – the works of Jesus – were equally amazing and dumb-founding. Now he continued to say that this Jesus in close proximity was good, gentle, loving, compassionate, and forgiving. He was describing Jesus whom they looked upon as the Word of life. In him we have life and life more abundantly. Remember John was the only disciple at the foot of the cross with Mary, Jesus’ mother. He could still hear the gentle voice of the Saviour calling to him to care for his mother. Even in the most painful moments Jesus showed what love is all about.

TOUCHED. Many people have touched Jesus and he has touched many people too. But for John he was really close to his Master and he had such intimacy with him. The Bible tells us that John was the disciple who laid his head on the bosom of the Lord. In fact, John himself said in his gospel account of the life of Jesus Christ that he was the disciple whom Jesus loved. He did not only hear his Master’s teaching, saw his Master’s healing hands at work, or looked upon his Master’s love, care and compassion that gave life BUT he was so close to the Lord he could hear the Lord’s heartbeat.

Today we can find the same place that John was in. We need to recognise Jesus is more than our Saviour; he is our Lord, our friend and we can hear, see, look upon and touched him. We can experience life through Jesus Christ who first and foremost delivers us from sin and death. He is awesome!

MEMORY VERSE

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.

LIFE APPLICATION

The Bible is a handbook on life of faith, godly living, and truths of God for right living, salvation and the mandate of the Kingdom of God. There is no substitute for daily reading and consistent study of God’s word if we want to be able to experientially handle the word of life.

Start today. Set aside time for a personal devotion with your Heavenly Father. Here are some suggestions for you to get started using the Lord’s Prayer as a model:

1. Start with praise
2. Pray for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven in the very circumstances that you are in.
3. Ask God for your daily provision
4. Confess any sin so that you will receive forgiveness
5. Forgive others
6. Pray for God’s protection

Next, read the Word of God. There are many devotional guides that you can use to help you read systematically and consistently through the Bible in a year.

PERSONAL PRAYER

Father, I worship you for who you are; you are great, gracious, and most wonderful. Your name is worthy to be honoured and praised! Father God, I pray that your will for my life will not only be established but that it be known to me clearly. In my daily walk of faith provide for my needs and feed me with spiritual insights that I may be able to live according to your will today. Please forgive me of all my sins and help me forgive others who have offended me and cause hurt to me. I ask for the Lord’s protection in my going out and my coming in from this day forth. Thank you Father for the Word of Life!