"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1)
I probably know John better than any book in the Bible because when you are young that is usually the book you read the most. Every time one goes through the Bible there will always be those "familiar" portions which you can summarize yourself. Our text is such a passage.
Alarms do not go off for most in the world system or even some in false religions when they encounter the first two thirds of our text, "In the beginning," and, "was with God." It is the last phrase, however, which creates the, "stumbling block," and accusations of, "foolishness"--------------- "In the beginning...the Word...was God."
This coming Sunday I am meeting with people who do not believe this. In fact, some of the religions they represent are violently opposed to this. The group is called "Pittsburgh Interfaith Initiative." They will be meeting approximately every six weeks so that a person from each religion may present that religion's beliefs. When my "turn" comes, I plan to not give statements of faith, or some personal summary of Evangelical/Charismatic Christianity, but to present them with the words of Jesus directly from the Gospels, e.g., our text. Who knows?
Father, in Jesus' Name, I concur with Job, "Your words have upheld him who was stumbling;" may I witness to no other words. Amen.
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"When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
