In Genesis 1, we read that God spoke--words--and the world was created. We read the details about how all of creation responded to the Word of God. It did what He said to do. When He said, "Let there be light," there was light. We might ask, how did light, or any other part of creation, know what to do?
God, in creating the world, turned on Light first. What does light do? It illuminates and gives energy. Psalm 119:130 says, "The entrance of Your Words gives light." (NKJV). John said, "In Him (the Word of God) was life, and the life was the Light of men." (John 1:4).
There is life in the words of God. And this life is Light to us. It illuminates us by giving us understanding. Through this Light we know what He intends for us, what His words mean so we may understand them and know what to do with our life. The Light of God's words energize us, empowering us to do what He says. The Word of God contains within itself both understanding and power which enables the hearer to do what He says--and respond to Him as we ought. His words empower us to overcome the darkness and live in the victory He has intended for us all along as both our Creator God and loving Father.
John wrote that Jesus is the Word of God made flesh (John 1:14). He is the human manifestation of God's Word, sent to give us the understanding and power necessary to obey God and live as He has purposed for us to.
All of creation knows how to respond to the words of God. All of creation knows what to do in response to His words because His words give the understanding of what to do and the power to do it. As His creation, we respond to His Word which accomplishes what He sends it to do (Isaiah 55:11).
John went on to say, "No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him." (John 1:18). Jesus is the "Only begotten God." As the Word of God made flesh, He is the Son of God. He came from God the Father. When Jesus came to earth and lived among mankind, He explained--revealed--God to us. He taught the people, healed, and did miracles, doing and saying what He heard and saw the Father doing (John 12:49, John 5:19). And He did so as a light overcoming darkness. He was filled with and anointed by the Holy Spirit and went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38, John 1:32-33).
Then He carried the penalty for all of our sin on Himself, died, was resurrected from the grave, seen by many, and ascended into heaven where He is seated at the right hand of the Father. He sent the Holy Spirit to fill and anoint us, as He was, so we can do the works of God in the earth as He intended for us all along.
We must know Him--the Word of God--in order to fulfill our purpose in this life and the life after. Eternal life is knowing God and His Word--His Son, Jesus Christ (John 17:3).
Jesus said, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him." (John 14:23). We can only love God once we receive His love for us (1 John 4:19). Love doesn't initiate within us, but within God. And He sent His love to us in the form of Jesus Christ so we could know and believe His love for us (John 3:16, 1 John 4:16).
So, when we love Jesus, in response to His love for us, we are willing and able to keep His Word. Understanding His love reveals not only His intention for us, but our purpose in life. They are one and the same. His intentions = our purpose.
His commands are His empowerment for us to perform our purpose--His will. This brings His love to us to such an extent that the Father and Son will abide in us--remain in us. What an honor to have the source of life, love, and truth living in us forever!
What does He command? To love one another as He has loved us (John 15:12). To shine as a light--His light--to one another. To impart the same Word of God we receive that enlightens and empowers us, to others. So they too can fulfill their purpose and destiny in Christ.
Our destiny is to be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29), who is the One who always did as the Father revealed--always submitted His will to the Father.
Read His Word--the Bible. Keep and treasure it in your heart. Hear His heart. Receive the understanding and empowerment that comes from His instruction, and you will know and experience His love and intentions for you personally.
If we do not receive His words, we are being conformed to the image of the one who opposes God, who betrayed Him, who tries to destroy all that God loves, the one who lives in darkness, turmoil, and torment, trying to capture whoever he can into the same darkness.
Thank God for His Light, and His life, as revealed in His Word--sent to us in human form, so we can know and love Him for who He is, fulfilling His kind intentions toward us--our purpose in life.
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