“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” John 1:1-5
TNT--explosive! Liquid nitrogen--explosive! Nuclear power--explosive! Volcanic eruption--explosive! I picture men using TNT to blast clearings in mountains for roads, tunnels, and development projects; I see physicians using liquid nitrogen to remove warts or precancerous cells; I visualize atoms being split to produce energy, or on the opposite side, a hydrogen bomb; then there’s volcanic eruption. Visit May 18, 1980—Mt. St. Helens in Vancouver, Washington. A 5.1 magnitude earthquake triggered an enormous landslide, and a lateral blast collapsed the volcano’s northern face. Magma erupted , and an ash plume reached 15 miles in height. 230 square miles were destroyed in five to nine minutes, with everything in the area being killed. Now that’s power—unimaginable power, right? Wrong! When we think of unimaginable, let’s think of God and His power. God’s Word--talk of explosive! We cannot possibly imagine how much more powerful God’s Word is than the volcanic eruption just described, but when the Word (preincarnate Jesus) spoke, time and ALL we know began. The Word spoke, creating light. The Word spoke, creating day and night. The Word spoke, creating dry ground and plants. The Word spoke, creating our universe—the sun, moon, and stars. The Word spoke, creating birds and sea creatures. The Word spoke, creating land animals and humans. The Word spoke, and rather than blasting apart the earth or atoms, all in existence was put together, not in chaos, but in an orderly manner. Creation was completed, and our triune God noted that everything was very good. God tells us in Scripture that His Word goes out and never comes back void. What an encouraging promise of action! See or feel that power? Think—just as God created mankind, He created you in His image. Power. He knit you together in your mother’s womb! Power. He put a calling deep within to fulfill His purpose for your life. Power. He gave you Scripture for guidance and for growing you. How so? Power! “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 LIVING, ACTIVE—there are two powerful words! So when Paul, in his letter to Timothy, explains that Scripture teaches all of us what is true, helps us recognize what is wrong in our lives, and teaches us to do what is right, we can understand that God’s Word is alive and active. We are transformed! God uses His power to do good works in us, changing us, bringing us into the light; then He uses those good works to bring light to others. Light in a darkened world—that was Jesus, and that is our commission as believers in Christ—to bring His light to our current darkened world. Feel you can’t do this? Just remember, if you are a believer in Christ, you have the greatest power imaginable living within you, God Himself. Now that is POWER! VERSES: Isaiah 55:11 “It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.” NLT “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” ESV 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” NLT “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” ESV Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” PRAYER: Father God, I recognize that it took Your power through the work of the Holy Spirit to change me from the person I was before I knew Jesus to the person I am today. What a joy it is to live in the light rather than the darkness, and what a joy it is to think on all the changes you have wrought in my life because of Your transforming power. Forty-two years I’ve been walking with You. You have helped turn impatience to patience; pride to humility; conflict to peace; jealousy to accolades for others; temper to long-suffering; and hatred to love. I have grown much, but I readily acknowledge I have many miles of growth yet before me. So as I continue to read and meditate upon Your Word, please grow my heart relationship with You so that I desire to obey You in all things. Please continue transforming me into Your Son’s image so that the fruit of the Holy Spirit explodes within me, pouring out onto others. Father, my desire is that You, and only You, be my light now and always, guiding each of my steps on Your path of righteousness with the goal of fulfilling the promise You knit within me! Amen. DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! 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Author Candice Mary Thomas writes about loving God and loving people! Coming to Christ at age 32 and now in her 70's, Candice knows what a difference it makes living with or without Christ as one's personal Savior. Archives
December 2022
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