Daily Devotional | Christ the Living Word

If you’re like me, you have trouble sticking to one-year Bible reading plans. I tend to get bogged down in mid-Leviticus or somewhere among the evil kings in the historical books. So, it is comforting to realize that the Word of God is not only a book but also a Person!

The Gospel of John begins in an interesting and theologically deep way. John explains that Christ is the “Word” or “Logos” (v. 1). This Greek term can mean spoken language as well as unspoken (our reason). More deeply, it refers to “the principle which governs the universe.” God’s laws and decrees govern everything. This is seen most clearly in the creation account of Genesis 1, which John consciously echoes.

Christ (“The Word”) is God the Son. He has been with God the Father since eternity past (v. 2). He participated in creation (v. 3; see also Col. 1:16). He is life; He is light; He is victorious (vv. 4–5). He is the source of spiritual life, just as He explained during His earthly ministry. He told a baffled Nicodemus that he needed to be born again, a spiritual rebirth (John 3:3–5). He told a grieving Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).

Jesus called Himself “the light,” which means knowledge and truth and, therefore, hope. “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12; see also Ps. 27:1). Because Christ is the living Word of God, we can have complete confidence in the written Word of God. Our loving Savior stands behind the written Word as the perfect revelation of God to us.

>> Did you know you can pray through God’s Word? Praying Scripture back to God is a very helpful spiritual habit. Simply read the passage aloud to Him. As you pray today’s passage, thank God for the profound, life-giving truths given to us in the person of Christ.

Pray with Us

Jesus, You were with God in the beginning. Through You all things were made. In You is life, and this life is the light of all mankind. Your light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome You (John 1:2–5).

BY Brad Baurain

Dr. Bradley Baurain is Professor and Program Head of TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) at Moody Bible Institute. Bradley has the unique privilege of holding a degree from four different universities (including Moody). He is the author of On Waiting Well. Bradley taught in China, Vietnam, the United States, and Canada. Bradley and his wife, Julia, have four children and reside in Northwest Indiana.