IN THE BEGINNING
John 1:1-5 NKJV
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
Happy New Year! I pray that this year you will be filled with the knowledge of God’s will. That you will live in such a way as to bring honor to God. That you will please God and be productive in every good area of your life. That the Lord will strengthen you by His Spirit in your inner man. And that you would live in peace.
As we begin the new year with new devotionals, the first five verses of the book of John are a great place to start. John had a depth of revelation that is evident in these verses. John wrote his gospel an estimated fifty years after the other three gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The insight that John shares makes his gospel different from the other three, and the revelation of Jesus in John’s writings also makes his gospel one of the most beloved books of the New Testament. It is my favorite of the gospels.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” We could chew on this verse for the rest of the year. It’s powerful in its simplicity and yet very profound. Can I explain it? No, but it resonates with my heart every time I read it. This is written on a spiritual level. John goes on to declare that He, the Word, was in the beginning with God and that all things were made through Him. We do know that in the beginning God created the world by speaking it into existence. The first chapter of Genesis is filled with “and God said.” And everything He said happened. All that we see was created with God’s Word.
John then shifts to in Him, the Word, was life, and the life was the light of men. Jesus is the light of the world. When He came into the world, Luke tells us that Jesus came to give light to those who sit in darkness. And Jesus is still giving life and light to the people who sit in darkness. And His Word, the scriptures, give life and light to us today. This is a great reason to read the scriptures this year. In God’s Word is life and light that feeds our spirit and illuminates our heart and mind. This Word is still powerful and still giving life and light to all who respect and honor God’s Word as His voice to us.
John tells us that the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. A better word for comprehend is overpower. When the light shines, the darkness cannot snuff it out. So, regardless of what darkness has tried to dominate in our lives, the light of God’s Word is stronger. This is yet another reason to respect and appreciate God’s Word. Reading the Bible this year is a privilege, not a chore or a drudgery. In God’s Word this year, we will see Jesus in a greater way. We will understand and know God more fully. And we’ll see His will manifest in our lives.
In the beginning of 2026, let’s stir up a heart and hunger for God’s Word—still the light and life of the world, and of us.
PRAYER
This year, dear Father, I purpose to treat Your word with respect and awe. Thank You for giving Your Word to me. Show me what I need to see. Reveal what I need to know. And by Your grace and light, I’ll grow!