What good is a project without a plan? Energy and resources are wasted in directionless activity.
The great Architect of all creation wisely worked from a plan. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God." (John 1:1-2) The wording of most English Bible translations confuses the real intent of these verses. "Word" is capitalized and implies that Jesus is the word that existed with God before time. But "word" is much broader in meaning; it suggests a plan, idea, or revelation. In essence, "In the beginning was the plan, and the plan was with God, and the plan was God. The same was in the beginning with God." God had a plan that would become His project.
God's project, developed from His plan, was to reveal Himself to us, His creation. The Bible is the chronicle of all such efforts by Him. He initiated encounters with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Isaiah, to name a few. He revealed Himself through dramatic displays and verbal communication. Through the written Law given to Moses and the people of Israel, He revealed even more of His character. But, the plan was not yet complete: "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14). The word (plan) made flesh was the ultimate project. "God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world." (Hebrews 1:1-2)
If we simply read the words of John 1:1-2 and see them as a "doctrinal statement" about the nature of Jesus, we likely miss the point entirely. The key truth is that God had a plan before time began to fully reveal Himself to us. Ultimately, the full revelation would be found in His mirror-image Son, the one in whom we truly "saw His glory" (John 1:14).
If God's project -- based upon His timeless plan -- is to fully reveal Himself to us, what does that tell us about His activities today? He is actively seeking to connect with us right where we are! His most concentrated efforts are to get our attention, and draw us in to Himself through His Son.
Don't miss the main point of the opening verses in John one. The God Who created each of us has made it His extraordinary project to fully reveal Himself to us. His intentions are well summarized in a phrase often found in the Old Testament - "Thus you will know that I am Yahweh" (Ezekiel 36:11, for example). He has even gone to the extreme measure to miraculously birth a Son who would perfectly reflect Him, the invisible God.
Our Creator's most ambitious project is to fully reveal Himself to us today. Ponder that incredible truth this day, and do all that you can to make yourself available to Him to know Him in the most intimate, life-changing way possible.
Steve
© 2010, Steve Taylor
The great Architect of all creation wisely worked from a plan. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God." (John 1:1-2) The wording of most English Bible translations confuses the real intent of these verses. "Word" is capitalized and implies that Jesus is the word that existed with God before time. But "word" is much broader in meaning; it suggests a plan, idea, or revelation. In essence, "In the beginning was the plan, and the plan was with God, and the plan was God. The same was in the beginning with God." God had a plan that would become His project.
God's project, developed from His plan, was to reveal Himself to us, His creation. The Bible is the chronicle of all such efforts by Him. He initiated encounters with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Isaiah, to name a few. He revealed Himself through dramatic displays and verbal communication. Through the written Law given to Moses and the people of Israel, He revealed even more of His character. But, the plan was not yet complete: "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14). The word (plan) made flesh was the ultimate project. "God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world." (Hebrews 1:1-2)
If we simply read the words of John 1:1-2 and see them as a "doctrinal statement" about the nature of Jesus, we likely miss the point entirely. The key truth is that God had a plan before time began to fully reveal Himself to us. Ultimately, the full revelation would be found in His mirror-image Son, the one in whom we truly "saw His glory" (John 1:14).
If God's project -- based upon His timeless plan -- is to fully reveal Himself to us, what does that tell us about His activities today? He is actively seeking to connect with us right where we are! His most concentrated efforts are to get our attention, and draw us in to Himself through His Son.
Don't miss the main point of the opening verses in John one. The God Who created each of us has made it His extraordinary project to fully reveal Himself to us. His intentions are well summarized in a phrase often found in the Old Testament - "Thus you will know that I am Yahweh" (Ezekiel 36:11, for example). He has even gone to the extreme measure to miraculously birth a Son who would perfectly reflect Him, the invisible God.
Our Creator's most ambitious project is to fully reveal Himself to us today. Ponder that incredible truth this day, and do all that you can to make yourself available to Him to know Him in the most intimate, life-changing way possible.
Steve
© 2010, Steve Taylor
posted by steve @ 7:54 AM
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