A Beloved

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1-5 NIV)

This series is about words.  We are looking at the words of the people who surrounded Jesus.  They listened to his words.  They remembered his words.  They shared his words with others.  They recognized the power of his words – so powerful that they considered him to be the personification of the Word of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 NIV)

Have you ever see words personified?  Perhaps you have met someone who believes and lives out a certain political agenda so much that the person is the “poster child” for that perspective.  Maybe you can think about someone who is so passionate about a cause that her life is the very model of that cause.  Jesus’ life so closely matches what God had taught throughout the Old Testament that John calls him the very Word of God. 

John also recognized that God has priorities in His teachings to us.  By loving God with everything and loving our neighbor as ourselves, we fulfill the whole law of God.  Jesus personified that, as well.  John knew that he was loved by God.  That is why we are referring to John as a beloved.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:7-8 NIV)

How about you?  Do you know you are loved by God?  Do you trust the Word of God when it tells you this?  Are you beloved?