“We write to you about the Word of life, which has existed from the very beginning. We have heard it, and we have seen it with our eyes; yes, we have seen it, and our hands have touched it. When this life became visible, we saw it; so we speak of it and tell you about the eternal life which was with the Father and was made known to us. What we have seen and heard we announce to you also, so that you will join with us in the fellowship that we have with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:1-3 (GNT).
The apostles spoke about the Word of life because they had personally seen it in Jesus. He is called the Word of God, and everyone who follows Him should be called the same. Everyone that meets us should see the Word of life in us.
Given power by the Holy Spirit
“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1 (NLT).
Because of sin, people were in darkness and separated from the Word. But Jesus came to earth in order to give His glorious Word to us. He was equal with God, and although He had given that up when He came to earth (Philippians 2:5-7), He had the Holy Spirit from birth. That means that He could hear God’s voice and do His will right from when He was young. God’s Word and will became visible in a human being in this evil and dark world.
The disciples received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Then they received power to do God’s will just as Jesus was given power to do it. We read that after Pentecost the Word of God spread, and the number of disciples grew greatly in Jerusalem. (Acts 6:7.) God’s Word became visible in many people.
The Word of life: Doing the Word
God’s whole nature came to live in Jesus because He received the Word from the Father and did it. “The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father's only Son.” John 1:14 (GNT). There is no glory outside of the Word. We are changed from glory to glory, as we live as the Word says.
The Word is not far away or so high up that it is too difficult to find. “The word is very close to you. It's in your mouth and in your heart, waiting for you to do.” Deuteronomy 30:14 (CEB). We know the Word and can speak about it, but now we must do it. If just one Word of God has really become reality in us, we have received an unshakable power and glory in us, and we are far richer than if we owned the largest diamond in this world.
But if even one word of God lives in us, it comes in conflict with our own sinful nature and Satan. But we can decide the outcome of these conflicts ourselves if we pray to receive the attitude of mind that was in Jesus, and to stay in it, so that we can always say as He did: “Let not My will, but Your will, be done.”
When we do the Word, we have power
Many people never go any further than just speaking about God’s Word; the Word of God is not visible in their daily life. Each Word of God must become reality in us. When God’s Word has become reality in us, we are not “dead” religious persons with a form of godliness but with no power. No, it will be clear to everyone that we are alive.
“For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you.” 1 Thessalonians 1:5-6 (NLT).
“And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NIV).
If we receive the Word of God just as human words, there is no power in it. Since it is so rare that anyone receives God’s Word as it actually is, as the Word of God, Paul was so very thankful for the Thessalonians that he always thanked God for them.
Fellowship in the Word of life
Jesus said, “If you keep on obeying what I have said, you truly are my disciples.” John 8:31 (CEV). The apostles had fellowship with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, and preached the Word of life so that more people could have fellowship with them. (1 John 1:1-3.) There is perfect fellowship between people in whom the Word has become part of their nature. We are called to such a pure and blessed fellowship in the light. The result is a brotherhood where not even the armies of Satan can bring division.
Many people live as examples of the opposite of the Word of God even as they praise God with their lips. They are impatient, bitter, and unthankful. If we fast and pray to be blessed but don’t keep God’s laws, it will not succeed for us. (Romans 8:1-2.) But if we keep them, we find life, power, and joy.
May God’s Word become reality in us, so that the glory of the Lord can shine from us. May God’s peaceful rest, thankfulness, and joy become visible in us in these restless and dark times. May there be patience, humility, love and goodness coming from us at home and also away from home. Yes, may there be a whole army of people in whom “God’s Words” are visible and that have true fellowship with each other, with the Father, and with the Son.
John writes: “We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.” 1 John 1:4 (NLT).