Good morning…
I woke to the company of an odd phrase. “Before Your word is on my lips.” It sounded a bit biblical to me, so I typed the seven words into the subject line of Biblegateway.com. Nothing popped up. No references. No inspiration. I hit a dead end.
So, I reduced the seven words down to three. “Before word lips.” Two verses popped up. Proverbs 5:3-6 said something about the lips of a seductive woman and Luke 22:60-62 told the story of Peter denying Jesus three times. Interesting verses, but they did not touch my seeking heart.
So, I reduced the three words down to two. “Before word.” And, Bingo! I hit today’s jackpot.
[I am writing about] what existed from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life [the One who existed even before the beginning of the world, Christ]— and the Life [an aspect of His being] was manifested, and we have seen [it as eyewitnesses] and testify and declare to you [the Life], the eternal Life who was [already existing] with the Father and was [actually] made visible to us [His followers]— what we have seen and heard we also proclaim to you, so that you too may have fellowship [as partners] with us. And indeed our fellowship [which is a distinguishing mark of born-again believers] is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ (1 John 1:1-3, AMP).
Morning by morning, my hand touches pen to journal as I write from the center of an intimate relationship with the Word of Life, the One who existed before the beginning of the world, the living Christ who walks and talks among us. I hear the Holy Spirit in me spark the Holy Spirit in you. I see God’s love manifest itself among us, spreading joy, instilling peace, healing slowly. The eternal Life, who was already existing with the Father, is actually made visible to us, His followers, just as Jesus promises: “For where two or three are gathered in My name [meeting together as My followers], I am there among them” (Matthew 18:20, AMP). As we connect in the early morning hours, the living Christ is with us, and, when we experience glimpses of God, we proclaim them to each other. Indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. Our fertile friendship is marked by dying, again and again, to the five C’s of our human nature (comparing, competing, complaining, controlling, criticizing) to be reborn by the Spirit, renewed and transformed. Jesus answered… “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a person is born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified], he cannot [ever] see and experience the kingdom of God” (John 3:3, AMP).
Day after day, in amazing ways, together we see and experience the kingdom of God expanding in, among, and through us.
…Sue…
