Take Up The Word

Ever hear of Simeon? He makes a brief appearance in the second chapter of Luke's gospel. He has the privilege of being the first recorded person outside the family of Jesus to "handle the Word of Life" (1 John 1:1).

Luke 2:28 (KJV) - "Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God."

Simeon took up who John refers to in his first epistle as "the Word of Life", and blessed God.

We still do that today, but I don't think too many actually realize that.

I thinks believers often fail to make the connection between the "Word", when referring to the Scriptures, and "The Word" when referring to Jesus. I worry sometimes that people think they are two different entities.

They are not. They are one and the same.

Jesus is THE WORD.

John 1:1 (KJV) - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

Jesus is the Word, and the Word is God. He is "Logos". He is God. He is Creator of all that has ever been created (vs. 3).

I suppose if we get less spiritual and more philosophical it could all get bogged down in "gnosis" rather than "pneuma" (knowledge versus Spirit).

The Holy Spirit plays a huge role in understanding this as much as He did in revealing to Simeon who the infant Jesus was.

I take up The Word and bless God each day every bit as much as Simeon did. I hope you do also.

I am not simply referring to a leather bound book anymore than the child Simeon took up in his arms was just merely flesh and blood.

I am speaking of the supernatural power of the Word as it transposes from paper and ink into Christ upon our lips and in our hearts.

Are you following me?

If there is any power in the Word at all it is because it is Jesus! The activation of Christ in our lives occurs when we recognize and endeavor to live by it and allow Him to change our lives. The spoken Word is spiritual life going forth in Christ as surely as when He was here in the flesh. His presence and very purpose is alive as the Word and is responsible for the quickening of the hearts of man to turn toward Him.

If this is not true than we are merely preaching and teaching "about" Jesus. If the Word is not alive as Christ today than we have reduced Him to nothing but a historical character from a long ago time.

Do you think that might be the problem in the Church today? That preachers, teachers, and the general rank and file have missed the fact that Jesus is alive to us in the here and now as the Logos, the Word of God?

I think so. People need to understand that they are receiving Jesus, that they are "handling" Jesus every bit as much as Simeon did!

When we invoke the Presence of Jesus Christ in our church and home, and when the Word goes forth, we must believe that His living Spirit is as active and real as if He is standing before us!

Roll that around in your brain for a bit and pray it makes it to your spirit, because if it does it will radically change your life!

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

 www.reallifect.com