I love words.
Here are some of the words that surround me as I sit at my desk:
Words of motivation...
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| I got this card in the mail this week from my brother Daniel :) |
Words of inspiration...
Words of identification...
Words of thanks...
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| "Thank You God" in Inupiaq |
Words of challenge...
Words of detailed description...
Words of togetherness...
Words of encouragement...
Words. I love 'em.
One of the Greek words for
word is
logos. It could be said that this means, "the embodiment of a conception or an idea." What a beautiful way to describe such a precious gem!
A few synonyms for
logos are "saying," "communication," or "account." In many places in the New Testament, it seems that the term is used to give emphasis to a colloquialism or something that a speaker is attempting to get across to an individual or group of people.
This is very interesting when we see how this
logos is used in the introduction of the book of John:
John 1:1-5 "In the beginning was the logos, and the logos was with God, and the logos was God. He was with God in the beginning."
and then again in John 1:14:
"The logos 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."
What is this word of which John speaks? It is clearly a
logos of God. What conception or idea is God attempting to embody? To whom is He conveying it?
According to the passage, it is a word straight from God, in fact it even
is God. It is a descriptor of the glory of His perfect only Son. As such, this
logos is ancient, from the very beginning. It is the description of all the grace that we give each other, and all of the grace that we too often withhold. This is the
logos of which John speaks. In a world of deception and lies, this
logos was filled to the brim with truth.
What kind of a word could possibly be this wonderful? It sounds like a word only fit for heaven.
But no, John tells us that this word was wrapped in flesh and dwelt among us. Now we have defined the "to whom." It is a
logos to the world.
What is this word? And if it is a word that is defined by human likeness, who could possibly be described by this definition?
This Christmas, may we share words of encouragement, of inspiration, of thanks, and togetherness, but most importantly, may we seek to define that wonderful word, the
logos. I challenge you to try to figure out just what idea God wanted to share with us through His
logos, which He spoke into the world on that first Christmas night.
"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel- which means, 'God with us.'" Isaiah 7:14
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped;
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:5-11
"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.
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born 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 1:1-15
