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Short Sermon #109: THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA - Daily devotional reading

"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." John 1 Verses 1-2 [NIV]

The beginning and the end.

What was it like in the beginning? What existed then?

These are questions that people ask themselves from time to time. Many people quickly shelve the questions after hitting a brick wall.

I think we all struggle when we try to get into deep thought about the beginning; it is easy for our thought processes to immediately become overwhelmed. I guess it is because the matter is too spiritual to be approached scientifically.

But here is what the opening bible verses teach us about the beginning - in the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God; the Word, who was with God, was actually God! What a wonder!

I rephrase the Bible verses as follows: "In the beginning was Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ was with God, and Jesus Christ was God." Thought-provoking, isn't it?

This is how Christians ought to visualize "the beginning".

If any Christian still seeks another explanation, my advice to them is - the opening bible verses neatly sum up what we have come to believe.

Now to the part that must get each one of us thinking - "... through him all things were made; without him, nothing was made that has been made."

Is it not only appropriate that we follow Him, devote our lives to Him, and obey Him at every turn? Why should we follow any other and not the One existed in the beginning, the One who created everything?

We are not our own.

We belong to Another. We are some of His marvelous works! That Other has specific expectations about the ones He made. Imagine what would happen if everybody lived their lives with such consciousness! What a world this would be!

So, from today, make Him your point of reference on everything pertaining to your life conduct.

Always remember that without Him nothing was made that has been made, you and me included!

DEVOTIONAL PRAYER

Prayer Point for Today: That I may wholeheartedly serve and worship God and no other, for I believe that He is the beginning and the end, the creator of everything I see.

Holy Father, nothing has been created apart from  what You created.

This is a deep statement. Creation is evidence of Your existence. I am a special testimony of Your existence and grace, so are all others in this earthly world. Thank You, Father.

Father, I pray in the name of Jesus that this pivotal reality may dawn in every heart. For I see many people who pass through this world without any sense of origin and destination. They do not care about what happened for them to be on the earth. They are authorities of their own, worshiping nobody but only their desires.

Father, I pray that Your light may shine in every heart.

I pray that Your Word may be preached in places that it has never been preached before and that You may raise for yourself a generation of men, women, and young adults whose hearts burn to let You be known to many.

For I see Lord, that some who purport to serve You have actually been consumed by selfish intentions, consumed by power, money, fame and other earthly desires. Instead of preaching Christ crucified, they tell people how great they are!

But I know that You are a merciful God, to the end that many may repent and be saved. So, show Your mercy on the world Lord; do it now, while there still is time for it.

I did not bring myself into the world. You did; and I am totally grateful for it.

I am sharply aware that I am in this world for a purpose, and that I am not supposed to live like fleeting vapor.

Although attending school, college, getting married and earning a living are important, that's not what I came into this world for. I only have to do these things because that's how people sustain life in this world.

There is a real reason for my existence, and that reason is Christ - both crucified and resurrected.

I long to give my all for Your cause my God; I seek Your help in this regard.

In the name of Jesus, I pray.

Amen.


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