John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 

I remember the first time reading this passage as a young adult trying to understand scripture. I was baffled. “In the beginning was the “Word”… Huh? I know. Not easy to interpret, so here’s a little information you may find helpful.

Notice that “Word” (“logos” in the Greek) is capitalized, which gives us a hint that the writer is not referring to something written down, but rather a person/being. “Word” functions here to describe the creative/generative power/person of God that once brought order from chaos in creation, that spoke to God’s people via the prophets, that took the form of flesh and blood in Jesus, that gets released each time we here the Word of God proclaimed on Sundays, that turns us from sin and death toward eternal life in Jesus Christ.

One reason why I read scripture at the beginning of each day (even if I don’t write a blog post EVERY day) is to give the Word an opportunity to mold and shape me for the day to come. And I pray that, as you read the words of this blog, you experience the Word being let loose in you, to transform you from the inside out.

Lord, let it be so. Amen.