52 Weeks at the Table – Week 1
At a time when there was nothing, God created. He created the heavens and the earth … light and darkness … waters and land … life and vegetation … vessels of light in the heavens … fish and fowl … beast and beastmaster, mankind. That’s what the first chapter of Genesis tells us.
Written many years later, the first chapter of John’s gospel tells us that everything was made through Jesus – yet the world He made did not recognize Him.
Yet from the beginning, God must have known what He would ask mankind to accept on faith, and how we would fail Him. On the third day, when He created trees, He must have known that their wood could be used to create a cross. When He created vines, He must have known that their fruit could be used to fill a cup of blessing. When He created grains, He must have known that the bread made from them could be used to strengthen the body.
So from the beginning, He provided for our failure with His success. He provided for our hunger and need with His sufficiency. He provided for our nothing with everything. He provided His own body and blood to buy ours back from sin and self. And on the third day, He lived again so that we could live forever.
A Prayer Over the Bread
Glorious God and author of all creation … thank You for using your unlimited knowledge, wisdom, power and love to create a world of beauty even in view of the ugliness that could be brought to it. Help us to recognize You in it. Thank You for this bread that we have made from what You have made. Help us recognize You in it. Thank you most of all for Your Son, Whom it represents: the bread of heaven, broken for us. Help us recognize Him in it as He brings this prayer to you. Amen.
A Prayer Over the Cup
Thank You, Creator God, for setting eternity in our hearts even though we cannot fathom what You have done from beginning to end. Help us to recognize You where creation testifies of Your infinite love. Thank you for the contents of this cup, which we have distilled from what You have poured out: life and blessing through the blood of Jesus Christ. Help us always recognize Him in it as He bears this thanksgiving to Your throne. Amen.
Blog In My Own Eye 
May your life be filled with happiness as you daily experience the blessings of God in the New Year!bill @ a spiritual oasis
Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. Jn:1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.I believe the phrase (And God said) is written in Gen 1 no less than nine times.How come we jumped to the conclusion that John 1 was talking about a person, instead of the spoken word? Could Jn 1:3,4,5, be talking about God and not, an assistant?
We didn’t jump; John took us there in vs. 14-18!John 1:3-5 are indeed talking about God: God who created, God whose Spirit hovered over the waters, God the Son through whom all things were made. One person. Three persons. I can’t explain it. I just believe it.Look at this way: to my son, I’m a father. To my mother, I’m a son. To my niece’s kids in Indiana, I’m a disembodied voice on a telephone. But I’m still the same person.If you really want to have the heebie-jeebies about it, read the footnote in many Bibles’ Genesis 1 that the Hebrew word “God” there is actually plural – “Gods.” Scripture – though steadfastly maintaining that “the Lord our God, the Lord is one” – doesn’t get around to explaining the plural until John 1.
Keith, I do believe that John 1 has been wrongly interpreted, some where along the line, John said many things others did not say, I don’t know why , What I do know is he was the youngest among the apostles. That said, the phrase “word of God” is written more than forty times in the new testament and not even one other time leaves any doubt what it is saying. It is talking about the written or spoken word. no time does it refer to a person.
Bro, I can only tell you what I believe and why …. ‘preciate you trying to do the same for me.
Happy new year and thanks for your ministry!
Keith, I really enjoy talking to you about the difference in Christian beliefs. When we get in a discussion I go for my bible, unlike some, where I go for my eraser. I can’t remember a time when you were anything but respectful of others, and I hope there has never been a time when I said you are wrong (because I don’t know that)when I question something which is said by another, I simply want to know why?and how come I see it differently.When there is something as unprovable as the bible continues to be, I go for the circumstantial evidence, and like in court the more the better. That is why I mentioned the forty-three times the word is not spoken of as being a person, and the one time where it is perceived that it was.Anyhow I just wanted to say I do appreciate your belief on things where I just can’t agree, and hope we can agree where we can during this next year, have a good one brother.
Laymond, I don’t see the phrase “word of God” here. Is that phrase in the Bible? Of course it is. In this instance, “the Word” is a living being……hence the term “he” in verse 2.That’s my take, brother!DU
Yep that is what the new versions say, and they had the same meanings to pick from as the older version.houtos = AV — this 157, these 59, he 31, the same 28, this man 25, she 12, they 10, misc 34
Laymond, if you believe “the Word” in the context of John 1 is referring to the written word, can you explain what your interpretation of that passage is?Thanks,DU
David, as I see John 1 he is speaking of God’s plan and how it was carried out by the spoken word (logos) and that this logos was not a new invention just for this purpose, God had always had this ability, always.Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. (and God said) (‘amar to speak)Jhn 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was GodJhn 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.( all things were made by God)Jhn 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.Jhn 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.Then there is a great distance in time between vs 5 and vs 6 which speaks of John the Baptist, who was the fore runner of Christ. Yes this plan God had set in action by speaking did include Christ from the beginning . But I fail to see where it is said that this Christ was the creator/ the word. There are to many places that say God/Jehovah is the creator. And he did so by simply speaking. (logos) the word.
David, I really don’t believe John was speaking of the written word, I believe he was speaking of the spoken word, sorry I didn’t answer your question plainly.
Laymond, what is your interpretation of the spoken word becoming flesh in v. 14? DU
David, I understand here John is saying God’s plan came to fruition/ bearing fruit, through his only begotten Son Jesus Christ.
Laymond, agreed. And isn’t Jesus referred to there as “the Word”?DU
David, I see where the argument comes from but, I believe it says that Jesus becomes the bearer of the word of God.
David, seems you and I are the only two willing to discuss this very controversial subject. Let me give maybe a better example of what I see as, just what happened in the creation process. Lets say, the first pharaoh mentioned in the bible Shishaq identified as Pharaoh Shoshenq, decided he wanted to build himself a pyramid. Does he grab a hammer and chisel? I don’t believe that would happen. He would call in his head taskmaster relate to him just what he wanted, this taskmaster would speak to the people under him as to what their task was and they would do it. Now who do you think would get credit for building that pyramid. The Pharaoh, the taskmaster, or the actual laborers. The Pharaoh spoke and the task was done.The King did it by his word. He accomplished it through the taskmaster, who built it through his workers. Although a pyramid is not as awesome as the creation of the universe, it is still a pretty awesome feat, for man.
Laymond, the only thing wrong with your argument is that scripture plainly says in John 1 that “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us”……it doesn’t say anything about Jesus being “the bearer of the word of God”. You are interpreting scipture to say what you WANT it to say, and that is a dangerous place to be. Years and years of scholarship by folks who are a lot sharper than myself don’t agree with you. There are many scriptures that are somewhat ambiguous……this is NOT one of them. Do I think you have to be right on this to be a Christian or to be saved? No.
David, is this one of those learned scholars to which you refer? Heb:1:1: God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,2: Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;Think about the pharaoh building the pyramid.
Mighty long silence David, after seeing that I am not the only one who said Jesus was sent as the bearer of the word of God. Does Paul or the author of Hebrews, belong in this category also.?“You are interpreting scipture to say what you WANT it to say, and that is a dangerous place to be.”
Laymond, the scriptures you gave didn’t change my perspective. In fact, I thought they supported the position most of us have that believes Jesus was “the WORD” spoken of in John 1. The reason I didn’t respond was because I believe we are at an impasse……you are convicted your position is correct, and I likewise believe the position of myself and many others is correctSo, we disagree…….nothing wrong with that, but also no reason to keep discussing it. I enjoyed the discussion! DU