(This devotional is excerpted from Praying the Gospels: Book of John, our brand-new resource in Scripture-fed, Spirit-led, worship-based prayer. Like its predecessor, Praying the Psalms, this book will introduce you to—or strengthen—an approach to prayer that is biblical and life-giving. Each section of the book will include a helpful summary along with a biblical guide for prayer. Praying the Gospels: Book of John will release late spring 2026.)

John 1:1-18

Title: “…and the Word was God!”

400 years of silence…when will God speak again? When will He give us a word, THE WORD?

Malachi, then silence. Many Jews were wondering if God had deserted them. Why does He not speak, either directly, through the prophets as of old, or through our long-awaited Messiah? This is certainly an honest lament, showing the hunger for God’s very word of hope, direction, and salvation.

As I sympathize with those dear ones asking the heart-felt, honest questions, my mind goes to Luke 24. You remember. After the resurrection, Jesus (unknown to them) joins two disciples traveling some seven miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They seem to know a lot about the goings-on but are acting out of a weak and unformed faith. Here is Jesus’ response from 24:25 – ^“And he said to them, ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”

So, to be clear, God did not leave them without a “word” or without hope. But when the fullness of time came for the acknowledgment of Jesus’ arrival in John chapter 1, all of creation cheered and breathed a sigh of relief.

The first 18 verses in the book of John set the rest of this Gospel on fire! A perfect and powerful summary of the Person, Position, and Purpose of Jesus, the Christ. The description of Jesus’ character and the qualities posited in this first chapter of John reinforce and supplement Paul’s description of Christ’s preeminence in Colossians 1:15-20 (see below) and Hebrews 1.

See and hear the wonder of John’s inspired description of the qualities and character that Jesus possesses:

He is the Word: The authoritative Word. The true Word. The inspired Word. The final Word. Every word spoken by Jesus, the Written Word and Guiding Word. HE IS GOD THE WORD!

He is the Creator: Of all things, exclusively, completely, only, intimately, powerfully and beautifully, according to His will and good pleasure.

He is the Life: The Creator, Source, Limiter, Breath, Reviver, Restorer, and Giver of eternity.

He is the Light: The Guide, Illuminator of His Word, Dispeller of darkness; He replaces the sun and moon in the eternal kingdom. He is the source of light for all that is created, both spiritual and physical.

He is the Savior: God incarnate! The Greatest, displaying His character of the humblest! The Payment for all sin, Forgiver of those who confess, Relentless Pursuer, Kingdom Birther to those who believe.

He is fully God and fully man: In the flesh, perfect life, full of grace and truth, pouring out His fullness into those who receive His grace upon grace.

He is the very Image of God: When we see Jesus, we see God.

You must admit, this is very exciting! John the Baptist was ecstatic to be the witness and forerunner of the Savior. He made it clear that he was not the Light but came to herald the coming of the Light: Jesus.

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”

Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV)

Can we agree that the more we know our Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—the greater our faith grows?

We have been given the Word from the WORD. Why? I believe, above all else, to know God. You see, when we mine the Scriptures and spend time discovering the character, qualities, and person of all three personages of God, it draws us into an ever-deepening worship of Him. It is then, in the holy presence of God, that we learn of and grow in the benefits of His intimate presence.

When we mine the Scriptures and spend time discovering the character, qualities, and person of all three personages of God, it draws us into an ever-deepening worship of Him.

What are those benefits? I believe there are at least four main ones. If you open your Bible at Isaiah 6:1-9a and/or Luke 5:1-11, you will see these blessings and benefits of dwelling (praying) in the holy presence of God.

• Worship the Lord more deeply and intimately.
• Confess sin quickly and completely (as the Spirit leads).
• Submit and obey.
• Take the Word of God to the world (that is called the Gospel in the New Testament).

There is no journey so glorifying, edifying, and mystifying as seeking to know more deeply the very worship-worthy character traits of God. But know this—it is not a lazy person’s quest. This depth of knowledge and relationship does not happen by osmosis; it is fed only by a deep hunger to know the very One who created us in His image. He deemed us redeemable, and took on the unimaginable, cloaked in perfect humility, to pay the price for the sins of humanity…our sins.

There is no journey so glorifying, edifying, and mystifying as seeking to know more deeply the very worship-worthy character traits of God.

He is worthy of our searching the depths of His Person!

Let our prayer journey in the Gospel of John begin, and may your heart and your mind dive into the deep waters of intimacy with Jesus!

IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD…

Copyright © 2026 Paul Meldrum. All rights reserved.