It Begins with God

As we move into October, the focus of our devotional reading shifts to the Gospel of John. In order to get through the book in a month, we will have to alter our reading schedule a little. We will read four chapters a week for four weeks, and then we will read five chapters on the fifth week. Read along. Read prayerfully. Read slowly, seeking the direction of God.

As I read the first four chapters of John this morning, there were several verses and phrases that jumped out at me. Chapter 3 verse 19 struck me as a timely verse:

This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light for their deeds were evil.

I suspect this verse will linger in my mind for some time. I say that because of the political climate and the vicious partisanship within our country at the moment.

Without getting bogged down in this one thought, though, I was also reminded of the larger plan of God in the world. It begins in Chapter 1 verse 1:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

All good theology begins with God. All good worship begins with God. All good devotional thinking begins with God. All proper seeing of ourselves, of each other, and of our world begins with God. Here is the first principle from which we reason. Here is the foundation upon which we must build. Here is the beginning of everything good and eternal. Before we get trapped in a cycle of bad news, before we enter into our day of meaningful work and relationships, it is important - essential, even - to recognize that everything worthwhile begins with God.

Begin your day seeking the One who began the universe! Begin your understanding of yourself, your view of your neighbor, and your outlook on the world with the First Word!

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:33