IN THE BEGINNING

The Bible makes us realize how it was in the beginning stating, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1: 1-5) The book of John went further to identify the Word which was with God in the beginning, the Word through whom all things were made stating, “…the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”(John 1:14) Jesus the glory of God is the grace of our Lord God, the truth that came from heaven. Jesus gave a self-introduction stating, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) Jesus, the One who was in the beginning shall also be beyond the end of all things.
In every beginning such as a New Year, it is worthy to engage the Word of God that holds the whole world in His hands. To truly engage the Word is the avenue to living a fulfilled life to the glory of God. Without doubt, it is true that the Word of God is God and the Word is power to create; to deliver; to preserve and to heal. When one becomes full of the Word one will be filled by His presence to live a fulfilled life. Having the presence of God in one’s life is all that matters and all that makes the difference living life. However, living a fulfilled life is not a ticket to exemption from the challenges of life but a lifting that is certain to make man prevail in the face of any challenge of this wicked world. For example, Joseph could not be derailed. He was full of the Word and the presence of God in him was all that made him live a fulfilled life.
The presence of God (Word of God) that is fearful with power to deliver answered in the life of Joseph. He refused to answer to his master’s wife’s sinful request to lie with her. Joseph feared God and he responded to his master’s wife’s sinful approach by stating, “…How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9) Truly, Joseph was full of His presence and he lived from one challenge to another but yet he could not be derailed from God’s fulfillment in his life. Know that in the eyes of man, when a situation is bad, it yields good for one who is full of His presence. Joseph, because of the fear of God (presence of God) in him was sent to the prison for a sin he did not commit. While Joseph was in prison, he had the whole prison (world) in His hand because he was carrying the presence of God. It is written, “…And he was there in the prison. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing.The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority,because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.” (Genesis 39:20-23) Joseph was identified with the favor of God; the mercy of God; deliverance and preservation from God because of the presence of God which was consistently inside of him. The life of Joseph depicts what could be an experience for anyone who makes the choice to live a fulfilled life in Christ Jesus.
For one who desires the Word to be full in their life so that they may live a fulfilled life, the Lord will deposit all that it takes to be full by the Word. Man should understand that no one is born filled with the Word; it is one who seeks the Word of God that shall get it by God’s grace. Reading or skimming through the pages of the Bible will not have the Word deposited in one’s life. However, studying and gaining understanding is what will cause man to be filled with the Word of God.
In addition to studying the Word, giving oneself to meditating on the Word will enable man to be established and live a fulfilled life. In line with the importance of meditating the word, Apostle Paul was speaking in 1Timothy 4:15, “Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.” The Apostle Paul could not minimize the importance of meditation in his message. Meditating on the Word of God will fill man and bring to life God’s promise which says that God will not leave us nor forsake us. (Joshua 1:5-6)

Faith Capsule:
Living a fulfilled life is not a ticket to exemption from the challenges of life.