Jesus is the Word of God

I've been having a lot of conversations lately about Jesus and the Word of God. I see it over and over again; preachers and Bible teachers who combine Jesus and the Scriptures. Let me try and explain. Jesus = the Word of God. Jesus in the total message of God; this message is complete in Him. Or as G. W. Bromiley notes, "the word has now come in fullness in Jesus Christ." Both John 1 and Revelation 19:13 declares Jesus as "The Word" and "The Word of God." This is very clear and easy to see in the Scriptures.

But then we go to church or turn on the radio and we hear: The Scriptures = the Word of God. Thus, Jesus and the Scriptures become equal, or worse Jesus becomes subservient to the Scriptures. The son in law told me he heard a preacher this week say, "Jesus was under the authority of Scripture." WOW! That has got to be the most biblidolatrous statement I've ever heard.

Please remember the Bible points to Him; it never points to itself.

Also, I think this is true, but I'm still doing some studying. The phrase word of God when used in the Bible refers to that which has been spoken, not written.

Take a look at 1Thess. 2:13 and the read 1Thess. 1:8. I believe these passage will help.

"Centering Down"

In the center of my soul lies the holy of holies where God lives; he dwells there within me. I am not wanting to simply visit this place on occasion, but live from this center. I liked visiting Myrtle Beach and I hope to return there again sometime, but wanting to live there is entirely different. The same is true for me spiritually. I want to become more and more aware of me being the “temple of the living God” and then living out from His sanctuary.

I’m reading Brennan Manning, the Signature of Jesus. What he has says about living from the center has helped me. He writes, “The Spirit of Jesus provides a way for us to live on the surface and out of the depths at the same time. On the surface we can think, dialogue, plan, and be fully present to the demands of the daily routine. Simultaneously and deeply within, we can be in prayer, adoration, thanksgiving, and attentiveness to the Spirit. The secret places of the heart become a sanctuary of praise in the noisy playpen of the marketplace. What masters of the interior life recommend is the discipline of “centering down” throughout the day: a quiet, persistent turning to God while driving, cooking, conversing, writing and so on. After weeks and months of practice, relapses, discouragement, and returns to the center, this discipline becomes a habit.”

I’m far from making this a habit, but I sense I am moving in the right direction. Seeing this as a discipline is a new thought, but one I'm going to pursue.