“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”   John 1:1-4

The world is hungry, almost desperate, for someone to tell them the Word, to show them Word by the integrity of their lives, so they can be assured that the Word told is indeed real. Many have become so wrapped up in themselves that Word is hard to see above the trappings of the wrappings!  Then someone comes along with words that seem doable, true and practical for their lives.  Ready to hear anything of value, the popular and very simple response, with an enlighten raise of the eyebrows and deep sigh, is with the colloquialism, “Whoa, Word!” 

But what Word are they believing?

Word is used in advertising to help us get the most out of life in the world of technology.  For example, for decades, Microsoft Word tells us their trusted Word app lets you create, edit, view, and share your files with others quickly and easily.  Okay, so we can easily and quickly spread the Word; but what Word are we telling and sharing, viewing and responding to as we read the Word?

Word is important.  It is not until we realize Word is the Person of Jesus Christ that we find THE WORD at last!  “In the beginning was The Word…”

Paul does not sugar coat preaching The Word—Jesus.  Rough times are ahead, relates Paul.  We recall that The Word tells His disciples this same truth, more than once. Preparing them for what the enemy was going to do to Him, before going to the cross, His final act of love, along with their response to the danger, The Word-Jesus tells them to believe and be assured in their belief.

“Do you now believe? Jesus replied. A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  John 17:31-33

Do we believe The Word—Jesus? 

Do we really believe what we say we believe about Jesus really real?

The answer to these simple, yet profound questions, asked from the depths of our souls, will directly relate to how we handle all that is difficult, trying and overwhelming on our journeys with The Word—Jesus, while walking in His ways on this earth.

What’s the Word in your life?  My life? 

Believing is the true measure of our response to difficulties.

“Don’t let it faze you. Stick with what you learned and believed.”

TIMOTHY—MENTORSHIP

2 Timothy 3, The Message

Difficult Times Ahead

^1-5 Don’t be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people.

^6-9 These are the kind of people who smooth-talk themselves into the homes of unstable and needy women and take advantage of them; women who, depressed by their sinfulness, take up with every new religious fad that calls itself “truth.” They get exploited every time and never really learn. These men are like those old Egyptian frauds Jannes and Jambres, who challenged Moses. They were rejects from the faith, twisted in their thinking, defying truth itself. But nothing will come of these latest impostors. Everyone will see through them, just as people saw through that Egyptian hoax.

Keep the Message Alive

^10-13 You’ve been a good apprentice to me, a part of my teaching, my manner of life, direction, faith, steadiness, love, patience, troubles, sufferings—suffering along with me in all the grief I had to put up with in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. And you also well know that God rescued me! Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there’s no getting around it. Unscrupulous con men will continue to exploit the faith. They’re as deceived as the people they lead astray. As long as they are out there, things can only get worse.

^14-17 But don’t let it faze you. Stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers—why, you took in the sacred Scriptures with your mother’s milk! There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.

Lord,

I believe.  I believe you are The Word.  I believe you died for my sins and all sin.  I believe you are the Son of God.  I believe you rose again, defeating death forever.  I believe you are The Way, The Truth, and The Life for all who believe.  I believe that in good times and difficult times you are with me and will always be with me “until the end of the age.” 

I believe what Your Word says.  I believe in You the Author of The Word who inspired The Word upon which we read, learn and grow in our faith while led by Your Holy Spirit.  Thank you, Lord.  In this world we do have all kinds of troubles in all kinds of measures but the measure of faith comes by believing in you no matter what.  Yes, I believe.  And why not? You have given me all I need.

In Jesus Name, For Your glory, Amen