John 1:1-2 (NKJV) states:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

The NLT version says:
“In the beginning, the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God.”

Every day, we use countless words. When we’re unsure of the meaning of a word, we turn to the dictionary to gain understanding. So, what are words to us as human beings? They are the primary tools we use to express thoughts, ideas, emotions, and intentions.

But what are words according to biblical standards? If we fail to understand their origin, we may continue to use them carelessly without wisdom or consideration. Words are never “just words.” Why? Because they hold the power to bring life or death (Proverbs 18:21). They can uplift or tear down, bring joy or devastation, alter circumstances, or keep us stuck. They can either open doors of opportunity or lead us into trouble.

Words carry immense power, and when used without care, they can hurt not only ourselves but those around us. Proverbs 23:7 reminds us that our actions begin with our thoughts: “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Before we act, we must first think. And before we speak, we must decide how and why we speak.

When a person speaks, they usually think beforehand otherwise, it leads to confusion. So if words follow thought, then we must recognize the purpose behind those words. Are they meant to uplift, encourage, spread truth or to gossip, deceive, and tear down?

Therefore, we begin to understand that words are not just words; they are expressions of belief, intention, and influence. If you believe what you’re saying to be true, it carries even more weight. Satan seeks to deceive us into speaking curses over ourselves and others, making us believe our words have no consequence. But that’s a lie they do.

Consider these scriptures on the power of speech:

• Proverbs 12:14 — “From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things…”
• Proverbs 12:18 — “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
• Proverbs 15:4 — “The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.”
• Proverbs 15:28 — “The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.”
• Proverbs 21:23 — “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.”
• Matthew 12:36-37 — “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Now, let’s return to John 1:1:
“In the beginning was the Word.”

So what is “the Word”? The Word is God. It was with God and was God. It refers to the Son of God, who at that time had not yet been named, but was later revealed as Jesus, the Messiah. The passage repeats the concept three times not by coincidence, but to signify the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

At first, this might be confusing. But with meditation and spiritual understanding, clarity comes. God is the supreme and sovereign one. Jesus, the Son, came to earth to sacrifice himself for us, breaking the curse of sin. He is the Word made flesh. (John 1:14)

Before Jesus, there was God. God had the Word in Him, with Him, as Him. Then, God chose to manifest Himself in three distinct, yet unified, forms Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When Jesus ascended, He sent the Holy Spirit, another part of Himself, to help and guide us in this fallen world.

God, in all His power and majesty, chose not to appear in His full form but through extensions of Himself, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, each equal in power and essence, yet operating in different roles. A human analogy, though limited, helps illustrate this. Think of a company owner who hires staff to represent the company. If one misrepresents the company, it reflects on the owner. Similarly, Jesus and the Holy Spirit represent God fully and faithfully because they are God (John 14:6 11).

Yet when Jesus, the Word in the flesh, walked among us, many did not recognize Him (John 1:10-12). Why? Because of carnal thinking, expecting God to appear in majestic, kingly form, not as a humble carpenter. People couldn’t comprehend the Messiah coming from such humble beginnings. They rejected His message, discredited Him, and even tried to kill Him failing to understand that God had come to them as a man to defeat sin through love and sacrifice.

God loved us so deeply that He did all this, yet we still misuse our words even with the knowledge of where words originate and who they represent. This is why His children are called to mirror Him, especially in our speech. We were created through the Word. (John 1:3)

Creation itself came into existence by the Word by God speaking it into being. Just as Ezekiel 37:4–7 shows dry bones coming to life through the spoken word, our words have creative power. Without the Word, nothing would exist (John 1:3). That’s how powerful words are.

As His children, God expects us to treat Him as a loving Father. Just as earthly parents expect their children to respect, honor, trust, and obey them, God expects the same from us. Children are a reflection of their parents. If a child misbehaves, it can reflect poorly on the parent. Similarly, if we live in sin, we reflect the ruler of this world not our heavenly Father.

We are meant to mirror God in every way. Jesus, who was without sin, perfectly represented God in both action and word because He is God. So, if we claim to be children of God and our bodies are His temple, then we must not use words to defile ourselves or others. We must stop speaking negatively about our lives, our circumstances, and especially about others.

Prayer :

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for being the Word from the beginning, for speaking life into creation, and for sending Jesus, the Word made flesh, to dwell among us. Help me to recognize the weight and power my words carry. May my speech reflect Your truth, Your love, and Your holiness. Teach me to guard my mouth, to think before I speak, and to use my words to uplift, encourage, and bring life not death. Cleanse my heart so that my words flow from a place that honors You. Let me mirror You in everything I say, so that others may see and know You through me.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Stay tuned as we continue exploring John 1:1–5 and how it connects to the powerful truth in Hebrews 4:12, which says:”For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” – Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)

When I say believe God, not just that He exists, I mean BELIEVE God for who He is and what He represents. And that is His Word, which is HIM. According to John 1:1-2, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This clearly shows us that He is the Word. The Word was with Him from the beginning. The Word was in Him, is Him, and is with Him. (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)

That same Word was used to create life. The Word is life itself, as seen in John 1:3-4: “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.” Now, go back and read Genesis 1:1-31 (The History of Creation) you’ll see that when we speak and use God’s Word, believing that it is both light and life, we are speaking that same creative, life-giving force into our own lives.

But it doesn’t just stop there.

Do you realize that we have that Word in us? Yes, the same Word God used when He said, “Let there be,” and it was, is now within us. When we believe, truly believe, it becomes clear why God instructs us not to worry, not to fear, but to trust Him, believe Him, and especially to have faith. Because as His children, we share in that same power. John 1:12-13 tells us: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

In Genesis, Jesus’ name was not yet revealed, but He was present. Later, we see in John 1:14: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory…” Jesus is that Word, the Messiah, the light of men. So when God said, “Let there be light,” those were the very first words God spoke in Genesis 1:3, and instantly, there was light. But have you ever asked yourself why light came first? God didn’t need light to create the world. He had all power, all wisdom. He could’ve created in any order He wanted. Yet, He chose to begin with light. That wasn’t a coincidence. It was intentional.

Light does more than just shine it reveals. It allows you to see what was once hidden. Without light, you can’t move forward. You can’t take the next step. So God, in His wisdom, introduced light first not just for creation, but to teach us something deeply spiritual: without His light, we are walking blind.

Now, fast forward to John 1:5:
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”
This phrase can be understood both literally and symbolically. Darkness, by nature, tries to cover, to hide, to suffocate. But when the true Light, God’s Word, Jesus enters, darkness has no power to stop it. It cannot overcome it. No matter how thick the darkness, light will always pierce through.

When God introduced light, He was doing more than setting the stage for creation. He was sending a message: where there is light, darkness cannot grow. The light exposes. The light brings clarity. The light brings life.

So think about this every time God speaks, it brings light. When you read His Word, it brings vision. It uncovers what’s been hidden, it brings understanding where there was confusion, peace where there was fear, and direction where there was doubt.

Light reveals. Darkness conceals. Light brings truth. Darkness hides deception. And when God’s light enters your life, what once seemed impossible or hidden becomes clear.

So as long as you walk in that light in His Word, in His truth, the darkness can’t thrive around you. That’s why Jesus said in John 8:12,
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

This is why Proverbs 18:21 warns: “Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Because when we speak, we utilize that same power to create or destroy.

“Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4

This verse isn’t just encouragement, it’s a declaration of identity and authority. It means that the Word Jesus Himself lives in us because of His ultimate sacrifice. The ruler of this world, Satan, may still roam, but his defeat is already sealed. We don’t fight for victory, we fight from victory. Christ secured our freedom and dominion on the cross. That was His purpose.

So when Scripture says we’re greater than the one in the world, it’s not because of anything we’ve done it’s because of who lives in us.

And once that truth becomes more than just a memory verse, once you fully grasp it, you’ll begin to walk in the power you already possess. You’ll approach every Bible verse with fresh eyes, reverence, and expectation, because you’ll realize: this is not just a book, it’s your foundation, your weapon, your life.

To merely believe God exists isn’t enough. Even demons believe that. You must believe His Word.
And to believe His Word, you have to know it.
To know it, you have to know Him.
And to know Him you must spend time in what He has spoken: His Word.

DEVOTIONAL:

Take a moment today to reflect on the power of the Word living inside you. Meditate on John 1:1-5 and let it remind you that Jesus is not just a figure of history. He is the eternal Word, the Light of men, the very force of life itself. As a child of God, that same light now dwells within you. Speak with purpose. Walk in light. Live by the Word.

🙏 Prayer:

“Lord, help me to not only believe that You exist but to fully believe Your Word to understand that it is You, living and active in me. Let me carry Your light boldly, speak life through my tongue, and reflect Your glory in everything I do. Amen.”

📖 Stay tuned for the next topic.