Summer of Depth Devotional Day 53

It’s Day 53 of our Summer of Depth Devotional and Reading Plan.

Welcome. Yesterday, we talked about getting God's Word inside of us so that it can begin forming God's life in us.

So, let’s continue going deep and getting some of that life into us through John’s gospel. John gives us an important reminder about where all of this is supposed to lead.

To Jesus.

Dive deep into His Word right now.

Before anything else, slow down and read: John 1:1-18.

John opens his Gospel with these poetic words. If you’re puzzled at how this sounds, you’re not alone…It’s different than the other gospels. Rather that writing a synoptic account of Jesus’ life and ministry, John takes a slightly different approach to help us see and understand what Jesus was teaching. To the original audience that John is writing for, this would have sounded familiar to anyone who knew Genesis: “In the beginning…”

But instead of taking us immediately to creation, John takes us even further back. Before anything was made, the Word….God’s plan, his ways, his scriptures, and his direction for our lives…was already there. The Word was with God. The Word was God. And then John makes the astonishing claim at the center of this passage:

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

God, and all that he is, has made Himself known through his son Jesus.

That's worth remembering as we begin spending more time in Scripture together. It can be surprisingly easy to read the Bible and miss the Person it's revealing. We can underline verses, learn theology, finish reading plans, and collect answers to our questions without actually slowing down to know Jesus.

John tells us that Jesus came to make the Father known. He shows us what God is like. His character, His heart, His grace, His truth. When we come to Scripture, we're being invited into more than information about God. We're being invited to know Him.

Maybe that changes the question we bring to our Bible reading.

Instead of only asking, “What am I supposed to learn today?” we can also ask, “God, what are You showing me about Yourself?”

Because the goal of Eat This Book isn't simply to finish more chapters or become people who know more about the Bible. As we heard Sunday, the destination of the Bible is God.

Prayer:

Jesus, thank You for making God known to us. As we open Your Word, help us slow down enough to see You more clearly. Give us a deeper hunger to know Your heart, Your character, and Your ways. Let Your Word move beyond information and draw us into deeper relationship with You. Amen.