W – Word

O – Observation

R – Revelation

D – Devotion

 

 

W – Genesis 1:1-3 "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness [was] upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light."

 

John 1:1-4 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men."

 

John 8:12 "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

 

O – This is the beginning of all of that we know. God piercing the darkness and moving from His place of the eternal now to where there are limitations of "in the beginning." This is the initiation of what we know as boundaries. God does not have boundaries, but we see Him declaring what seem to be segments of limitations for our benefit. There's heaven and there's earth; there's light and there's darkness.

 

We see the dichotomy of creation demonstrated in this passage. What appears to be an uncreated darkness (there is no defining of the origin for darkness here, although Isaiah 45:7 indicates God does create darkness) is invaded by the voice of God through which came uncreated light. Let me explain. Genesis 1:1 says that “in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” but the words “created” or “made” does not occur again until verse 7 describing the firmament or expanse. The King James Version says that Christ was the "true Light, which lighteth every man" (John 1:9). The release of God's word shattered obscurity. This release brought about light or ability to see because naturally "in the beginning" there was not light until … God's voice.

 

This is huge!

 

We move on from Genesis to John and then delve into his commentary on the creation. We see God. We see Word. We see light. We see life. John combines these four and then like a prism refracts them as coming from a single Source. God contained within Himself this very essence called life. Life is possible because His very existence necessitates viability. Can we see death ever coming from God? No because He is life, and that's why Jesus says in John 14:6 that He is the way, the truth and the life.

 

R – Notice in Genesis which means "beginning" how God sets forth a pattern for us. God does not change, and I think we can learn a lot by observing a first pattern that God sets forth for us. When there was darkness the Spirit of God moved. This did not happen in the light. In fact this happened when no light existed. It was only after the Spirit of God moved that God said "let there be light." Only when the Spirit moves can there be illumination or light. It must begin with Him. We know that it is His will to reveal Himself to us and to bring understanding is because His word declares it to be so (Ephesians 1:15-18; Colossians 1:9-11). So be encouraged! He wants to reveal Himself so we should pray to that end. The only place in scripture where the word "illuminated" (photizo in Greek) is used in the KJV is in Hebrews 10:32 which says, "But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions." Illuminate (phōtizō) has to do with understanding or spiritual knowledge. Revelation (apokalypsis) has to do with that which is observable or manifest; in other words God’s glory. Glory is that which is not subjective or up for debate. It is that which is seen with the eye and observable (John 2:11; Romans 1:20-23). What I believe is next on God's agenda for us is revelation in all that the word entails.

 

God’s uncreated light of our understanding is after the moving of His Spirit. This has to do with the breath of His mouth and also has to do with the slaying of His enemies (Isaiah 11:4).   The establishment of His word in our lives is preceded by the moving of His Spirit. Come Holy Spirit, come!

 

D – Lord, I want to submit to all which Your Spirit has prepared me. Let us as Your people live in unity that we will respond together for what You have spoken in Jesus’ name; Amen, Amen.