Shipley Church Self-Service

Sunday 7th February 2021

Thought for the Week – This is the Word of the Lord

Jesus is like an authorised visual aid to understanding God, because he entered into our midst and dwelt among us. The opening of John’s Gospel is heard again, but in the context of understanding what is meant by the Word of God: “In the beginning was the Word; we have seen his glory” (John 1: 1-14). This famous – almost poetic - passage forms the preface of John’s Gospel which, like the overture to an opera, introduces an immense amount of theology into a few, precise lines. How could the dynamic person of Jesus claim also to be God entering into human history, taking on the entire experience of existence as a human being? Here was someone exercising the right to forgive sin – totally obedient to God – but who was also clearly human.

His word was Creative : By the word of the Lord, the heavens were made; his word was Incarnate: God glorified the flesh of Man; his word was the Written word: Thanks to God whose word was written in the Scriptures; and his word was Spoken: The preaching of Jesus during his ministry.

My friend, who imagines having regular spiritual conversations with God, once asked Him if he would play Scrabble with her, so that he could give her some high-scoring triple-letter words to help her live her life to the full. God answered her: My words will never pass away, for the Word of the Lord is right and true (Psalm 33:4).

Hymn for Today

Lord thy word abideth, 

And our footsteps guideth; 

Who its truth believeth, 

Light and joy receiveth. 

Word of mercy, giving

Succour to the living;

Word of life, supplying

Comfort to the dying.

Prayer for Today

We pray: O God, grant that we may hear thy word with a real desire to receive what it promises and to practise what it commands.

Note: The Readings and Gospel set for today can be downloaded from the top right of this page