Words of John, Thoughts of God
Devotions on the Epistles of St. John the Beloved
by
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1 John 1:1, The Message (MSG)
“From the very first day, we were there, taking it all in – we heard it with our own ears, saw it with our own eyes, verified it with our own hands.”
Witnesses. Testimonies. Affidavits. Depositions. If we have ever been involved in a legal proceeding or if we have watched courtroom procedural dramas, these terms are familiar to us. The witness is called to the stand to give their testimony as to what they saw or heard. There may be a cross-examination and perhaps, a rebuttal – or not. But their words become part of the written record. “Do you swear to give the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?” The testimony of witnesses is used to both convict and exonerate the accused. Their words have power; they affect the lives of others.
St. John the Beloved sits on Patmos in exile for being a Christian. He had been pastor in Ephesus for many years prior. Unlike the rest of the original, apostolic group, he had not been put to death but sent into exile. He is the last of the original apostles, and he writes as “the elder” to a second generation of believers. He is testifying to Jesus as one of the last surviving men to have personally seen, heard, and experienced the Son of God while He walked upon the earth. His witness is crucial, for false teachers were busily teaching false teachings (after all, that’s what they do, right?). Some taught that Jesus was God who only appeared to be a man; others submitted that Christ was a man used by God for a time. John’s testimony is a direct rebuttal to them all: “I was there. I saw Him. I heard Him. I watched Him. I touched Him. Let me tell you the true story!”
There are a number of historic figures who verify who John was despite the clamor of those who question his identity and his validity. The courtroom has been called to order and John takes the stand. In the face of accusations, we are going to hear John’s words speak God’s thoughts as the Spirit moves “the beloved disciple” to tell us the truth about Jesus.
Prayer: Holy God, move us to approach our Bible as the testimony of witnesses and evangelists and prophets who wrote at Your beckoning. As we hear John speak, move us to hear You and to believe him as the witness to truth and love that You called him to be. Let his words move us to love and to believe as You would have us to live; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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About the Book
From his exile on Patmos, St. John the beloved, the last of the original disciples, writes to encourage the faith of a second generation of believers. They faced challenges of persecution from without and false teachers from within; but they didn’t face them alone. God was still speaking through John’s words. Their pastor was still ministering to them.
The Words of John, Thoughts of God is founded on the Bible as God’s holy inspired word written by the writers he chooses to speak through. The devotions contained show how God works among his people through his word to encourage the church on earth in its faith and practices.
Journeying through the EPISTLES of John, author Mike Ramey delves into the depths of God’s word to share with God’s people the truth, hope, and peace found in the Bible.
About the Author
Mike Ramey has served more than thirty-eight years as a parish pastor, church planter, military chaplain, circuit visitor, consultant, and as an intentional interim pastor. He is a husband to Laura, father to Beth, Ana, Sarah, and Josiah, and grandfather to Colton, Raeha, Calvin, Conner, Benjamin, and Olivia.