“14And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.’” – Revelation 3:14 (ESV)
As Jesus dictates to John, He makes clear that all things began with Him. I found that confusing at first until I read a bit further and study the commentary and other verses that go with the words of Jesus.
“Jesus’ self-designation as the beginning of God’s creation does not mean that he is God’s first creation but that he is the one who began God’s creation.” – ESV Commentary for Revelation 3:14
“3All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” – John 1:3 (ESV)
“15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” – Colossians 1:15-16 (ESV)
Jesus is the beginning and everything that begins starts with Him. Not that He was created first, even though verse 15 of Colossians above indicates, but that through Him all things began, as indicated in verse 3 of John indicates.
I would love, as I suspect we all would, to be able to read or hear once and fully understand. That would make things so much more efficient, not to mention how much more we could/would learn. But, what we see and/or hear once is not always the truth nor is it always what really is. It is up to us to spend our time digging deeper to understand.
Reading one verse of God’s Word did not get it done for me. Frankly, without the commentary and the references in my bibles, I would have simply sat here and guessed. As I read and study in the mornings I have 3 open bibles and access to other commentary on the web to assist with my understanding. It is that deeper study that gives me a better understanding and it is not uncommon for me to find more and different meaning later when my study leads me to the same verse.
I encourage you to dig deeper than what you see here and in what you read otherwise. My study is certainly different than yours will be and I want nothing more that for each of us to understand what God has in store for you as a unique follower of Christ.
What does your study look like? Are you looking at one thing and accepting, or are you challenging yourself to dig deeper? Are you willing to study to understand and find?
Trevor's Thoughts 