In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him… In Him was life, and the life was the light of men… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-4, 14 NKJV)

This profound opening to John’s Gospel reveals Jesus Christ as the eternal Logos—the divine Word, the perfect expression and revelation of God. The Word is distinct from the Father (“with God”) yet fully shares His divine nature (“was God”), affirming the Trinitarian mystery: one God in three Persons. From eternity, the Logos existed as God’s self-communication, through whom creation came and in whom life and light reside.

Then, astonishingly, “the Word became flesh.” The eternal, invisible God took on human form in Jesus—the ultimate, living message of God’s love, holiness, and redemption. Jesus is not merely a teacher or prophet; He is the Living Word incarnate. The written Word (Scripture) points to Him, testifies about Him (John 5:39), and reveals His character, attributes, names (e.g., Jehovah-Jireh, Prince of Peace, Emmanuel), and will. Through the Bible, we come to know Him deeply—His holiness, His layered depth, His boundless love for us.

Any genuine pursuit of Jesus must therefore include becoming a devoted student of God’s Word. As we read, meditate, and internalize Scripture, the Holy Spirit supernaturally cultivates a growing love for it. We won’t want to navigate life without it, because “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). If we desire to be guided by God, hear from Him, discern His will, and know Him intimately, this is accomplished primarily through His Word. There He reveals who He truly is.

“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV)

God actively seeks people who are fully committed to Him. Scripture shows this clearly:

“The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart…” (1 Samuel 13:14 NKJV)

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV)

These verses reveal that God desires loyal, wholehearted followers who cultivate dynamic devotion. David was chosen because he pursued God with sincerity (Acts 13:22). The question for us today is: What does this wholehearted pursuit actually look like?

The Word Is the Primary Way We Seek and Find Jesus

True devotion requires diligent engagement with God’s Word. Through Scripture, God reveals Himself, His character, His will, and the person of Jesus Christ—far more clearly than through creation alone.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105 NKJV)
“Direct my steps by Your word…” (Psalm 119:133 NKJV)

You cannot genuinely pursue or follow Jesus without hunger for His Word. There are no shortcuts. The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth and recalls what we have already stored in our hearts through study and meditation (John 14:26; 16:13). Without the Word internalized, prayer easily becomes one-sided monologue instead of true communion—even if we pray daily (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

A lack of hunger for Scripture signals incomplete pursuit at best, or self-deception at worst. Claiming to “hear from God” regularly while neglecting the Word leaves one vulnerable to error. The enemy twists truth; deep familiarity with Scripture guards against deception.

Revival Begins with Hunger for God’s Word

Biblical revival and spiritual renewal have always been rooted in this hunger. In Nehemiah 8, Ezra read the Law aloud while Levites explained it clearly. The people listened, were convicted, wept over their sin, then rejoiced and obeyed—sparking national renewal. True revival flows from hearing, understanding, and responding to God’s Word.

This applies today: After a sermon or prompting during prayer, dig deeper. Test everything like the Bereans, who “examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11). Questions born from prayer or teaching should drive us back to the text.

Practical Outworking: Prayer, Ministry, and Worship from the Word

Reading equips us to pray with boldness and alignment. When ministering to others, stand on specific promises from Scripture. This gives confidence that transfers to those receiving prayer.

Jesus and the apostles often ministered healing through laying on of hands (Mark 16:18). The apostle Paul provides a striking example in Acts 19:11-12, where even cloths that had touched his skin brought healing and deliverance to the sick. While James 5:14-15 instructs calling the elders for anointing with oil and prayer when seriously ill (emphasizing personal presence where possible), Scripture also records the use of cloths in Paul’s ministry. Taken literally where context allows, this shows God can work through simple means. Yet the greater purpose is always to point people back to the Word itself.

When praying aloud—especially in pastoral or corporate settings—Scripture-backed prayers serve a dual role: intercession and gentle teaching. Those hearing can listen intently, come into agreement (or not), and be inspired to search the Scriptures themselves for verification. Whether through personal laying on of hands, anointing, or (in unavoidable circumstances) sending a prayed-over cloth, the goal remains the same: encourage the recipient to pursue Jesus by digging into the Word independently. Teachers are vital gifts from the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:11-12), but personal engagement with Scripture cannot be fully delegated.

Reading God’s Word reverently is itself an act of praise and worship. God is “enthroned on the praises of His people” (Psalm 22:3). Internalizing truth honors Him and aligns our hearts with His.

The Cost of Wholehearted Pursuit—and the Power of Encounter

Jesus warned that following Him requires counting the cost (Luke 14:28-33). The world hated Him and will oppose His followers (John 15:18-20), yet “no weapon forged against you will prevail” (Isaiah 54:17). Weapons will form—but they will not ultimately prosper for those loyal to Christ.

Transforming encounters with the resurrected Jesus produce unwavering devotion:

• The apostles moved from fear to boldness.
• Saul became Paul after the Damascus road encounter, followed by years of preparation (Galatians 1:17-18).
• Peter was restored (John 21) and empowered.
• James, Jesus’ half-brother, believed after seeing the risen Christ (1 Corinthians 15:7).

Nicodemus exemplifies humble pursuit (John 3 :1-21). A respected Pharisee, he approached Jesus at night—humbly seeking answers despite social risk. Jesus taught him about being born again. Later, Nicodemus publicly helped bury Jesus’ body with costly spices (John 19:39), showing his shift from curiosity to sold-out commitment. Real encounters still happen today through humble, Scripture-saturated prayer and repentance.

Call to Action: Start Pursuing Today

Pursuing Jesus, growing in godliness, holiness, and obedience all flow from reading, meditating on, memorizing, standing on, and rightly applying Scripture. In isolation or crisis, internalized Word sustains us.

Begin or deepen today:

• Consistent reading and meditation.
• Truly learning scripture for the Holy Spirit’s recall.
• Prayer grounded in promises.
• Testing every prompting against the full counsel of Scripture.

God searches for loyal hearts. Seek Him wholeheartedly through His Word—and you will find Him. This pursuit ignites personal revival that touches others. May your heart become one fully after God’s own, dynamically devoted to Jesus.