September 2 Devotional Meditation
By Dr. Patrick Elijah Anyomi
Key Text:
"In him was life [zoe], and the life [zoe] was the light of men.” (John 1:4)
Devotional Meditation:
As we open the Gospel of John, we are immediately taken back before time began, to the eternal Word who was with God and who was God. And in this profound introduction, we find a stunning truth about this Word-made-flesh, Jesus: “In him was zoe.”
Zoe is not merely biological existence (bios); it is not just the breath in our lungs. It is the very essence of God’s own life—uncreated, self-existent, eternal, and abundant. It is the vibrant, powerful, and glorious life that God has in Himself.
This zoe life is what was offered to us in the Garden of Eden through the Tree of Life, and it is what we lost through sin. We were left with mere existence, shadowed by darkness and death.
But the glorious news of the Gospel is that this zoe life is not lost forever. It is found in Him—in Jesus. He is the source and fountainhead of divine life. He came not just to show us the way but to be the way; not just to give good advice but to impart His very life.
And this life, John tells us, “was the light of men.” This is the beautiful connection. The zoe life of God is what illuminates our human experience. It is the light that pierces the darkness of sin, confusion, and despair. It reveals truth, causes us to walk in Divine health, exposes what is false, and guides our path. We are not just forgiven; we are illuminated from within by the very life of God. Our salvation is not a mere transaction; it is a transfusion of zoe. We pass from death to life (John 5:24), from darkness to light, because we receive the Life that is the Light.
This is central to the New Testament understanding of salvation. We are saved by His grace, but we are saved unto His life. We are not just saved from hell; we are saved for the eternal, abundant, and luminous life of God, starting now. To have the Son is to have this zoe (1 John 5:12). It is our new nature, our hope, and our guiding light.
Time of Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we stand in awe of Your Son, Jesus, in whom resides the very life of heaven itself. We confess that we often settle for mere existence, walking in our own dim light.
Thank you that through faith in Christ, we receive His zoe life. Forgive us for looking for light and life anywhere else. Come, Holy Spirit, and fan into flame the divine life within us. Let it shine brightly, pushing back the darkness in our hearts and in our world.
May Your life be our light today—Bringing Divine health to our bodies, guiding our choices, illuminating our relationships, and revealing Your truth. We ask that we would not just know about this life, but that we would truly live it, moment by moment, to the glory of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.