January 08, 2024 | Be God's Light
The Creation of All Things
Scripture: Genesis 1(NIV)
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
6 And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” 7 So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.
9 And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.
11 Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.
14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.
20 And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” 23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.
24 And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27 So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.
31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
Devotional
This year’s study, “Be God’s Light,” begins with the first page in the Bible. God’s very first words on the first day of creation in Genesis 1:3 were, “Let there be light.” Notice that this command for light was prior to the creation of the sun, moon and stars. God’s powerful presence alone was all that was needed for light. The entire Old and New Testaments are a continual story of God’s desire for humans to walk in the light of His presence and to be His light in the world. It didn’t take long for people to choose darkness.
Last year’s study, “Be on Mission,” ended with the last page in the Bible. There, in Revelation 22:5 there is a glorious vision of the restored Garden of Eden for His people: “There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.”
This theme of God as light is weaved throughout Scripture. In speaking of the arrival of Jesus, John 1:9 says, “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” Jesus later called Himself the Light of the world, then told His followers they were the same. We are called to live in God’s light and be God’s light in the world!
Look again at all the days of creation in today’s reading. What stands out to you about how and what and when God created?
Now look at God’s creation of people in verses 26-31. What does it mean that we are created in God’s image? What privileges and responsibilities were people given from the start? When God created everything else He said that it was good. When He created people He said that it was very good. How does it make you feel that God considers you a masterpiece?
Look up Psalm 139:13-18. Read this out loud. What does this say about God’s creation of YOU from the moment of your conception in the womb? How does God feel about you?
Poem
And there you have it
No need for potions
Or waving arms
No voodoo magic
Or chanted spells
No 'Shazam!'
Or 'Abracadabra!'
No lanterns
Or wispy Genies Just spoken truth
Just calling out
From nothingness
To marvelous creation
And there you have it
And there it is
Good God!
Good, God!
