I just want to first wish everyone reading this blog a Happy New Year!
Many people look forward to this day every year in hopes of "starting fresh" with new hopes as they begin another new year. How fitting that we begin our blog for 2016 with the story of creation!
The first verse that stood out to me was verse 3. It reads, "And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light."
It's a simple verse, but what hit me was the fact that this was the first thing God created. He could have created anything else first, but he chose light. I believe this reflects the importance of how we too need to bring our sins and struggles into the light. Light is necessary for making God's creative works visible and life possible, as He brings light to a darkened world; both physically and spiritually.
During the creation process the first 3 days God formed the earth and the last 3 days He filled the earth. What was the first thing He filled the earth with? If you guessed lights, you are correct! (vs 14-15) Both in the creation days of forming, and the creation days of filling, light was the first thing God created in each.
Okay, I am about to jump on a band wagon here........I have heard many people selecting a word for 2016, well I am selecting the word "light". I want to be able to live my life in the light, and know that God will be pleased. No darkness, no closets, nothing behind closed doors, just light!
In chapter 3, we read about the first deception, which leads to the first sin. The response of Eve and Adam to the serpent changed the course of human history. By causing Eve to doubt God's word, Satan was able to bring evil into the world.
It is interesting to see how even with this first and only sin, we begin to distance ourselves from God. When God asked if they had eaten from the tree that He commanded them not to eat from, Adam seemed very fast to blame God for putting this woman there with him (vs 12). Adam blamed God and Eve, but did not want to take any blame. And Eve blames the serpent, which of course God created. It is only when we take responsibility for our actions and repent that we can begin to grow closer to God.
There were three aspects of temptation that Eve experienced:
1. Satan was able to place doubt in her mind as to her dying from eating the fruit, to gaining knowledge instead.
2. The fruit was good for food.
3. The fruit was pleasing to the eye.
Satan says a statement that is only a half truth (Chapter 3:4-5). There eyes were opened, but the consequences were quite different from what the serpent promised.
It is the half truth statements that we need to be on guard for. Spending time with God in prayer and reading the Bible will assist us in protecting ourselves and gaining the knowledge we need to know God's plan. That is why we do this blog!
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Genesis 4-7
5 comments:
17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’
“Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat food from it
all the days of your life.
18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
How much time and effort do people spend everyday removing weeds and thistles from gardens and fields? Farmers spend thousands on weed killers and fertilizers. This problem came because of sin. Sin multiplies and makes problems worse and worse. Like Conrad said, we need to take responsibility and repent. This stops the sin before it becomes a bigger problem.
15 "And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel."
I noticed that beside this verse, there was a reference to Romans 16:20, which reads:
20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our LORD Jesus be with you.
God is a God of peace, and we have the confidence in knowing that one day God will crush Satan through the death and resurrection (grace - a gift that we do not deserve) of our LORD Jesus Christ. And that this day is soon.
Great thoughts and I like your focus word for 2016. May God bring your attention to where He wants you to shine your light this year.
One thing that stood out for me was 'and it was so'. God is always in complete control. He speaks and 'it is so'. What amazes me is that too often we doubt God. We don't think he is big enough or strong enough and we insist on trying to figure things out for ourselves. Or, like Eve, we believe lies that others tell us instead of trusting the One who can speak and make it so.
My word for 2016 is 'still'. Even after all this time God is still teaching me how to trust him. I am still learning. Still changing. Still transforming me into the person He desires me to be. Our verse at school for this year is 'Be still and know that I am God' Psalm 46:10 When I begin to doubt in God's plan for me I want to remember that the Creator of the universe has it all under control.
One thing that struck me was the fact that because God is the Creator of all life, He has authority over humanity. A fairly obvious point, but one that we can't forget!
I appreciated your comments about light, Conrad!
My Life Application Bible pointed out... "God did not need to create the universe; he chose to create it. Why? God is love, and love is best expressed toward something or someone else - so God created the world and people as an expression of his love."
I'm not sure I've made the connection between creation and love, yet again, it seems so obvious!
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