With all the noise in the world, do you hear the voice of God? Your calendar tells you what to do, but do you remember who you are? Being comes before doing. This is a call to put first things first. Return to the Lord with this daily pattern of prayer and devotion. Set aside this time as a sanctuary. Find a space free of distraction and follow this pattern.
Invocation
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation
“You have made us for Yourself. And our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” (Augustine)
Creator of all things, hear my voice, for you have made it. You who live in heaven, hear my prayer from earth. I am one person in one little town in one corner of your vast creation. Of all the people on the planet, hear me also. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Confession
O God, in the beginning you made us good, even “very good.” I admit the many things in my life that are far from your good intent. I try to change, and then find myself in the same place once again. Lord, you know me. Have mercy. Make me right. Forgive my wickedness. Bring me back to good, as you intended from the beginning. Amen.
Word: Genesis 1:1
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
Meditation: Why Do It?
Today’s meditation is written by Pastor Paul Cloeter.
Genesis chapter one poses some mind-boggling questions about the beginning of time, the vastness of space, and the existence of matter that fills space. Contradictory answers to these cosmic questions are often theorized or simply stated as fact and then vehemently debated. The result can be confusing for us Christians who want to reconcile the Bible with science. When it comes to the mystery of who, what, when, where, and how of “all things visible and invisible,” perhaps we all, like Old Testament Job in his limited understanding, need to be silenced by God’s rebuke: “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge . . . Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand.” (Job 38:2,4)
Reading Genesis one, I find myself contemplating an even more mind-boggling question; a much more important question: Why? Why would an all-powerful, infinite Being create fragile, finite creatures; creatures who He knew would disobey and rebel and bring ruin to His creation? Why do it, God?
The answer to that mystery begins taking shape already in verse 27: “So God created man in His own image.”
Why does a parent desire to ‘create’ a human being born in his or her image, even knowing that child will certainly bring a degree of pain and disappointment in life? The reason why is Love. Love creates the intimacy of relationship. We know love because “God is love!” As such, love is the cause of—indeed, the elemental principle behind—this universe; of all that is and will be! The entire Biblical narrative begins with mind-boggling love. As the story unfolds in sinful rebellion and the resulting wages of death, God—whose very being is love—would give His only begotten Son in order to redeem His wayward sons and daughters and make of us His new creation.
Creation can easily become just another one of those church doctrines that we mindlessly confess; and at times feel the need to defend with logical argumentation. For me, though, it’s much more than that. Genesis one is the opening page of God’s grand love letter, reminding me that I am not an accidental product of random chance. I am, rather, part of God’s awesome, incredibly designed universe, intentionally and personally made in His image. Furthermore, love caused Him to recreate me in Christ Jesus, making me truly alive…now, and through the end of time in the “new heavens and earth.”
That’s why God did it!
Creator God and Father, I thank You that I am “fearfully and wonderfully made” in Your image, to know love, and to be loved. Amen.
Benediction
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Rom. 11:33,36))