April 24, 2020

“Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.” (Genesis 2:19 NKJV)

     Just as with Adam God formed all the animals but notice there is no CPR though they are defined as living creatures.

     Modern “science” teaches early man was primitive and had only rudimentary communication skills but Adam shows remarkable intellect by naming ALL the animals. What intellect not only to name all the animals but to also remember their names!

     We see the evidence of man’s dominion as Adam names the animals instead of God. As Creator God had every right to name each animal but let Adam name them. 

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

 

April 23, 2020

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7 NKJV)

     Here we have the first case of CPR in history! The word breath is used as a symbol of the Holy Spirit and later Jesus would reveal He is life. Jesus does not give Life, Jesus IS Life.

     God “formed” man from the dust of the “ground” and like the CPR we have a very personal and intimate picture of the creation of man.

     The word formed is used often as a potter forming clay. The word ground means land, earth and something worth of construction.

     We are presented with a wonderful example of the Trinity here as the Father formed man, the Holy Spirit was breathed into man and Jesus made man a living being!

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

April 22, 2020

“Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” (Genesis 2:1-3 NKJV)

     In six days God finished Creation. Some ask how could God create all of this in six days? Others ask why did it take God so long?

     On the seventh day God three times reminds us about its importance.

1. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done

2. and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done

3. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

     God reveals to us the importance of work but also the importance of rest! God rested to show us how important rest is for us. We all need a sabbath as this would come to be called and throughout the Old Testament this would continue.

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

April 21, 2020

“Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:31 NKJV)

     The sixth day was full of creation but also drawing together all of Creation into a wholeness and harmony. Everything worked together and every need was filled. The duty of all was to “be fruitful and multiply”!

     On the other days God declared it was good but on the sixth day God said “and indeed it was very good”. Could it be very good not only because Creation was finished but also because all had come together in harmony?

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

April 20, 2020

“29 ¶ And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. 30 “Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so.” (Genesis 1:29-30 NKJV)

     God has given everything that is needed for all God has created. Every herb and fruit needed for life has been provided for man, the beast of the earth, birds and what creeps on the ground.

     It is interesting there is no mention of the creatures of the sea. Could it be they were provided for when the water formed the sea or when those who swim in the sea were created?

     Everything God produced had seed so they could be fruitful and multiply. God’s plan is for all to not just procreate but to be fruitful.

 

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

April 19, 2020

“Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”” (Genesis 1:28 NKJV)

     God commands man: male and female, what their place is in His Creation. To fully understand mans place in Creation it is helpful to understand what some of the important words mean.

Fruitful – cause to bear fruit to, to produce fruit.

Multiply - to become many, to become much to be plentiful.

Fill - consecrate, accomplish, replenish

Subdue - bring into subjection, bring into bondage, keep under

Dominion - rule, dominate, prevail

     As God has complete dominion so man who is created in God’s image will also have dominion over the earth and all which dwell there.

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

April 18, 2020

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27 NKJV)

     Once again we have the word image and the lesson before helps us understand the meaning of this word.

     But now we have a clearer picture of man that is surprising. The to see the image of God in man God can only be understood as man is seen in the male and female joined together.

     Some have problems with the word man often used in the Bible but to God man can only be seen as male and female. Man cannot be male just as female cannot either. Only when male and female are united can we see man.

     The God who makes man in “our” image makes man as them! We can see this in marriage, Israel of 12 tribes yet one nation and Christians seen as a body and as the wife of Jesus! 

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

April 17, 2020

“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”” (Genesis 1:26 NKJV)

     In this verse we have a revelation of God which is surprising as the word God is plural. “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness:” The Hebrew word God here is plural.

““Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4 NKJV)

     The Jewish belief their God is One was unique in a land where many gods were normal, usually with a god for each need. Many of these gods were used by many towns though each towns version many be different. Some towns even made a god more powerful than others and thus the central god.

Image is the same word used when the Philistines made images of the tumors and mice God plagued them with.

Likeness means to means to be like, to compare to and to think and imagine alike.

Dominion means to be over, to dominate, to tread down. The root meaning is to scrape or to scrape out.

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

April 16, 2020

“24 ¶ Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and it was so. 25 And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:24-25 NKJV)

     With remarkably few strokes the artistic Creator fills in the background of the trees and grasses with a diversity of life on land just as God did in the air and seas. Each creature is thought out to each cell and even DNA working together for life.

     Just as the day before each creature was formed “each according to its kind”. God not only calls each to be fruitful and multiple but even defines who that would be. Order is set for life.

     What about dinosaurs? Evolution says dinosaurs existed before man despite many ancient cave paintings showing humans hunting them. Genesis tell us “every” living creature was made by God on this day. If so, did not Adam and Eve walk with dinosaurs?

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

April 15, 2020

“20 ¶ Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” 21 So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 So the evening and the morning were the fifth day.” (Genesis 1:20-23 NKJV)

     On the fifth day the wondrous and lustrous world is enhanced as the waters and sky are filled with “creatures” of all kinds! The silent earth is suddenly flooded with the sound of many creatures and their songs join together like a great symphony! The praise for the Creator has begun!

     Each of the creatures was made after their “kind” which means to be portioned out and is often used for species. God used kind for the animals which could reproduce or be fruitful and multiply.

     God blessed the creatures. The word blessed here is used in an intensive and imperfect sense. In Greek this means a firm or intensive action which continuing and not yet complete.

April 14, 2020

“14 ¶ Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; 15 “and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. 16 Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. 17 God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.” (Genesis 1:14-19 NKJV)

     On this day the “lights in the firmament of the heavens” are created and the stars, sun and moon are created. God “set” them to be for seasons and signs for us and for the first time evening and morning are divided by the sun and moon.

     Once again Creation takes place as God said. What God says is a design and order but we are not given much detail. With a few words our solar system and universe are created! As we learn more and more about the depth, beauty and order of the multitude of galaxies and universes the awesomeness of Creation and also the Creator grows!

     “And God saw that it was good.” Each layer of Creation fits together and makes it better and greater. To us the order of Creation may not make sense but looking at the resulting beauty and order we see, even after the fall, still reveals the wisdom of the Creator!

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

April 13, 2020

“9 ¶ Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 So the evening and the morning were the third day.” (Genesis 1:9-13 NKJV)

     Here Creation becomes something we can understand. Read this verse slowly and you can almost see it happening! Close your eyes and think about what is taking place. See the waters gathered like for Moses and God’s children and the way to the promised land appear before them!

     See the grass, herb and fruit trees spring forth from the drying ground and the beauty of Creation enhanced with so many colors! Each one created for a purpose and to fill a need. Each one revealing the artistic talent of God!

     From the first God calls Creation good. Good means pleasant and agreeable to the senses. The pleasant experience of walking in creation surrounded by the scent and colors of the grass, herbs and trees!

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

April 12, 2020

“6 ¶ Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” 7 Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day.” (Genesis 1:6-8 NKJV)

     “Then God said”. God spoke and out of nothing it came to be which is called ex nihlo. John chapter 1 names Jesus as the Living Word of God and part of creating Creation.

     The word firmament means extended surface or expanse. It comes from the root word to stamp, stretch or make broad. The word firmament here seems to imply something between the waters on the dry land and waters in the sky. This obviously is not what we consider land so what could it mean?

    It is interesting to know the word for water came to mean chaos which is the meaning of sin. If Jesus had power over the water what would that mean to a Jew?

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

April 11, 2020

“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”” (John 8:12 NKJV)

     Though not a part of the revelation of Creation this verse may help answer the questions about what Light really is considering Light came before the sun, moon and stars.

     “I am the light of the world.” Jesus is obviously not referring to Himself as the sun, moon and stars. This is important to understand because worshiping these objects often occurs. Is Jesus referring to Himself as the light of the first day of creation? “I am” is the name God answers Moses’s question.

     “He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Darkness also existed before the sun, moon and stars as seen in creation. What is this darkness? Or, who is this darkness? The second part of this verse is quoted by Jesus about Himself with words I Am declaring Jesus is God!

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

April 10, 2020

“3 ¶ Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.” (Genesis 1:3-5 NKJV)

     This verse reveals the great mystery of Creation and the Creator. In this passage God “said” “Let there be light”; and there was light. This Light would form each day by darkness and Light and thus day and night were formed. The darkness came first in the first day and then Light became day.

     The Jewish day begins as darkness comes and lasts until darkness comes again. Their day is from dusk to dusk soCreation forms the Jewish view of day even now.

     But we are left with a question about “So the evening and the morning were the first day.” How could there be Light before the sun, moon and stars were formed? What is the source of this light? What is the source of the darkness?

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

April 9, 2020

“1 ¶ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:1-2 NKJV)

{The name Genesis is actually the first three words of the Bible – “In the beginning”.}

     There is so much contained in these first verses of the Bible which help us understand God by and through Creation. Here are just some of the descriptions of God worthy of meditation:

In the beginning (The root word for beginning means to shake.)

God created the heavens and the earth

The earth was without form, and void

and darkness was on the face of the deep

And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters

     Each statement can have more than one revelation for us about God and together form an amazing description of God. In these verses we see the beginning of Creation and a revelation of the Creator.

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

April 8, 2020

“For who in the heavens can be compared to the LORD? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the LORD?” (Psalm 89:6 NKJV)

     Who can compare “to the Lord”? God is the greatest is whatever realm as each realm is a creation of Him! The Bible teaches God created “ex nihlo” or out of nothing! Not only did God create the heavens and the earth but also the fundamental ingredients that make up creation.

     The psalmist proclaims no one can be compared to the lord which has the meaning of to put everyone in a line or order by who is the best. Then the psalmist asks who can be likened to God which means to resemble, to think like and in comparison.

     But we are left wondering just who the psalmist means by those in the heavens and the sons of the mighty. We could easily say in total everyone but that is just ignoring the question of who they are.

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

April 7, 2020

“And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O LORD; Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints.” (Psalm 89:5 NKJV)

     Contrary to most thought the Bible presents a view of creation which is must deeper and much harder to understand. Ethan deepens our view of nature by combining the worship of the heavens and of the saints.

     Take a few moments to form a picture of this in you mind. How does this compare to coming together for a Sunday worship service? When you worship God look beyond your eyes and through your soul realize you are part of a great unending worship service!

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

April 6, 2020

“«A Contemplation of Ethan the Ezrahite.» I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever; With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 89:1 NKJV)

     The Hebrew word for contemplation means a wise and proper teaching usually in the form of a poem, song or Psalm which brings growth and prosperity. Ethan has contemplated God and shares with us the “fruit” of his contemplation.

     Ethan begins with God’s mercy and faithfulness and promises sing forever, and to all generations of the goodness of God. Notice Ethan speaks not just of God’s mercy but mercies. Makes one wonder what is the difference?

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

April 5, 2020

“16 Your fierce wrath has gone over me; Your terrors have cut me off. 17 They came around me all day long like water; They engulfed me altogether. 18 Loved one and friend You have put far from me, And my acquaintances into darkness.” (Psalm 88:16-18 NKJV)

     Heman screams from the depth of his soul that God is destroying him. Look at his words:

Your fierce wrath has gone over me

Your terrors have cut me off

They came around me all day long like water

They engulfed me altogether

Loved one and friend You have put far from me

And my acquaintances into darkness

     Heman offers a terrible picture of all God has taken away and also of who God is. What can you say to someone like Heman? What can you say to God?

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

April 4, 2020

“6 You have laid me in the lowest pit, In darkness, in the depths. 7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me, And You have afflicted me with all Your waves. Selah” (Psalm 88:6-7 NKJV)

GOD HAS DONE THIS! Our suffering is God’s responsibility the Psalmist declares! Yet the Psalmist ends his declaration with Selah or amen – so be it.

Why did God allow such suffering? Why does God allow such suffering? When you cry out in the darkness of your suffering what does God say? Do you hear only silence? Well, Selah, amen – so be it.

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

April 3, 2020

“1 ¶ «A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. To the Chief Musician. Set to “Mahalath Leannoth.” A Contemplation of Heman the Ezrahite.» O LORD, God of my salvation, I have cried out day and night before You. 2 Let my prayer come before You; Incline Your ear to my cry.” (Psalm 88:1-2 NKJV)

The vast majority of the Psalms start with a time of suffering and even anger then end with hope but Psalm 88 is different. From beginning to end Psalm 88 speaks of the fear and anger of the Psalmist!

It is interesting God allowed Psalm 88 into the Bible. But could it be God reveals to us two things. First it is right for us to share even our angry heart to God and second God’s answer may not come as soon as we want. By the faith by which we come to God we must also wait upon God.

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

April 2, 2020

“1 ¶ «A Psalm of David. To bring to remembrance.» O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure! 2 For Your arrows pierce me deeply, And Your hand presses me down.” (Psalm 38:1-2 NKJV)

It is so easy for Christians to believe God will keep them from all hurt and pain or even think they deserve to be protected. Wouldn’t God protect His children from pain and suffering?

Throughout the Bible we see God’s people suffer persecution for serving God or suffer because of their sin. The closest One to God was Jesus and as described in Psalm 22 His suffering was horrific. Do we deserve less?

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

Devotions

April 1,2020

“«To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.» The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.” (Psalm 14:1 NKJV)

Today is April fools day and we face a world-wide pandemic which kills, distances and destroys. The “wise” tell us what they do not know and leaders attempt to do what they cannot do. We ask questions even though we do not know enough to ask the correct questions.

God alone knows the true questions and the answers. When you go through any time of trial or trouble spend time with the God who loves you and will see you through all you will face!

Your prayer

Give God thanks for what you have.

Praise God for who He is.

Ask for God to use you today.

Into death I fall, my body devoid of life

will someone close my unseeing eyes

close my gaping jaw so like deaths maw

giving some dignity death rips away

cold spreads through but I don’t feel

my once flowing flesh becoming hard

my fleshly clothes slowly will decay

will I be buried or be burned to ash

no longer is that important to me

I have paid the price of sins price

as dying we die, the price of our sin

sin of believing I can be my own god!    5/3/2020