Reading For Monday Genesis 1:1-2:3

The Bible is a library that tells one incredible story. All sixty-six books tell the story of the rescue of man and creation through Jesus Christ. Where do you start when it comes to a story of this magnitude? The same place every story starts... at the beginning. Genesis gives us the origin story, but the inception of this story is a start that one cannot begin to fully comprehend. God exists eternally, but Genesis gives a glimpse of eternity past before God created anything. It shows that God chose to create and show his power through divine and spoken word. The universe came into existence in time and space through a creative God. God's creation has both diversity and individuality. God is sovereign, giving both priority and dominion according to his design and plan. God is perfect thus everything he created was good. 

God separated his creation during the first three days:

Light / Darkness
Waters / Waters
Earth / Seas

God filled his creation during the last three days:

Sun / Moon / Stars
Fish / Sea Creatures / Birds
Mammals / Reptiles / Man

The apex of God's creative activity was the creation of man because mankind was created in God's image. Giving man dominion also was a separation from all the rest of creation. This is why the sanctity of human life matters in all areas. The sanctity of human life requires consideration in all causes– whether war, social justice, race relations, abortion, or euthanasia. Even the question of gender must be viewed through God's goodness in creation. Men and women equally share God's image and together exercise dominion. Although mankind is to have dominion,  that rule comes with responsibility. That responsibility includes procreation, conservation, and preservation. When creation was completed, God rested and made that day holy. God did not rest because he was weary, he modeled the need for rest. Our need for rest reminds us that we are not God. This story is just a glimpse of the truth that God is glorious and beautiful as his creation reflects.

Things To Consider:

• If God is the creator, what does that tell us about all things and why does it matter?
• Why are the implications of things being created by a word?
• How does the passage sound when you substitute Jesus' name for every place you see the word God? (John 1:1-5; Colossians 1:15-20)
• What can we learn about gender and marriage from the creation account?
• Do you thank God for creation regularly?