E100-01

 

In the Beginning

In these next 5 readings, we discover some important things about both God and humankind. The Bible doesn’t attempt to prove the existence of God but simply asserts that God was in the beginning. It also asserts that God created everything, including humankind, and gave humans certain responsibilities. However, sin (disobeying God) soon came on the scene and people began wreaking havoc with God’s plan for the world. God decided to rid the world of sin through a great flood and so destroyed all life on earth—except for

Noah, and his family. Sadly, not long after the flood, the effects of sin again were evident. In a prideful attempt to prove they were as mighty as God, people began building a great tower up to heaven. God destroyed the tower and confused people’s languages so they could never again join together in such a way.

Our Purpose: To understand basic truths about God, humankind and sin, and how sin affects our relationship with God and others.

Creation

Genesis 1:1-2:25 

My Commentary

You are encouraged to go through steps or process scripture in these steps:

• Pray = in anticipation of what God wants you to discover. Thank You, God, that You made the world and that it is very, very good. You are a great God!
• Read = Genesis 1-2 with purpose look for what God is trying to communicate. You may want to read out of several translations and highlight key words.
• Reflect = on the context and put yourself in the shoes of people at that time. Not everyone believes in God or that God created everything. Do you? If so, on what basis? How important is it to believe in God, and why?
• The beginning of Genesis assumes that God exists. If you agree, what do you think God is like?
• What evidence, if any, for God’s existence do you see in the world around you? What’s your “case for God”?
• Do you think God loves you and that you are important to him? Why or why not?
• Do you believe in sin? If so, how would you define it? Is your definition different from the way most people you know define sin?
• Why do you think sin is so attractive? Share some strategies that have helped you avoid sin and temptation.

• Apply = information without application is fruitless. Decide on some practical steps you can take for fulfill what God wants you to do. While you are walking outside today, take some time to admire something beautiful in nature and ask yourself, “What does this teach me about God?”
• Pray = yielding to God to empower you to do what the word convicted you to do.  Sometime today, spend a few minutes looking into the sky and praying aloud to God.

For deeper Bible study and more resources go to my Commentary Blog notes or Life of Christ Blog notes.

For other parts of the Essential 100 Scripture Series, click on the link with the topic #E100.

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#Creation

The Primary Focus

from Every Day with Jesus Daily Bible.

We focus on what is without doubt the most noble and loftiest of themes: the nature and character of God. I have noticed that Christians, generally speaking, seem to be preoccupied with knowing more about themselves rather than knowing more about God. Ask any Christian bookshop manager: "What are the best-selling books?" Not those that unfold for us the nature of God, but those that direct us toward such things as how to get a better self-image, how to manage money, how to find inner healing, how to get more excitement out of life, and so on. Not that these subjects are unimportant, but they are explored in a self-absorbed way that gives the idea that the most important thing in life is knowing ourselves better. It isn't. The most important thing in life is knowing God better.

John Lancaster, a minister in Cardiff, South Wales, in an article entitled "Where on Earth Is God?" asks the question: "Given a choice between attending a seminar, say, on the 'Glory of God in Isaiah' and one on 'The Christian and Sex,' to which would you go?" He makes the point also that although the church often answers the questions that people are asking, the real problem may be that people are not asking the right questions. In today's church we are far too man-centered and not God-centered.

It is not by accident, I believe, that the Bible opens with the thunderous acclaim: "In the beginning God." I tell you with all the conviction of which I am capable: if God is not our primary focus, then everything else will soon get out of focus.

Prayer: O Father, from this day help me determine to make You my primary focus. And give me the grace and strength to maintain it, through all the fluctuations and uncertainties of the days ahead. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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