God's Word for Me Today
Wednesday, December 26, 2001
Unwrapping a Christ-Centered Christmas!
A note about online study
Introduction to God's Word for Me Today
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, I thank You for this new day! Thank You that on the day after Christmas Your love is just as strong as it has ever been, that your grace is just as available, that the light of Your Son, Jesus shines just as brightly. I thank You that because I belong to You every day is a day of celebration and praise, every day is a day of wonder and power, every day offers a new opportunity for thanksgiving. As I open Your Word to the first verses of the Bible today, remind me anew that Jesus is the Word made flesh, the Word who spoke into the darkness and created light, the Word who brings light and life to all who receive Him. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may live in the power of Your Word. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
God's Word for Me Today: Genesis 1:1-5
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was empty, a formless mass cloaked in darkness. And the Spirit of God was hovering over its surface.
3 Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 4 And God saw that it was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light "day" and the darkness "night." Together these made up one day.
Questions for Reflection
When you think of the creation of the universe, what is the first thing that comes to mind?
What one aspect of creation are you the most thankful for?
Questions for Exploration
What are the similarities and differences between Genesis 1:1-5 and John 1:1-5? (1:1-5 and compare to Monday’s reading!)
According to the text what caused light to shine in the darkness? (1:3)
Questions for Understanding
What is the main point made by this Scripture reading?
What is the importance of light in this passage?
Questions for Application
What areas of your life are “empty” right now? Ask God to fill those areas with His Spirit.
Ask God to give you continued joy in the “post-Christmas” season, and to reach out to friends and loved ones with His Good News.
Then God Said...
In today’s Scripture we read of God’s creation of the heaven’s and the earth. We’re told that before God started everything was a dark, empty, formless mass. While the first chapter of Genesis isn’t intended to be a scientific explanation of creation, it is significant that before God started, there was nothing. God specializes in creating something out of nothing. In fact, God has done that since day one! Whether we’re talking about creating a universe, a planet, or a human being, God starts with nothing and creates something. In the Genesis account of creation, we’re told that every time God created something, it was good. That’s significant, because a lot of folks in our day think that the world is a good place, and that we’re basically good people, and that a few social programs, a little government intervention and everything will be fantastic.
That isn’t exactly the way the Bible portrays it. God created everything good, including the first human beings: Adam and Eve. But then Adam and Eve rebelled against God and thereafter the basic goodness of humanity was tarnished forever. No longer could God look at us and say, “It is good.” Even the creation was subjected to a curse because of human sin. Our failure didn’t keep God from desiring to be in relationship with us. God continued to reach out to us. In John’s Gospel we find that Jesus, “the Word” became a human being and lived among us. That was God’s plan for redeeming His world, for restoring the goodness that was lost shortly after creation. But if we turn back the pages from John’s Gospel to the Book of Genesis we see some distinct parallels. In John, “the Word,” Jesus, becomes a person and lives among us. He speaks His truth to us and we learn who we are and how we are to live in relationship to God and one another. In Genesis, God speaks, “the Word,” is God’s creative power. We read time after time, “Then God said…; Then God said….” In each case something new and vital was created: light, planets, plants, animals and so on. In creation God speaks and matter comes into existence from nothing. In redemption (God’s restoring the world to its former goodness, by buying it back through Jesus’ death on the cross) the Word becomes one of us, lives with us, and then dies for us that we may be redeemed—that our sins may be forgiven and we may receive a new life!
In creation and redemption the key is “the Word”—Jesus. It’s never about us, or our goodness. It’s always about the overcoming goodness of Jesus. As we move quickly toward the end of one year and the start of another, may we take the time to reflect on the great gift we have received from Jesus. He gives us the gift of life, temporal life-here and now, and eternal life with Him in the future. May we use the gift of the Word, to speak the words of God to others that they, too, may receive it and enjoy the new life that He alone can give!
To view the studies for other days, visit the God's Word for Me Today calendar.