Starting a New Series "God's Big Story" with Genesis 1-2

S = Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

v. 3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26 “And God said, ‘Let there be…’ And it was so.”

v.31 “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.”

O = One of my first observations is that there is a literary technique being used in chapters 1 & 2 (where it almost appears that there are two creation stories) that needs explanation.  I like to think of a computer directory tree with the little file-folder icons. Gen 1:1 is the first level folder with the over view of all of creation. You want more detail you click on the folder and it lists the contents of that creation week. Day 1, Day 2, Day 3...etc. The author then does the same thing at chapter 2:4. It is like clicking on the Day 6 folder for more information about how God made the garden and made man. Two other observations, that jump out at me are: (1) What God says happens; (2) God forms the water, land, sky, and space (Days 1-3) and then he fills them with living creatures (Days 4-6) any other order of business would be neither loving nor wise; (3) All God does is good, and when all the “goods” come to completion it is “very good.”

A = I need to remember that if God says something then he will bring it to completion. There is no need for me to worry and doubt. His promises to me are powerful! I also need to give God room to work in my life according to his wisdom and love. First he forms and then he fills, I should practice patience this week knowing that when I pray God is working in me and in others to prepare us for his final answer.

P = O Lord, you are an awesome God! When I consider the “who” of creation I am overwhelmed by your power, wisdom, creativity, and loving care demonstrated in creation. I am humbled to think that you did it all to prepare a land for your people to dwell…and then in your abundant grace you chose me to be one of your people. May I be filled with faith in your creative power this week! Open my eyes to see your goodness reflected in what you have made.

2 Timothy 3:15-17 “All Scripture—Breathed out by God”

S =  “…and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

O = I have heard many sermons on the teaching, reproof, correction, and training part of this verse…it is truly amazing what the Bible can do to equip us as messengers of God’s love to the world. This verse is also used often to defend the authority and inspiration of all parts of the Bible, which is also correct. However, I think we often miss the forest for the trees. “All Scripture is breathed out by God” think about that for a moment. As I read those words I had the phrase “all scripture” echoing in my mind—referring to the whole not just the collection of the various parts we like to read. It is the whole thing, the great majestic story of God’s redemptive love for mankind that equips us. It is the whole counsel of the Word of God that corrects and trains us. We have to learn to see the parts in relation to the whole if we are to avoid error and imbalance.

How is the Scripture described in this verse? I think we tend to jump to the word “profitable” to the point of overlooking that it is first “breathed out by God.”

What happened the first time the breath of God is mentioned in the Bible? It is in Genesis 2:7 “then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.”

A = What if I looked at the Bible as God’s breathing into me his life (Eze. 37:9), his Spirit (John 20:22)? How would it change the way I read it? What life does God want to breathe into my soul this week? What dry bones does he want to raise up to a life of effective ministry in me during the weeks to come? I find I need to read the Bible:

• quickly—so as to pick up the overarching story of God’s love.
• devotionally—so that I hear him speaking life and truth to me in the process.
• continually—so my bearings don’t become confused and love for him doesn’t grow cold.
• in community—so we can share and embrace what we are hearing.

P = O Lord, thank you for breathing out your Word for us—first in history lived out, then in words written on scroll or page so that your story could enter into and change our future for the better…that what was once dust and without life or meaning might become a living creature, and better than that a child of God in Christ by the Holy Spirit. May others catch wind of it and be joined together in your great story! Amen.