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All things created by HIM!, Doing God's Work, Doing it God's way, Ephesians 2:8-10, Genesis 1:1-3, God is Creator!, God's beautiful creation, Isaiah 42:5, Isaiah 45:18, Jesus Creator., John 1:1-4, Praising God in creation., Seeing God in creation., Where do you see God?
Where Do You See God??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #187
I have a rather brief post this evening—well, maybe it will be short—depending on where it goes. I just want to remind us all, especially those of us who claim to belong to Jesus Christ The Lord; we ought to see our God in all the times, places, events and especially the beauty of God’s creation in people and nature, even our trials and troubles—our God is at work (Check out Romans 8:28-39)!
“In the beginning
God created the heaven and the earth.
2 And the earth was without form, and void;
and darkness was upon the face of the deep.
And the Spirit of God moved
upon the face of the waters.
3 And God said, Let there be…”. Genesis 1:1-3a
Notice it doesn’t say that God ‘made’, but rather God said, “Let there be….”; yet there were parts of the creation that God did record as “make”, but the creation came into existence because God “spoke”! Yet, we have allowed the world to rob us of the confidence to know that our God IS the creator, as well as The Son Jesus Christ! When we recognize the indescribable beauty that God gave us to enjoy it encourages my soul and reminds me of the great creative mastery of our God; not even accounting for the individuality that He put into each of us.
Remember how amazed you were when your child was small as you saw that little one grow each day (and for most of us, way faster than we wish they had, but that too is part of God’s plan) and transform into amazing adults. So, the greatest gift of God’s amazing design was that HE sent Jesus, HIS only begotten Son, to be born of a woman, walk this sinful old world without sin (See Hebrews 4:15 & 9:28), and be crucified, buried, and risen again for our salvation (for the Gospel in a nutshell see 1 Corinthians 15:1-5) —how can we not praise and see HIM in everything that HE has created around us. Don’t miss the absolutely intentional way that the Apostle John began his Gospel.
“In the beginning
was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning
with God.
3 All things were made by him;
and without him was not any thing made
that was made.
4 In him
was life;
and the life
was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness;
and the darkness comprehended it not…
…9 That was the true Light,
which lighteth every man
that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world,
and the world was made by him,
and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own,
and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him,
to them gave he power
to become the sons of God,
even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born,
not of blood,
nor of the will of the flesh,
nor of the will of man,
but of God.
14 And the Word
was made flesh,
and dwelt among us,
(and we beheld his glory,
the glory as of the only begotten
of the Father,)
full of grace and truth.” Portions of John 1:1-14
Here we find Jesus as “The Word”’; let’s look at what we find out about Him in this simple passage, may you consider these truths and thank God for them, I do!!!
He was/is/and ever shall be:
In the beginning—
With God—
Was God—
In the beginning with God—
***All things were made by HIM—(Jesus is the “said”)***
Without HIM was nothing made—
In HIM was (/is/ever shall be) life—
He, the life, was (is/ever shall be) the light of men—
HE shines in the darkness—
(but the darkness comprehended “it” not, still doesn’t)
He is the true light…for all who will see—
He came into this world—
Which He created—
His creation didn’t want to receive Him—
He gives power to all who will receive HIM—
To become sons of God—
Births them–***
Not by blood—
Not by the will of the flesh—
Not by the will of man—
(except by The God/Man Jesus)
But BY GOD—
He became flesh and dwelt among us—sinful mankind—
He revealed God’s glory as The Only Begotten of God—
He was/is/ever shall be full of grace and truth—
“Thus saith God the LORD,
he that created the heavens,
and stretched them out;
he that spread forth the earth,
and that which cometh out of it;
he that giveth breath unto the people
upon it,
and spirit to them
that walk therein:” Isaiah 42:5
“For thus saith the LORD
that created the heavens;
God himself
that formed the earth and made it;
he hath established it,
he created it not in vain,
he formed it to be inhabited:
I am the LORD;
and there is none else.” Isaiah 45:18
God created all this beauty and made us stewards of it, to be sustained by it, and to bring glory to God in our stewardship and service to God, no matter our “occupation”.
I love God’s creation—the mountains, the oceans, the beaches, the trees, the clouds, the smiles, and laughter of children (of anyone really, but there’s nothing much more precious than a child’s pure laughter), the hands of a grandma or grandpa, a roaring fire, and snow! I’ve gotten old enough, that I don’t look around much when I’m driving to avoid some of those lovely trees, and in Oklahoma, we don’t have any to spare, but I so love sunrises and sunsets, especially with a cup of tea. May you spend some time today and each day thanking God for the beauty that He has made for us. And of course, the most beautiful thing on this earth—the beauty of the cross on which Jesus died to save you and me. I pray that you know Him, and if you don’t, you can; if His Spirit is speaking to your heart and revealing your sin to you, just call on HIM in repentance for your sin, and faith/believing in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for you. And if you already know Him, then let us all go serve the beautiful Lord Jesus with all we’ve got! By His grace and to His glory—Paul says it’s what we’re created for!
“For by grace are ye saved
through faith;
and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works,
lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus
unto good works,
which God hath before ordained
that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10
Amen and Amen!!!