This World Is HIS! - February 1 Readings: Genesis 1, God Creates the World

The Story of the Bible from Creation to the Cross to Eternal Glory

In 72 daily readings, we will examine the overall story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, seeking to get the big picture of God's work through Jesus Christ in this sinful world.

Today's Reading:  Genesis 1

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” There was an evening, and there was a morning: one day.

 6 Then God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters, separating water from water.” 7 So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above the expanse. And it was so. 8 God called the expanse sky. Evening came and then morning: the second day.

 9 Then God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry land “earth,” and the gathering of the water he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, “Let the earth produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.” And it was so. 12 The earth produced vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 Evening came and then morning: the third day.

 14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs for seasons and for days and years. 15 They will be lights in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule over the day and the lesser light to rule over the night—as well as the stars. 17 God placed them in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth, 18 to rule the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 Evening came and then morning: the fourth day.

 20 Then God said, “Let the water swarm with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.” 21 So God created the large sea-creatures and every living creature that moves and swarms in the water, according to their kinds. He also created every winged creature according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them: “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the waters of the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” 23 Evening came and then morning: the fifth day.

 24 Then God said, “Let the earth produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that crawl, and the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. 25 So God made the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that crawl on the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

 26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl[i] on the earth.”

 27 So God created man
in his own image;
he created him in the image of God;
he created them male and female.

 28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawl on the earth.” 29 God also said, “Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This will be food for you, 30 for all the wildlife of the earth, for every bird of the sky, and for every creature that crawls on the earth—everything having the breath of life in it—I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.

Through the Bible Reading: Exodus 17–18, Matthew 21:1–17, Psalm 18:26–32, Proverbs 4:1-2

If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings. 

Devotional: This World Is HIS!

The bedrock of biblical truth is the first five words!

"In the beginning, God created."

 These words are debated, doubted, and even ridiculed, but they speak volumes. From nothing, God spoke and this world came into being and he called that world very good. It was a paradise that was not cursed by sin or death in its original form. Humans were the highest of God's created order, made in his image for his glory.

These words show that time is linear. There is a beginning and an end to this world's story and life has a purpose. It is "from him and through him and to him." This universe is the canvas upon which God paints his masterpiece, the story of redemption that reveals the full glory of God's love and holiness, not a random existence springing from accidents and natural processes. God holds the rein and is working to accomplish his purposes.

God, as the maker of the universe, is also its owner and rightful Lord. He holds clear title to all that he made, including us. He is no interloper or usurper, but the rightful Lord of all.

God's creation was very good, another crucial truth we see in Genesis 1. It was a paradise that revealed the goodness of God, only corrupted when humanity rebelled against the perfection of God and introduced sin into his paradise.

We are made in God's image, a truth we must never forget. We are God's subjects and he is our Lord, but we are also his special creations, with eternal souls. Every human life matters. Of course, that settles major issues that are argued in our world, but it also means that every human being - rich or poor, of all races or national backgrounds - are of infinite value and must be loved and given the gospel of Jesus. We cannot decide that some are more worthy than others. Every person you encounter is an eternal soul made in God's image.

Our God works in time. He's not just a faraway God or some mental exercise. He's real. He made this world and he made us. The world belongs to him and exists for him. He is active in this world. It's his world.

This world is a glorious place that will one day be consummated in glory as Jesus rules it. He made it. He owns it. He has the right to rule it. It's his!

Father, help me to remember that you are my maker, my potter. I am clay in your hands. 

Think and Pray:

As you read Genesis 1, consider all the practical implications of it today.