In The Beginning …

Made On Purpose with Purpose

First, something to make you smile…

One day a group of scientists got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. So, they picked a spokesperson from among themselves to go and tell God that they were done with him.

The brave scientist yelled out to God and said, “God, we have decided that we no longer need you. We are to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so you can go back to your sabbath rest. Everything is now under our control.”

God listened very patiently to the scientist. After he had finished his speech, God said to him very kindly, “Very well, but before I go, how about this? Let’s say we have a man-making contest.” The scientist boastfully replied, “Okay, great! Not a problem at all.”

Then God added, “Now, to make sure we are on equal footing, we are going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam.”

The scientist responded almost quizzically, “Ok. Sure, no problem.” He then bent down to grab a handful of dirt to start his project.

Knowing what he was going to do, God looked at the scientist and scolded, “No, no, no. You need to get your own dirt!

Something for the Mind…

I believe that everyone who is even vaguely familiar with the contents of the Holy Bible knows the first five words in the first book, which read: “In the beginning God created…”

We are not here to argue the theory of Creation versus the theory of Evolution. I happen to believe it is true that both exist in their proper context. However, as a person of faith, I cannot help but celebrate what I believe. That is the fact that no matter how all life forms have evolved over time, the total package (meaning the universe, the sky, the land, and the seas) the total package was designed in such a way as to sustain life for many thousands of years.

With the aim of connecting our thoughts to God’s intent in the beginning, I would like for us to consider the following medley of 3 verses borrowed from the first and second Book of Genesis, which I took the creative liberty of arranging for added clarity:

So, the adjusted verses read as such:  God created mankind in his own image.  He took [them] and put them in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. He blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.  Rule over the fish in the seas and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Now, let us break that artfully crafted, collaboration of verses down and consider what they could mean about God’s intent and our purpose.

Number 1: God created mankind in his own image: meaning he designed us to be like him and therefore his cohorts (or allies) operating in his creation.

Number 2: He took them and put them in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it: meaning, he assigned Adam and Eve, (and by extension, us) tasks and therefore giving them purpose.

Number 3: He blessed them and said to them “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it: meaning he established his directives and set his expectations for a rewarding return on his initial investment, if you will.

Number 4: He told them to rule over the fish in the seas and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” – Meaning He made us stewards over the works of his hand. Stewards are not rulers; they are workhands, co-creators, and caretakers.

Isn’t it fascinating that of all the powerful foul of the air? Of all of the fiercest beasts of the land and in the fields? And of all of the breathtaking fish and creatures in and under the seas? Isn’t it fascinating that God entrusted the most important work of the further development and stewardship of his great creation to the ones who he purposely made in his image?

In the beginning God created…and he did so with eternity in mind. As a person of faith, I believe that everything that He made was made on purpose and ultimately for his purpose.

Something for the Heart and Soul…

Meditation Verse: Genesis 1:28 – “Be fruitful and multiply”.

Those are action words.

Let us take a few moments to meditate on those action words by substituting more modern-day versions for each. As you read them one at a time, think deeply about what each word means to you, and then personally affirm that we embody the meaning and spirit of the word.

Where we are instructed to be fruitful, let us:

• Be productive
• Be successful
• Be effective
• Be prosperous
• Be rewarding…

And where we are instructed to multiply, let us:

• grow, (in faith, in love, in understanding)
• reproduce His virtues
• develop, (ourselves, others)
• magnify,
• enlarge our territory.

Tip of the Week

As we begin to celebrate our purpose, let us celebrate our Creator and commit to discovering our specific purpose in His infinite creation. Let us unashamedly wonder aloud about ‘our what’. Or ask Him to show us his way or what he has for us individually not only in the world but more importantly in His kingdom.

Most of all, let us commit this day and going forward to unwrapping our gifts, discovering, and developing our purpose, and living in it for our joy and to the glory of God.

Appeal for Purpose

Now that we feel empowered, we are going to close out with an ask:

We cry out in delight to you, God Most High, who fulfills your purpose in the lives of your people.

In you, all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. All things have been created through you and for your glory.

Lord, you knitted us together in the secret place in our mothers’ wombs. You devised a plan for each of us, to prosper us and do us no harm. And in this, you will work everything out to its proper end.

Lord, we are your handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which you prepared in advance for us to do. Therefore, we continually ask you to fill us with the knowledge of your will through wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that we may live a life worthy of you and please you in every way by bearing fruit in every good work, growing in knowledge of You, being strengthened with all power according to your glorious might so that we may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to you, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of your holy people in the kingdom of light.

For you have rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son whom you love, and in whom we have redemption, and the forgiveness of sins.

Please guide us by your Spirit into our purpose. Let the wisdom of your word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path as we endeavor to find meaning according to your will and your way. In that way, our joy is made complete.

It is by your Spirit and in the name of Jesus the Christ we pray this prayer.

Amen