"As Christmas and Hanukkah align this year, explore their profound connection. Discover how Hanukkah's Festival of Lights commemorates God's faithfulness and how Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, the Light of the World. Together, they shine a powerful message of hope, redemption, and divine light breaking through darkness."
Teshuvah: A 40-day journey of self-examination and repentance, preparing hearts for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
The Genesis account is often read as an origins story. And that it is. As an origins story, it retells the ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian myths couched in the god stories of the ancients. It corrects those accounts and reveals the One God who has always been the primal cause but whose priority has been let to drift in the memory of His creation. His creation had written its own counterfeit stories. Even yet, these myth stories had echoes of truth that God would now re-reveal to His Israelite prodigies on their way to inherit a promise He had set for them from the beginning.
In the annual progression of the Feasts, we observe a dramatic pause between the first three feasts and Pentecost. This interlude heightens the significance of the first four Feasts, which collectively commemorate Israel's miraculous redemption from Egyptian bondage by God's unmerited grace. They also foretell of a time when this same redemption would be offered to all the nations of the earth when the Lamb of God will reveal the meaning of the first Passover's lamb.
Here's a one paragraph excerpt:
In this insightful article, we embark on a profound exploration of the biblical feasts and their intrinsic connection to God's ultimate plan for humanity. Tracing the historical divergence between the Passover and Easter celebrations, we uncover the unfortunate disconnect that occurred when the early church, influenced by prevailing anti-Jewish sentiments, intentionally separated Easter from its Jewish roots at the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE. As we delve into the Summer Feast of Pentecost, we unravel its deep symbolism and continuity with God's promised plan, set in motion at creation itself. Through this illuminating journey, we are invited to rediscover the sacred calendar instituted by God, transcending cultural boundaries, and gain a renewed appreciation for these divinely appointed times that foreshadow the climactic events of the Apocalypse and the glorious return of Christ.
"As Christmas and Hanukkah align this year, explore their profound connection. Discover how Hanukkah's Festival of Lights commemorates God's faithfulness and how Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, the Light of the World. Together, they shine a powerful message of hope, redemption, and divine light breaking through darkness."
The Genesis account is often read as an origins story. And that it is. As an origins story, it retells the ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian myths couched in the god stories of the ancients. It corrects those accounts and reveals the One God who has always been the primal cause but whose priority has been let to drift in the memory of His creation. His creation had written its own counterfeit stories. Even yet, these myth stories had echoes of truth that God would now re-reveal to His Israelite prodigies on their way to inherit a promise He had set for them from the beginning.
In the annual progression of the Feasts, we observe a dramatic pause between the first three feasts and Pentecost. This interlude heightens the significance of the first four Feasts, which collectively commemorate Israel's miraculous redemption from Egyptian bondage by God's unmerited grace. They also foretell of a time when this same redemption would be offered to all the nations of the earth when the Lamb of God will reveal the meaning of the first Passover's lamb.
Here's a one paragraph excerpt:
In this insightful article, we embark on a profound exploration of the biblical feasts and their intrinsic connection to God's ultimate plan for humanity. Tracing the historical divergence between the Passover and Easter celebrations, we uncover the unfortunate disconnect that occurred when the early church, influenced by prevailing anti-Jewish sentiments, intentionally separated Easter from its Jewish roots at the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE. As we delve into the Summer Feast of Pentecost, we unravel its deep symbolism and continuity with God's promised plan, set in motion at creation itself. Through this illuminating journey, we are invited to rediscover the sacred calendar instituted by God, transcending cultural boundaries, and gain a renewed appreciation for these divinely appointed times that foreshadow the climactic events of the Apocalypse and the glorious return of Christ.
Have you ever longed to see yourself as God sees you? To shed the cursed thinking that calls "evil" what He declared "good"? We just wrapped an epic 4-part journey following redemption threads from Genesis 1 into the ancient poetry that still sings over us today. From void to purpose spoken over all things, see how the God who creates and aligns is the God conforming us to Christ's image now. Listen as His grace untangles our striving and releases identity, freedom, and confidence to walk boldly in good works that reveal Jesus to the world. If you've struggled to stand firm in who you are or own the calling on your life, this glimpse behind the first words of Scripture may shift everything. Let it spark a revolution in how you embrace your God-crafted identity.
In the beginning God... (Genesis 1:1)...
God said, ....God saw that the light was good; ...
and the gathering of the waters He called seas; and God saw that it was good. ....
The earth brought forth vegetation, ...;
and God saw that it was good. ...
God made the two great lights, ...;
He made the stars also. ...; and God saw that it was good.
God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, ...;
and God saw that it was good.
Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: ...;
and God saw that it was good. God created man in His own image, ....
God saw all that He had made, and behold,
it was very good. ...”
(Genesis 1:4–31, NASB95)
In the first two installments of this series we explored God's steadfast ‘love’ and righteous judgments over creation. In Part 1 , "God's ‘Love’ Revealed," we explored Genesis 1:4 and learned how God 'saw' and this act of "seeing" conveys a deep relationship with and ‘love’ for His creation. Next, "Seeing and Goodness: Part 2 - Here Comes the Judge," we continued our journey by examining God's declarations of 'good'-ness and their implications for understanding God as the divine 'judge' and His purpose for all things.
Now in Part 3, "Unveiling God's Amazing Grace," we will uncover 'grace' as revealed in the opening lines of Genesis. As God spoke into the void, so He speaks into our emptiness, partnering with us to walk in His purposes.
What can we learn from this? Why does this matter? Here is the treasure I found.
The prophetic pronouncement that creation was 'good' is, perhaps, the first revelation of grace. The earth was not created and then left to itself. It was created, something new that did not exist before, and the new was 'good': It suits God's intent and purpose and aligned with Him in form and function.
It was not declared ’good’ because it pre-existed and was 'good' on its own merits. It was 'good' because it had been made so and declared so by its creator. For it to remain 'good' it must continue to align with the Creator and His purposes. That is the battle recorded throughout the rest of scripture — this is the solution toward which all scripture leads.
So it is with us according to this F-SP of grace in creation. Humanity, created in God's image, was initially declared 'good.' But, with the "fruit fiasco," perpetrated by Adam and Eve, the alignment for which we were created was interrupted.
Even so, God's mercy was not content to judge us so that we were cut off. He 'judged' us as His. As we follow this story through scripture we find that, just as at the beginning, we were re-created in the image of God in Christ, and in that re-creation, we were re-declared 'good' again.
It is by God's words spoken over us and in us that we are re-aligned with Him in all things, agreeing with Him about the 'good' that He has re-created in us. Reflect on Paul's words:
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for 'good' works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10 (emphasis is mine)
This is a narrative of mercy, redemption, and our Creator's commitment to His masterpiece. Being re-created in Christ, we are again judged as 'good' and appointed to 'good' works just as when we were first created in His image.
This First-Sentence Perspective (F-SP) principle focuses us on God's character in Genesis 1:1. It's the foundational perspective for comprehending grace and God's intentions for creation. By this, we reflect Heaven's will into the earth through 'good' works according to His grace.
Paul reminds us we are, by His grace and re-created through Christ, new creations:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Co 5:17
The darkness and emptiness within us have been separated and the 'good' has been revealed. The 'good' is that which was ascribed to us when we were first created in God's image. Having been drawn back into emptiness, we are now re-created in Christ to again reveal and proclaim God's image. This is a powerful First-Sentence Perspective based on the character of God revealed in this fourth verse of scripture — Our exploration finds grace revealed already in the opening lines of Scripture.
God calls into being that which is formless and empty, speaking goodness and purpose over the void. Through Christ, He does the same for us: reshaping and redeeming our emptiness into something "good."
Finally, in Part 4, we will consider what this grace perspective means for our lives today. As God's workmanship - His poetry - how might we lean into this identity? Finding purpose and meaning as we walk in the goodness He has prepared.
In this second installment, we delve into God's divine 'judgment' as a manifestation of His deep love for creation. The act of 'seeing' and declaring 'good'-ness in Genesis 1 sets the stage for understanding Jesus as the compassionate judge, mirroring the divine pattern. Explore how 'good' in God's eyes doesn't mean perfection but purpose, aligning with His original intent. Join us on this journey of divine alignment, human potential for 'good'-ness, and the redemptive grace found in Jesus.
Read more to uncover the profound implications of God's judgments and humanity's enduring potential for goodness, despite the impact of sin.
Join me on a four-part exploration of Genesis chapter 1 tracing a few key words in the creation narrative that reveal profound truths of God's character and purposes. In This Part 1, "God's ‘love’ Revealed," we will see that God ’saw’ His new creation, and fell in ‘love’ with all He had made. The writer of Genesis reveals creation in a 4-part pattern:
God ‘commands’ – “Let there be…, Let the ….”
God ‘sees’ – “God ’saw’ that it was …)
God ‘names’ – After each ‘Let there…’ is a name or description of what should be.
God ‘judges’ – As He ‘sees’ what He created, He judges it as ‘good.’
The most important words you may ever read are those found in Scripture's sentence.
"In the beginning...", are found in Genesis 1:1.
Immediately these words build anticipation and create perspective. What will we learn from the beginning? Why is the beginning important for us to know, so important that it must come first?
The answer is, to develop a First-Sentence Perspective for our relationship with God.
To fully grasp the meaning of "In the beginning...", we must understand the context and original audience. When God began to write down His story, He chose these words of all the words he had available to Him. Tell us far more than we usually understand. It is these seven Hebrew words, and the creation narrative that quickly follows, that help us make sense of everything else in life: Where did we come from and what are we meant to be?
Opening with the first verse of Genesis, this blog post unpacks the deep meaning and far-reaching implications of the declaration "In the beginning God ...." It analyzes how this first sentence systematically dethrones pagan gods by establishing the Lord as the sole Creator. The article explores how Genesis 1 counters nearby creation myths and reorients Israel's perspective of God's supreme authority. It also shows how the opening book of the Torah establishes the groundwork for comprehending humanity's rebellion and God's redemptive plan through a covenant people. The author highlights intertextual links of this First-Sentence Perspective, noting how New Testament writers pick up the threads back to the beginning of Scripture and center Christ as the fulfillment of its unified narrative.
Here is what might seem to be a ridiculously obvious statement: Jesus was focused first and foremost on God!
Even though you might think you already know that don't dismiss it too quickly. I'm not saying that Jesus had a pet project and He thought it might be cute to put God's name on it. That's how we do it. It is absolutely and unequivocally not what Jesus did.
Moses receives a personal restoration to an F-S-P for his life in Exodus chapters 3 and 4. He is invited into the biggest God-event since the world-wide flood. He is to be sent as God's representative to accomplish God’s will in the earth and in the people whom God has chosen for the same purpose—the not-yet-existent nation of Israel.
