Today's reading in our plan is Genesis 2. Take a moment to pray, asking God to speak to you from this passage. Then read, using the following notes and questions to help you get more out of the passage.
SAY WHAT? (What is the passage saying?)
- This chapter starts out with God taking a rest. Do you think God was tired? Impossible, right?
- Then we read a more detailed account of God making humankind. God formed us with his own hands and breathed his breath into us.
- Then we read about a perfect garden God created for people to live in but there’s a catch: There’s one tree they’re told they can’t eat from. Weird right? Why make the tree?
- Finally, we read about the first marriage. God created a man and then said it wasn’t good for him to be alone so me made woman. Then God stopped. So . . . does that make women the pinnacle of creation?
SO WHAT? (What are the underlying principles?)
- So, why did God rest when he didn’t need to? God was showing us the importance of times of rest.
- We’re created in God’s image whether we like it or not. That gives each of us extreme value and potential.
- God made the tree in the garden so Adam and Eve would have the freedom to decide to obey him. God gave us the freedom of choice. A lot of people are confused by this. The reason God did this was he didn’t want mindless robots.
- Why would God institute marriage? God made human beings with a desire to be connected relationally. God knew our need for companionship and that’s why he thought up the union of marriage.
NOW WHAT? (How will you personally apply this passage?)
- Often today our lives are characterized by business. Sound familiar? Maybe it’s time we start carving out times of rest within our own lives. Perhaps that’s why so many of us are on the verge of a mental breakdown. Some of us have been at this breaking point for years thinking it’s what it should be. God purposefully showed us we need to rest. So, what are you busying yourself with right now that you could rest from? Or maybe your priorities are out of whack. What should you be focusing on that’s more important? Your craft? Your family? Your relationship with God?
- If we were really created in God’s image, like we talked about yesterday; how would that change the way you see yourself? Who does it change the way you see other people? Does it make you see the homeless person holding a sign on the side of the road different? Does it make you see your client different?
- God loves us so much he gives us the freedom to love him in return. God took the greatest risk of love when he gave us free will. God wants more than anything for us to have a relationship with him but he loves us too much to make us love him. Have you decided to follow God with your life? If you have questions about that or want to make that choice then we’d love to help you. Please email, call or send a smoke signal this week.
- In fact, one of the most “God-like” things we can do is simply make a choice, any choice. Anything we decide to do is an act that God wanted us to have. That’s a whole new way to look at decision making. So, next time you make a choice think about this: Will your choice bring you closer to God or father away from Him? Will the choice you make develop you more into the person God made you to be or not?
- Maybe you have a hard time even believing in God. That’s ok; you were made to do something great so don’t settle for choices of mediocrity... and hopefully your journey will lead you to a place where you want to choose to have God in your life and if so we’d love to help you in anyway we can. Feel free to email me if you have any questions at all. Tommy@tattoochurch.com
- A lot of people think the idea of marriage is archaic and I guess they’d be right if it’s been around since the world began. God created us with a desire to have deep meaningful relationships and he made marriage to be the highest bond we can have with another person in this life. Did you know that a healthy marriage is what God most uses to describe our relationship with Him? Does this idea of a God ordained relationship change the way you see marriage? Does it make marriage more important to you? Does it make you want to work on your marriage? How would it change your marriage if you thought it was as special as God thinks it is?