January 1 & 2

January 1 Genesis 1 I love studying creation. I love science. Why? As was said by somebody smarter than I, "Studying science is thinking God's thoughts after Him." My wife once came across a Christian who was surprised that we taught science in our home school. The person's surprise was because she thought that one could not truly teach the Bible and still study science. What a ludicrous thought. Where do Christians get these ideas? It is the glory of Jesus that He is our Creator. It is the glory of Jesus that He has given us His word, the Bible. Jesus is always consistent with Himself, maybe not with our logic but always with Himself. The Bible is always true on whatever subject it speaks because it is God's word. God does not use lies to teach us His truth. The Bible, properly interpreted and understood, never conflicts with true science. If there is a conflict, it is either because we have not properly interpreted the Bible or we have not properly interpreted science. You see, it is the glory of Jesus to be consistent with Himself. It is always incumbent upon us to see the glory of Jesus by first properly interpreting the Scripture and then by properly interpreting science. So what happens when science and Scripture conflict? First we make sure that we have properly interpreted the Scripture. Having done that, we make sure we properly interpret science. The glory of Jesus is that His word concerning creation is always true. He was there when it was created. He knows how it was done. He can accurately describe how it was created. He can describe it in a manner that is appropriate for all people of all cultures of all times. We tend to think that what scientists say is without error and the Bible--well let's take it with a grain of salt. Actually, we ought to be thinking the Bible is without error and what scientists say--well let's take it with a grain of salt. If you hold what scientists say above what Jesus has said, you are obscuring His glory. Get out of the way and let God be God! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today! --Pastor john January 2 Genesis 2 In Chapter 1 we read, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; . . . 27So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Here we get a fuller explanation of how He created them in His image. Part of the image of God is seen in our rule over creation. Part of the image of God is reflected in our marriages. At this time no sin was in humanity. God called it very good. He makes sure that Adam knows that it is very good. He makes Adam name all the animals before He creates Eve. In so doing Adam profoundly realizes his aloneness. When God finally creates Eve and brings her to him, he is really excited, “This is now!” or as the New Living Translation puts it, “At last!” Adam needs this woman to be complete in reflecting the image of God! Did you ever stop to consider that not only you are to reflect the glory of God, but also your marriage is to reflect the glory of God? Hmm. . . What are the relationships like among the three persons who are one essence in what we call the trinity? What is the relationship like with the one with whom I am one flesh? Does it reflect the glory of the Godhead? It should! The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are completely in love with each other. Everything they do, they do out of love for each other. That is the way He wants my marriage to be, so that I may reflect His image. So if I truly understand the glory of God, it will improve how I treat my spouse. Why? It will improve it so that I may reflect His glory. Lord help! Let me love my wife like each person of the Godhead loves each other. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today! --Pastor john