God of all people, bless and protect this dear reader from thoughts that deter them from realizing the worth and beauty of others; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Genesis 1 to Genesis 2:4a. I invite you to read that on your own; here are some key verses for today: 1:1 First this: God created the Heavens and Earth - all you see, all you don't see. 26 God spoke: "Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, And, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth." 27 God created human beings; he created them godlike, Reflecting God's nature. He created them male and female. 2:1 Heaven and Earth were finished, down to the last detail. 2 By the seventh day God had finished his work. On the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 God blessed the seventh day. He made it a Holy Day Because on that day he rested from his work, all the creating God had done. 4 This is the story of how it all started, of Heaven and Earth when they were created. (The Message)
"Mommy, where did I come from?" "Daddy, where did people come from?" These are questions that humans have asked their parents since day one. "Where is God?" or "Where is Jesus?" These are questions parents have used to teach about God and Jesus. "Up there" or a simple point an infant will use to show that they've been paying attention. And the writer of Genesis is helping in that instruction of both adults and children. God made all things. God made all things good. God made people. God made people good. It's later on as they get older that choices are made and some don't turn out so good.
Our attention for Trinity Sunday is on God. God spoke and told someone, "Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature." The question is who was God talking to? Some say the heavenly court; all the angels and beings that we don't see (refer back to verse one in this version). Most Christians believe it was a conversation between God, God's Son, and God's Holy Spirit and the heavenly court of those who serve God. Did the writer of this first book have that knowledge and where did he get it? Yes, this is a divinely inspired book so that knowledge came from God somehow to his life and as he wrote he wrote about the unseen.
This version of the Bible chooses the word "nature" versus "image" as most versions have. Most scholars believe that the two are interchangeable and correct. Not two humans look alike, yet we're all said to have been made in the image of God. Scholars believe because it's on the inside, where it truly counts, that our nature reflects God. Could you ask for anything better?
PRAYER: Dear God, may my nature and image today reflect You. May my thoughts, words, and actions shine brightly to others that I am blessed with having been made and claim Your nature. May it be so. I pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
