1996-07-24 - Handmade
Good morning friends! Today I want to look at some very familiar verses. My prayer is the Holy Spirit will speak to you with this devotional. All verses this week are from the NIV Bible. All emphasis and italics are added by me. Look at the following verses:
Genesis 1:3 3 And God said, ``Let there be light," and there was light. Genesis 1:6 6 And God said, ``Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water." Genesis 1:9 9 And God said, ``Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. Genesis 1:14 14 And God said, ``Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, Genesis 1:20 20 And God said, ``Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." Genesis 1:24 24 And God said, ``Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind."
And it was so. Notice that God spoke and all these things were created. The fact that He can speak and create is not surprising, being the all powerful God He is. I want you to notice the next verses concerning the creation of man and woman. Notice the difference.
Genesis 1:26 26 Then God said, ``Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." (As a side note, notice the word "us", this is clear indication of the trinity)
Genesis 1:27 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 2:7-8 7 the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. 8 Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. Genesis 2:18,22 18 The LORD God said, ``It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
Now … see the difference. God created, formed, and made man and women. He "hand" made us. I visualize a very loving God taking the dust in His hands, molding, forming and smiling when the finish product was done. I can see His hands forming the woman. I can see HIM breathing the first breath into mankind. What an awesome thought. Little ol me … Hand made by our God!
Now … knowing this, don't you think people matter to God? Sure you do. But, why do we go on hurting people, why do we feel superior to some and inferior to others? Why do we place labels on certain groups of people? Why is someone different from us somehow better or worst?
Remember this, you have NEVER locked eyes with someone who does not matter to God and that was not "Handmade" by God. Therefore, people should matter to us. All people, short and tall, big and small, regardless of "status", regardless of age, heritage, etc.
Dear Lord thank you for revealing these truths to us. Lord forgive me and humble me when I feel superior to others, Lord forgive me and lift me up when I feel inferior. Lord, cleanse me of the labels I have placed on certain groups, cleanse the prejudices out of my heart. Lord, help me to accept who I am, the person YOU Handmade in YOUR image! Lord we praise you and love you. Most of all Lord thank you for your SON Jesus, who scorned all shame, dying on the cross for us. In HIS name we pray, Amen.