In Leviticus, Moses wrote, “. . . but you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (19:18). In Deuteronomy, he wrote, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (6:5). Thousands of years later, Jesus referenced these two commandments, declaring, “On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:40).
When we apply the Word of God found in the books of the Law to our lives, our goal isn’t to make a to-do list of things that do and don’t apply to us. Although our culture is vastly different from that of the original audience, our purpose for learning God’s Word is the same. We study the Scriptures so that we might love God with all of our heart and love those around us.
In the first chapter of Genesis, God created man and woman in his image. As his image bearers, he appointed them caretakers of God’s created beings: birds of the air, fish of the sea, and beasts of the fields. This stewardship also included filling the earth with more image-bearers through procreation.
God created the earth and gave it to man, who he made in his image, to rule. It motivates me to love and forgive people even though they wrong me. It is good to know that even though man did so many ungodly things, He still loved them so and forgave them. God’s love and forgiveness is eternal, we should love Him eternally too!
I am always amazed by God and how powerful He is whenever I read the story of Creation. When I studied Genesis 1 more, each time God said it was good, it just struck me as really important. And it made me realize that he views each aspect of His creation as GOOD so we should view ourselves and each other as good too.
In Genesis 1, God accomplishes all his work by speaking. “God said…” and everything happened. This lets us know that God’s power is more than sufficient to create and maintain the creation. We don’t have to worry that God is running out of gas or that the creation is in a precarious state of existence. God’s creation is robust, its existence is secure. God does not need help from anyone or anything to create or maintain the world. No battle with chaos threatens to undo the creation. Later, when God chooses to share creative responsibility with human beings, we know that this is God’s choice, not a necessity. Whatever people may do to mar the creation or render the earth unfit for life’s fullness, God has infinitely greater power to redeem and restore. God motivates me to trust, love ,and forgive more. Like what I said here, God trusted mankind to share His creative responsibility and He loved mankind even when they did so many bad things, and He also forgave mankind when when they did bad things. And for example the tower of babel, God still loved the men that did that and forgave them(I don’t know if He trusted them anymore), But the point is He is a merciful God and He will always be!
(sorry again for it being so long)
It teaches me how precious God saw me…as a creation. It encourages me that I am to live and act as His child…An image bearer – what a beautiful designation. I am reminded and inspired to see all other humans as bearing the image of God – whether they are those I naturally am in sync with or not.
It taught me He wanted the best for us, He gave us so much to live a great life. He provided all we needed. I cannot love my God more than I do bc I know what He wants and has done for us, but it reminds me of His goodness. It also reminds me to love as He has.
It teaches me about the Creator and how much He treasures us above all the rest of creation.
Tap in to God’s power and see others through His eyes by spending time with Him 1st thing each morning. Then my heart and mind have rested in Him before the things of the day bombard me.
What Genesis 1 teaches me about God is that he is always preparing things for us. I don’t think it was coincidence that he created everything we would need and things that would benefit us before creating us. I think that is like a reiteration that he will always provide. Let’s think, if he created us first we would have been concerned on how to live, what to do, where to go, etc., but God prepared it all for us so all we needed to do was maintain. He loves us so much he literally made it that easy yet Adam and Eve failed him and we continue to yet his presence is still there and his hands are still held out for us every second of every day just ready and waiting for us to be obedient. And I think with that God wants us to love those around us with that same eagerness and forgiving heart.
God wanted the best. He wanted to be near us. Because He loves me so completely, I can love Him just as completely. Because He loves me, I can love those in my life.
It teaches me that He loved me so much that He created me in His own image and gave mankind charge over everything that he created. this motivates me to love Him more and study the scriptures more.