Day 1 - Read the Bible in a Year

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 2024 Read the Bible in a Year

Monday, January 1, 2024

Day 1: In the Beginning God Created

Prayer:

Creator God, 

You have given us to live in a wondrous place.

Thanks for whales, and birds, and ducks.

The air we breath and the discoveries we make.

For people we love and for all things we need.

Help us continually have the courage to change the world to a place like Eden even though we may never see it ourselves.

In the name of Jesus! Amen

Song: A Beautiful City

Background:

Genesis 1:1-3:24 is a significant passage in the Bible, encapsulating the creation narrative in the Book of Genesis. The passage opens with the powerful statement, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). This succinct proclamation lays the foundation for the rest of the narrative, emphasizing the divine origin and purpose behind the universe's existence.

The subsequent verses detail the process of creation, unfolding in six days. Each day sees specific elements of the cosmos taking shape under God's command. On the first day, God separates light from darkness, establishing day and night. Subsequent days witness the creation of the sky, seas, and land, along with vegetation, celestial bodies, aquatic creatures, and land animals. The pinnacle of God's creative work occurs on the sixth day when He fashions humanity i n His own image, bestowing upon them the responsibility to steward the earth.

Genesis 2 provides a more detailed account of the creation of humanity, emphasizing the intimate relationship between God and the first man, Adam. It describes the creation of Eve, the first woman, from Adam's rib, symbolizing their unity and partnership. The narrative also introduces the idyllic setting of the Garden of Eden, where God places Adam and Eve and grants them dominion over all creation. However, the story takes a tragic turn in Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve succumb to the temptation of the serpent and disobey God's command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

The consequences of their disobedience unfold in Genesis 3:14-24, leading to the introduction of sin, shame, and expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Despite the human disobedience, God displays mercy…

Source: ChatGPT 3.5 to the question about the first three chapters of Genesis. DE edited some conclusions and the naming of God.

God gives all and wants to continue in relationship with humanity despite humanity not wanting it.

Reflections:

God has, is, and will keep creating to eternity.

God gives us all that we need or thinks we need.

In the Lord’s Prayer, when we pray, “Give us today

our daily bread to me is one of God’s continuing act
of creation.  Martin Luther explains it this way:

“Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.”

Source: ELCA Catechism Sheets

Our response to this and all creation is thank you, God!

Question of the Day:

How do you participate in God’s continuing creation?

Tomorrow Readings:

1/2 Day 2 Genesis 4:1 – 5:32 

2024 Read the Bible in a Year is a featured Bible Study to inspire spirituality. This plan has been used in the past on The Bible in Time blogsite with new material and reflections included.
© 2024 Dave Eitland. All Rights Reserved. Free for faith community use.