Well here is the last in our series on creation and today God makes us - people and then has a rest!
To join in you will need an instrument and access to a mirror - so you can admire yourself just as God looks at you and says - wow I made you good! Don't miss the thankful thought for grown-ups below the video. Blessings Claire xx
Thankful Thought 24th Sept 2020 – God made people and then rest! Genesis 1 v26 to Genesis 2 v3.
So here we are at the pinnacle of God’s week of creation – day 6 sees people created and day 7 is a day of rest. There are 2 very important facts to note about God’s creation of people. Firstly the template used : “ Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness” Gen 1 v 26 Here we see the trinity, God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit – is the “our” using themselves as a template or image for people. There is a huge amount in that. I think it is amazing that we are in someway an image or likeness of God but not just God the Father but the trinity - relationship and community is at the heart of being human. We are also like God in our abilities to create, to communicate and to show sacrificial love – characteristics not found all together in any other created creature. I think that image imprinted deep within us of community and relationship is why this current season of social distancing is so very hard for us. However I take heart from the fact that God creates everything from the formless darkness and we have that same creativity in us and we too can create new things when the way ahead appears formless and dark.
Secondly note, we were also made with a purpose – “Be fruitful, fill the earth and subdue it” Gen 1 v 28. We have authority over the other creatures of the earth and later in the chapter we are given the fruits of the trees and seeds as our food. So we should be taking care of this earth – as I said last week – in this fallen world we have let greed spoil so much of the precious gift of our created world and we are paying for that greed in so many ways now. I am interested to see that God’s original instructions were clearly to be vegetarians! – something I am not but I am trying to eat less meat to help save the planet. If only we had followed all God’s original instruction’s we wouldn’t be in this mess!
The seventh day of rest is so important. As a lockdown treat to myself to encourage me to exercise, I purchased a fitbit watch which tracks my exercise and scores my sleep. I have noticed that my sleep is usually better after a good full day of work including some physical exercise. We were made to be creative and active but we were also made to rest. God rested and so should we. It is not easy in this world and especially not easy at the moment to retreat from the world’s pain and find a space to rest. I note that verse Gen 2 v2 says “God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested.” Part of my problem is it feels like so much of my work is never finished – especially the housework…. However it is clearly very important to have a rhythm of work and rest.
So this week let us thankfully remember we are made in the image of God. God sees us and sees that we are good. Look at the formless darkness and think – How can I bring light? Look at the world and think how can I better care for this place as that is my god given purpose? Look at your daily and weekly rhythms and think – how can I better rest?
May God bless you all this week with deep knowledge of his love and with creative inspiration and rest that brings real refreshment.
Love & Prayers Claire xx