Note that beginning January 1, 2024, Praythruthebible.com will follow the plan used by The Bible Recap (TBR). For further information, see thebiblerecap.com.
Read Genesis 1-3, source BibleGateway.com
TBR Day 001: Genesis 1-3
The Bible Project Genesis overview videos: Part 1 Part 2
Audio Bibles: BibleGateway.com YouVersion (This year, Praythruthebible.com is using the New International Version, NIV, of the Bible.)
Everything Begins with God
Verse of the Day: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1 NIV)
God Speaks
Read or listen to Genesis chapters 1-3
We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Genesis 1-3:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Genesis 1 *
1. God is the origin of everything, visible and invisible.
2. People are created by God to reflect His image.
*For another perspective on this important chapter, see hopebrokers.org Creation to Christ Series Genesis1:1-25 “God Creates the World.”
Genesis 2
1. God created everything but focused on making human beings in His image and giving them the assignment of managing the rest of His creation on earth.
2. People were created male and female with the purpose of being fruitful and multiplying and serving God by managing the rest of His creation.
Genesis 3
1. God specializes in bringing order out of chaos, light out of darkness, and good out of evil.
2. The first couple sinned by not trusting and obeying God. They passed this trait on to all their descendants.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Genesis 1-3?
It all begins with You, great Creator God. You create (not just make) everything out of nothing by the power of Your word. You bring order out of chaos. You are still creating. We (all humans and creation today) need You to hover over the chaos and bring order, stability, and peace. We need the light of Your presence. We need You to separate the light from the darkness and show us what is good. We need You to organize our lives. You created the beginning of all the things we can see, touch, and hear as well as the things we can’t but that are still real. You created living plants and non-living land. You gave plants the ability to grow and replicate themselves (seeds); rocks and land cannot. Again, You called it good. You are self-existent light, but You created objects to give off light or to reflect it for the benefit of others–the sun, moon, and stars. You declared it good. May we be like them. You created animals and birds that had life and could replicate like the plants, but they could also breathe and communicate with each other and move about in the water, in the sky, and on the land. All that was good, but as the pinnacle of creation, You created human beings to be like You. You gave them the ability to benefit others and life and replication and communication and movement, and (most important of all) You breathed Your Spirit into them and gave them the authority to use and care for all the rest of Your creation. Finally, You declared it all very good. What an awesome and wise God You are. You even had a plan to redeem human beings when the first couple sinned by not trusting and obeying You, passing this trait on to all of their descendants. You laid out how their lives would go and how the deceiver would be defeated. Everything You created was designed to highlight Your mercy and grace and to bring You glory, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on the suggestion below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Genesis 1-3? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will remember to talk with God every time I start a new project or activity and to see how it goes, thanking Him in the process and keeping notes of the results.
- I will ask for God’s direction and help as I try to organize at least one area of my life, money management for example.
- I will take an hour each day this week to get out into the natural environment God created to enjoy it and thank Him for it.
- I will (with God’s help) set up and enact a plan to take better care of the body and soul He has given me.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.