Together in Christ: 'All Together in the Beginning' — Genesis 1:1-2

Saturday, December 28, 2024

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
— Genesis 1:1-2 NLT

Key Thought

Throughout Scripture, God revealed Himself as Father, Son, and Spirit. [1] As Creator, God revealed His three-in-one nature. God, the Son, was present and created everything that has been made. [2] God the Spirit moved over the waters to bring breath and life to what is formless and lifeless. This three-in-one-natured God brings beauty out of nothingness, order out of chaos, and specificity out of randomness. The universe testifies to the goodness of relational harmony rooted in God's relational identity. We have what we have because of God's loving, tender, mighty, and gracious work to create and bring beauty out of nothing and order out of chaos. Then, when humanity broke our world because of our rebellion in the first Adam, God sent Jesus as the new Adam to bring us back to Himself and assure us of immortality and life with Him in glory. [3] Let's praise God — as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — for His plan to redeem us and for His grace which sent Jesus to us to bring us back to Himself! We have our beautiful universe, an assured future in glory, a current life empowered by the Spirit, and an eternal relationship with the God who gave all this to us by His grace!

[1] Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 14:7-8; 1 Corinthians 8:6, 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:1-2.
[2] John 1:1-3; Hebrews 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-17 all emphasize the Son's indispensible role as Creator. We will reflect on these verses in the coming days.
[3] The fall is described in Genesis 3:1-19; Romans 5:12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, 45-49.

Today's Prayer

We thank you and praise you, Almighty God. You are the Father who conceived us in love, the Son who created and redeemed our world, and the Holy Spirit, Whose power inspires us. We desire, O God, to live with each other in ways that reflect Your harmony and grace in Your nature. We trust that You embedded this aspect of your character within us.^ Would you please increase our desire and ability to live with each other with grace and in harmony? We ask that the Holy Spirit enable us to grow into this aspect of Your divine character as we seek You, Lord. We pray this in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.



^ See Genesis 1:26-27 at creation and Psalm 139:13-16 at conception.

Related Scripture Readings

  • John 1:1-18
  • Colossians 1:15-23

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Illustration

Illustration of Genesis 1:1-2 NLT — In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

About This Devotional

Together in Christ is a daily devotional that focuses on what Scripture teaches about godly living in relationships.

'Together in Christ' is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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