Theme: Creator and Creation

     My kids love to create, whether it’s building with Legos or crafting art projects, and they are always excited to show me their creations. Once they finish, they proudly display their work in their rooms. Whenever we have guests, my kids eagerly invite them to see what they’ve made. They keep their creations in their rooms because, as the creators, they know these things belong to them. They’re proud of their work and treasure it because they invested effort and passion into making it.

     The first week’s reading covers Genesis chapters 1 through 11, which highlights the Creator of the universe and His creation. God made the world: the plants, the oceans, the sea creatures, the birds, the dogs—even the cats! But His most prized possession was humanity. God treasured and loved humanity because He made them in His own image.

      Yet, mankind did not respond with perfect obedience and love toward God for creating and loving them. Instead, they responded with disobedience. This week’s reading underscores the story of a good God and sinful people. The first 11 chapters of the Bible reveal that a holy God and sinful people cannot coexist in a relationship. Sin leads to curses (Genesis 3), murder (Genesis 4), destruction (Genesis 6-7), and confusion (Genesis 11). It takes humanity down a dark path.

     For a loving God, seeing the people He created lost in darkness breaks His heart. God made humanity to love and cherish, not to judge and destroy. This is why we have the story of the Bible. God sees the sin of humanity, but the overarching narrative of Scripture reveals a good and loving Creator passionately pursuing His creation. He pursues them with love and grace, seeking to bring them back into a perfect relationship with Him.

     Today, take a moment to marvel at the love of a Creator who didn’t abandon His creation but sent His own Son to redeem and restore.