Intro: For our Advent season this year, I have chosen to enjoy the Jesse Tree by sharing a 24-day practice to prepare us for the celebration of Christ’s birth; the event we celebrate and honor at Christmas. From the root of Jesse’s stump, we will discover or rediscover the people in the family Tree of Jesus Messiah who were instrumental in bringing the presence of God near to us in order to revive the Spirit-led family of faith. With each day’s reading, we will add a new symbol—an ornament—to our family tree.
Today, we begin our journey and our symbol is the world.
It is important to remember God created all things in heaven and on earth through the Word, breathed the Spirit of life into creation, and declared his workmanship “good.” Therefore, from the beginning it has been God’s story to reveal and, by faith in our Creator, our story now to live. Depending upon our vantage point, the earth can appear huge or very small all at the same time. For example, glimpses of the earth from space reveals the grandness of continents and oceans, yet it also becomes clear from that same vantage point the earth is small in comparison to the universe around us. Such is our God. He is up close and personal and at the same time beyond our ability to comprehend or encompass.
From the beginning of Scripture, we note God’s desire was to be present and a part of everything He created. He brought order and life to that which was void and lifeless. I can only imagine how excited the Creator must have been as he looked around at what His Word and Spirit made: day, night, waters above/below, creating land, seas, trees, seed-bearing plants, sun, moon, sea life, animals, and then the crowning achievement—a man and a woman to reveal His image [nature and character] in the world. Everything created would then take root, multiply, and procreate life.
Creation is truly a wonder; it speaks to my heart and allows me to follow the love of God for me. Creation is a personal gift for each of God’s children; we are to take good care of the world and one another because in doing so, we are acknowledging our Creator and sharing our gratitude for designing such a beautiful place. Every part of our world is unique and we have been uniquely designed to enjoy life in our place of the world. Yet, we must realize there are tangible things we see around us and understand and, because we are made by the Almighty invisible God, there are things around us we cannot see but are nonetheless still true and waiting to be discovered. Therefore, faith must lead the way for all our journeys.
OT Testament Reading
Genesis 1:1-2, 27-30 NLT The Account of Creation
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.
27
So God created human beings [Heb. ha-adam] in his own image.
In the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
28 Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”
29 Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. 30 And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—everything that has life.” And that is what happened.
New Testament Readings
John 1:1-3 NLT Christ, the Eternal Word
1
In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2
He existed in the beginning with God.
3
God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
Colossians 1:16 NLT Christ Is Supreme
15
Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
16
for through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
Prayer: Lord, we thank you for making this beautiful world and for drawing near to us through relationship. We know you are supreme in authority and power over heaven and earth. Please open our eyes to see the creative ways you have chosen to renew our souls through nature, the work of your Living Word, and to trust your care for us in the Spirit for the things we cannot see. Because you are compassionate, creative, and entirely good, please continue to mold and shape us as we enjoy life with you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.