August 28, 2015
Scripture Reading: Genesis 1:1, 26-31
1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
26Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
28God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
29Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.
31God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
Questions for Reflection:
On Sunday, Bret said that there was a fundamental dignity to all work. He says that part of the dignity in work comes from the fact that it follows the example of God who created and formed and made things. What do you notice about the creative narrative found above? What command does God give to humans in verses 28-30? Theologians have called this the “cultural imperative.” We’re called to make, mold, shape, cultivate. What are you helping mold, shape, cultivate right now in your life? What’s getting your intentional effort and direction?