Listen

Then God said, “Let us make humanity in our image to resemble us so that they may take charge of the fish of the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and all the crawling things on earth.”

God created humanity in God’s own image, in the divine image God created them, male and female God created them.

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and master it. Take charge of the fish of the sea, the birds in the sky, and everything crawling on the ground.”

Genesis 1:26-28

Think

Wake up. Shower. Get dressed. Go to school. Come home. Do an extracurricular activity. Do some homework. Text your friends. Go to bed. Repeat. And repeat. And repeat some more.

Is this all there is to life? It is no wonder that throughout history, humans have been preoccupied with the “meaning of life.” Innumerable books, articles, poems, and songs have been written on the subject.

Today’s text shows us that God acts in a purposeful way. At our very creation, God acted with purpose, creating us with a goal in mind, that we might be stewards of the natural world.

One obvious takeaway is that we all have a role to play in caring for the environment. But there is another message hidden here. God acted with purpose. Perhaps having a clear purpose is what gives meaning to our lives. While that purpose will likely change as we mature, having a purpose transforms the “repeats” into new opportunities and fresh beginnings.

Wade Griffith

Pray

God, remind me to turn to you each day seeking my purpose.

What is your calling on my life today?

Trying to figure out the overarching purpose of my life is scary, so could you just show me what to pursue today?

Amen.

Go

To be saved is to be sent.