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.” Then God said, “I now give to you all the plants on the earth that yield seeds and all the trees whose fruit produces its seeds within it. These will be your food. To all wildlife, to all the birds in the sky, and to everything crawling on the ground—to everything that breathes—I give all the green grasses for food.” And that’s what happened.

Genesis 1:26-30

Think

Before God created something, there was nothing. God had the vision and ability to look at nothing and come up with something amazing! God is not only the Creator, but is creative.

In that creative process, God created a MASSIVE universe! God created something on the first day. Then created again. Then again. And again! Eventually, God created humanity in God’s own image. Humanity was to take up the mantle of creativity. They were told to “fill the earth and multiply,” but not only by making more humans. God also tells them to “take charge” of all living things.

Part of God’s blessing on humanity was to give them authority over the earth. They were responsible for their own existence and the existence of all people and all animals and all vegetation. That responsibility flows down through the generations to each and every one of us. We are responsible for the creative care of ourselves, others, creatures, and the earth itself.

Chris Wondree

Pray

Creator God, Jesus, Holy Presence, thank you for trusting me with the responsibility to care for your creation. Thank you for not leaving me to do it alone. Give me patience to listen to the needs of the earth and all creatures in it. Give me wisdom to make choices that benefit all of creation. Amen.

Go

Go now, knowing the God of Creation, Savior of all people and Divine Presence, goes before you to where you’re headed, stays behind with the things you leave, walks alongside you every step of the way, and works within you to redeem what you believe to be broken.