Author: Ron Moore

God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day. Genesis 1:31 HCSB

The students at Little Flock Christian Academy take tests each year to determine how well they are learning certain subjects in comparison to other schools around the state. This year the LFCA student scores were well above the national average. They have done very well and we are very proud of them. When we accomplish a goal for which we have been striving, we should be proud.

After creating everything in heaven and earth in six days, God stepped back and looked at His creation. He was proud of His accomplishment and stated it was very good. Observing the way that everything was created and how it all works so well together is reason to be proud. I have heard it said, “God does not make junk.”

Challenge: When God created you, I am confident that He stepped back and said, “It is very good.” You are fearfully and wonderfully made by God. Read the book Fearfully and Wonderfully Made by Dr. Paul Brand and Philip Yancey. Listen to the song “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made” by Matt Redman on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ1SgS3ExgM

Note: My son got married on Friday, September 4, 2015 and in all of the activities of the day, First Things First did not get sent out. I am sorry this devotional was delayed in being sent out.

So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female. God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.” Genesis 1:27-28 HCSB

Just recently the Supreme Court of the United States of America ruled that all 50 states were required to issue marriage licenses to homosexual couples. There is one county clerk in Kentucky that has refused to give marriage licenses to any homosexual or straight couple. She is willing to go to jail if necessary because she feels that she should follow God’s laws and authority over the mandate of the Supreme Court.

For years there was no question what the traditional family should be – God’s design of a man and a woman through intimacy in marriage. Now the Supreme Court has redefined marriage. They did not create nor define marriage, therefore they have no right or authority to redefine marriage. God is the One who created male and female and He gave the woman to man. This verse says that God commanded them to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth. God never intended for males to be with males and females to be with females in a marriage relationship. There are many references throughout the Bible that says that homosexuality is a sin. It goes against what is the natural design that God created for a man and a woman to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth.

Challenge: Pray for our country that we might return to being a country that follows the principles of a Judeo-Christian society, as it has for many years. Pray for those who are caught up in the life of homosexual sin.

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on earth.” Genesis 1:26 HCSB

All four of our children have unique features. Both of our sons are tall and thin like I am but other than that, they really do not look like they would be brothers. Our daughters are the same way, they both have unique features and most people would not think they were sisters. In other families the children and parents have very similar features and it is easy to see how they would be brothers or sisters.

This verse tells us that God made man in His image and we are created in His likeness. I do not believe this is indicating that man physically looks like God, but rather that man has the ability to think, reason, and make decisions. Man can also experience love and other emotions like God. God desires to have fellowship with us and has provided a way for us to be forgiven of our sins and receive eternal life in heaven. This verse is one of the first references to the Trinity of God, the Father; Jesus the Son; and the Holy Spirit, all of whom were involved in the creation of the world and mankind.

Challenge: Thank God that He is a creative God and that you are made in His image. Do you spiritually look like God? Seek to model Jesus and do what He did while here on earth.

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. Genesis 1:2-4 HCSB

It would be marvelous if we had the power to say something like, “Let there be a new house,” and ta new house would automatically appear or if we could say, “May this person no longer be sick,” and he was immediately healed or if we could say to the angry waves, “Peace, be still!” and immediately the winds ceased. Only God possesses that type of power. Only God can speak and cause something happen.

The light He created was the sun that is in the middle of our galaxy. Here are some interesting facts about the sun: The sun makes up about 99.86% of the Solar System’s mass. It is about 865,000 miles wide and 1 million earths could go inside of the sun. Around 74% of the Sun’s mass is made up of hydrogen. Helium makes up approximately 24% with other elements such as oxygen, carbon, iron, and neon making up the remaining percentages. Light from the sun reaches earth in about 8 minutes. The temperature of the sun’s surface is estimated to be 9,941 degrees Fahrenheit. Those warm rays are a vital part of the growth of plants and vegetables. Even humans need the benefits of the sun. The sun controls the earth’s climate and weather. This fireball will continue to burn for millions of years. Earth is just the right distance from the sun so living creatures are not too hot or cold. How amazing is the power and precision of God! Everything He created is perfectly made.

Challenge: Thank God for being such a powerful and amazing God. Enjoy the warm rays of the sun and praise God for its light and all He has done for you.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 HCSB

Some people are more creative than others. My son, Nathan, is a web-designer and graphic-designer. He is very creative and develops many different ideas and designs. My wife, Debbie, knows how to do calligraphy and can create some very attractive wedding invitations and other items that need fancier writing. There is a woman in our church who is quite skilled at decorating tables and seems to have an eye for making a table look beautiful with just a few items as a centerpiece.

The ultimate Creator is God. He made the heavens and earth with just a spoken word. Some people believe that the heavens and earth began with a big bang or evolved, but just imagine that the galaxy we live in is spinning at 400,000 miles per hour and it will need 200 million years to make one rotation. There are over one billion other galaxies in the universe just like ours. Some scientists say that the number of stars in the universe is as plentiful as the grains of sand on the beaches of the world. To say that the universe just evolved or just happened is unbelievable. To have everything work in perfect order and efficiency would require the handiwork of a supreme being – God.

Challenge: Just look around and you will see the majestic creation of God that works so perfectly together. The chances of all of this just happening or evolving is impossible. Thank God for His great creation that you are able to enjoy. Listen to the song “Indescribable” by Chris Tomlin on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-zJHgaoVa4

The devotional for today begins another cycle of devotions following the Scriptures for the Explore the Bible curriculum produced by Lifeway Christian Resources. Over the last eight years First Things First has produced devotions using Scriptures from every book in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. I want to say a big Thank You to those who have faithfully read First Things First and followed our progress through the Bible. It has been a wonderful journey. At times I have struggled to find just the right words to write but at other times the words have come with very little effort. God has always been faithful to provide the right message for His people. I also want to say thank you to my wife, Debbie. She has faithfully edited the devotions to make sure they are grammatically correct and worded properly. I could not have done it without her. Thanks again and it is my prayer that God will continue to use First Things First to bless your life and speak to you in some
way.

Ron Moore

And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give water as a gift to the thirsty from the spring of life. The victor will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.” Revelation 21:6-7 HCSB

There have been times when I have worked in the yard in the heat of the day and have become very thirsty. I have to drink a lot of fluids to keep my body hydrated. When I come inside I usually drink several glasses of tea, lemonade, or gatorade to quench my thirst.

The spring of life is a symbol of eternal life. Jesus used the same image with the woman at the well (John 4:7-14). As sinners, we all have spiritual thirsts that can only be quenched by Jesus Christ. He alone provides water and eternal blessings that will eternally satisfy our spiritual thirst.

Challenge: Are you thirsty? Do you thirst for God? Come to the spring of life where you will receive water that will quench your thirst. Thank God for providing all you need to satisfy your deepest spiritual needs and desires. Listen to the song “Come to the Well” by Casting Crowns on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW5unzXXC0k

Then the One seated on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” Revelation 21:5 HCSB

In Genesis we learn that God created the world and everything in it. Just look around and you can see the handiwork of God in every detail – the flowers, the trees, the animals, the insects, and all the creatures of the sea, not to mention man.

In this verse we learn that God, the Great Creator, will make everything new. He will create a new heaven and new earth. This new heaven and earth will be a place where there is no more pain, suffering, and death. As believers we will join God in this new world. We will be made perfect like Jesus and live for eternity in His perfect world. We are assured that what God says is faithful and true. He will complete what He promised.

Challenge: Take a hike and observe the majestic creation of God. Then think of how much more wonderful the new heaven and earth will be. Thank God for His creation, both now and in the future.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away. Revelation 21:4 HCSB

The group MercyMe has a popular song called “I Can Only Imagine”. It expresses some of the feelings and thoughts we may have when we stand in the presence of Jesus and God in heaven. The lyrics are as follows:

I can only imagine what it will be like
When I walk by your side,
I can only imagine what my eyes will see
When your face is before me,
I can only imagine.

Surrounded by your glory,
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you Jesus
Or in awe of you be still?
Will I stand in your presence
Or to my knees will I fall?

Will I sing hallelujah
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine,
I can only imagine.

It is hard to imagine a world where there is no more pain, suffering, and death. Every tear will be wiped away. The world will be a perfect place. No more road rage, no more killings, no more sickness, no more traffic jams, no more late fees, no more bug bites, no more getting older, and no more people taking advantage of others. The list could be endless of the many hardships that will no longer exist. There will be endless happiness and joy as we praise and serve the Lord for eternity. God is preparing a wonderful mansion for us in heaven. I can only imagine what it will be like. What a glorious day that will be!

Challenge: Thank God for giving you the opportunity to have your sins forgiven because of what Jesus has done on the cross and having the promise of eternal life in a perfect place. Listen to the song “I Can Only Imagine” on Youtube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRPGRdbGHSs

I also saw the Holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. Revelation 21:2-3 HCSB

I have had the privilege of officiating at the weddings for three of my children and soon I will have the joy of preforming the marriage ceremony for my fourth child. God has allowed me to be the officiating minister at several weddings and I have attended many others. Without fail, the bride is always the center of attention. She is adorned in a beautiful wedding gown and looks radiant for her husband-to-be.

That is the image that John uses in these Scriptures to describe how the Holy city, the new Jerusalem, will look. The new Jerusalem will be God’s dwelling place. God will come down from heaven to live with humanity. That has and always will be His desire – to have fellowship and a relationship with His creation.

Challenge: God desires to have a relationship with you. His Son came down to earth to pay the penalty for your sins on the cross so you can have forgiveness and a relationship with a Holy God. Someday, God will come down with the Holy city to dwell with His children forever. Thank God for pursuing a relationship with you.