Daily Devotionals

Believe It or Not Week 3 Monday

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

When you see your friend wearing a brand-new pair of the coolest shoes or sporting a new watch, there is a common question that you most likely ask your friend: Where did you get that?” This question gets to the heart of one thing: who created that item you are admiring. You see, we all know that the items we wear or use did not come from nothing. They were created by someone, even if that someone was us. Similarly, yet much grander and more important, creation, including this earth and everything in it, did not come from nothing. It, too, was created by the God of the universe.

Genesis 1:1 introduces us to God as a creator. It says, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” This short verse is full of information. First, God was there “in the beginning.” He has always existed. Never was there a moment in time when He did not exist. In fact, God even created time! The next thing we learn very quickly is that God created “the heavens and the earth.” In other words, He created everything. He created everything in Heaven and earth. All of life originates with Him. 

As we look around the earth and see the beautiful world, people, plants, animals, sky, and more, we are not just looking at these things; we are getting a glimpse of God as creator. We are getting a glimpse of His eye for beauty and His handiwork. Even the laughter of a child originates from Him.  

As you think about this characteristic of God, what stands out to you? Do you often look around and think about the truth that all of life originates from Him? If not, here is your invitation to begin doing that. Nothing was a mistake that was created. He uniquely and perfectly designed everything, and we get to be a part of the beautiful world that He created! In fact, we too are His creation!

Moving Toward Action

We often take for granted the beauty of the world all around us. As you go throughout your day, pay attention to the beautiful world all around you and the people in it. When you notice the beauty all around you, say a prayer to God, thanking Him for creating such a beautiful world He has given us to live in.

Going Deeper

Genesis 1:1-31 (NLT)

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 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.

Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.”

And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day.

Then God said, “Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth.” And that is what happened. God made this space to separate the waters of the earth from the waters of the heavens. God called the space “sky.”

And evening passed and morning came, marking the second day.

Then God said, “Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear.” And that is what happened. God called the dry ground “land” and the waters “seas.” And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” And that is what happened. The land produced vegetation—all sorts of seed-bearing plants, and trees with seed-bearing fruit. Their seeds produced plants and trees of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.

And evening passed and morning came, marking the third day.

Then God said, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years. Let these lights in the sky shine down on the earth.” And that is what happened. God made two great lights—the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set these lights in the sky to light the earth, to govern the day and night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.

And evening passed and morning came, marking the fourth day.

Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.” So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird—each producing offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply. Let the fish fill the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.”

And evening passed and morning came, marking the fifth day.

Then God said, “Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind—livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals.” And that is what happened. God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”

So God created human beings in his own image.

In the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them.

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.”

Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. 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.

Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!

And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.