Let's begin by reading Genesis 1. The true beginning. God spoke. Now, you understand that there was nothing before the heavens were created. God is the only one who can create something from literally nothing. God created the heavens and placed our earth within it. The earth was without form, empty and dark. That's how life is if you don't know God. It has no form, no meaning. It is empty. Someone may say, "But I have lots of friends". I'm not talking about friends. I'm talking about an emptiness inside that no thing or person can fill. Life is dark without God, as well. In darkness, you have no direction. You feel your way around, but you are never sure of where you are going. Notice in Genesis 1:2, that the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Even in the formless, empty darkness of life, God is there. He's hovering. Awaiting the next move. That move is your move. In verse 3, God says, "Let there be light, and there was light". Now, the sun and the moon and the stars weren't created yet. They aren't created until verse 14! So what was the light? The light was God's glory filling the earth. There is so much in these first three verses, we could sit here for weeks, marveling at these words. Do you have a friend to talk to about the Word? I do. My friend, Angela, and I have spend hours and hours over the years discussing God's Word together. It's such fun! We marveled at these first few scriptures today. We talked of the glory of the Lord. His glory is discussed and noted throughout the Bible. Psalm 19:1 says, "The heavens declare the glory of the Lord and the skies proclaim the works of His hands." Psalm 148: 5 says, "Praise Him all you heavens and all you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the Lord. For He commanded and they were created". In the book of Isaiah, Isaiah had a vision in chapter 6. He saw the Lord seated on His throne and, "the train of His robe filled the temple." There were angels all around and they were calling to one another. They were saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty, the whole earth is full of His glory." The whole earth is full of God's glory!!!!! What a wonderful sight. Isaiah saw the earth in the spirit and it was glorious - literally! Guess what. When you become born again, His very Spirit comes to live inside of you. The glory of the Lord surrounds you. I was at an airport with a friend. We went to a restaurant at the airport for breakfast before the plane left. The man serving us food saw light on us. It was the glory of the Lord. Can you find a few scriptures on God's glory? How about one on creation? Dig around this treasure of God's Word and share what you find below in Comments. Walk in His glory today! Know that it surrounds you. Let your light shine!
Dear Julie,
ReplyDeleteRegeneration in John 3
These different ways of talking about being "born again" describe effects of baptism, which Christ speaks of in John 3:5 as being "born of water and the Spirit."
In Greek, this phrase is, literally, "born of water and Spirit," indicating one birth of water-and-Spirit, rather than "born of water and of the Spirit," as though it meant two different births—one birth of water and one birth of the Spirit.
In the water-and-Spirit rebirth that takes place at baptism, the repentant sinner is transformed from a state of sin to the state of grace.
Peter mentioned this transformation from sin to grace when he exhorted people to "be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).
Thanks Mr Gormley! Love your comment.
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