TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 2:7-9; John 3:16-18
The holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. - Luke 1:35b
TODAY IN THE WORD
Many cultures have used a father’s first name as the basis for identifying a child’s lineage. For example, sons born to John were “John’s sons.” Eventually, this name contracted to “Johnson.” A look at any phone book reveals many family names derived in this way: Harrison, Thomson, Williamson, and so on.

Names such as these emphasize the link between a father and children. In the Old Testament, the title “son of God” was sometimes used of the nation Israel, stressing their relationship of service and obedience to God and His divine care and protection of the nation.

Yet, as we will see, the title “Son of God” found its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ--God’s one and only Son. Our passage today from John is probably quite familiar to you. Notice how the care and protection of the Father is once again revealed--He loved the world so much that He sent His Son (v. 16). The mission of the Son was not condemnation but salvation: “Whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (v. 16).

Notice also the service and obedience of the Son--He came to do the Father’s will. Jesus’ dependence on the Father is also revealed in His use of the intimate, family name “Abba” when He addressed the Father (Mark 14:36). The intimacy between the Father and the Son is further revealed in the fact that “all things have been committed to [the Son] by [the] Father” (Matt. 11:27).

This unique relationship between the Father and the Son was foretold in Psalm 2. “You are my Son, today I have become your Father” (v. 7). Since Jesus has always been the Father’s Son, the word become in this passage speaks of God’s public declaration of what was already true. This public declaration occurred at Jesus’ baptism (Mark 1:11) and the Transfiguration (Mark 9:7). Even demonic forces were compelled to recognize Jesus as the Son of God (Mark 3:11).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Many Greek and Scandinavian myths present characters who are called “sons of gods.” But these characters are often thinly-veiled humans, plagued by weakness and sin. Only Jesus is the unique Son of God without parallel.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Samuel 7:8-16; Matthew 1:1-16
Jesus Christ, the son of David. - Matthew 1:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
The film “Anna and the King ”presents the real-life story of Anna Leonowens, who came from India to Siam (modern Thailand) to be the governess for King Mongkut’s children. In one stirring scene, Anna’s courage and creativity save the King’s children from certain death at the hand of a would-be usurper to the throne. The importance of these children is quite clear--they represent the future of the country.

History has other accounts of royal children being protected. In fact, the genealogy of Jesus (Matt. 1:1–17; Luke 3:23–38) represents many amazing ways that God faithfully preserved the line of the true King, including the story of King David’s grandparents, Ruth and Boaz. Knowing that Jesus is the “Son of David” is essential because God’s Promised Messiah had to be a descendant of David.

That’s why King Herod was so threatened by the birth of Jesus; Herod was not from the line of David and he knew that he had no legitimate basis for his rule. Herod foolishly thought he could “outwit” God by killing all baby boys approximately the age of Jesus (Matt. 2:13–18). But God preserved His chosen Messiah, whom He had promised from the beginning.

One of these promises is found in our passage from 2 Samuel. King David was one of the greatest kings who ever lived. He extended the boundaries of Israel to unprecedented limits. Yet even with all his greatness, God promised that one of his descendants would be even greater (vv. 12–13). The throne of the kingdom of this promised Offspring would endure forever (v. 13). By the time of Jesus, the rabbis called this Promised One “great David’s greater son.”
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Thrilling accounts of rescue are not limited to movie scenes and royalty.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Daniel 7:13-14; Mark 10:32-45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. - Mark 10:45
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1855, J. Hudson Taylor did a radical thing--he adopted traditional Chinese dress as he ministered through China. Few had taken such a bold step prior to this time. But Taylor knew that if he were to be successful in reaching souls in the isolated, inland parts of China, he must speak the language, dress in traditional clothing, and make every attempt possible to adopt local customs. In short, Taylor knew that he had to become as much like those to whom he ministered as possible. His thinking was clearly inspired: the work of the China Inland Mission was enormously effective in reaching China with the love of Christ.

In God’s infinite love and mercy, He also knew that to redeem His people, He had to become like them. Perhaps this is why Jesus’ preferred title for Himself was “the Son of Man.” In Semitic languages, this term was used idiomatically for humanity in general or for a particular individual. Think back to our study in Philippians 2 (see December 9). Jesus was “found in appearance as a man” (v. . In Daniel’s vision, he said that “one like a son of man” appeared before him (Dan. 7:13). Both verses affirm the fully-human nature of our Lord.

It is significant, however, that Jesus always referred to Himself as the Son of Man, not a Son of Man. Jesus is not merely a human being--He is the human being--the perfect representation of God’s plan for humanity. Only in Jesus Christ do we behold humanity fully restored from the fall.

It’s not surprising that this perfect human being should be given “authority, glory, and sovereign power” and receive the worship of all peoples and nations (Dan. 7:14).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What would it be like if our Savior had not been able to speak our language?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 1:15-23; Revelation 1:5
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. - Colossians 1:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
A lot of studies have come out recently describing characteristics of firstborn children. These people tend toward positions of leadership because that was the role they filled among their siblings. Firstborns tend to be orderly and goal-oriented, and they tend to assume responsibility early.

The biblical role of firstborn is well-developed in the Old Testament. The firstborn received both privilege and responsibilities; for example, the firstborn was to receive a double portion of the inheritance (Deut. 21:17), but was entrusted with carrying on the family name.

By the time of the New Testament, the term firstborn began to refer to something that was supremely important, and was no longer simply confined to birth order. This is probably what Paul had in mind when he wrote Colossians. In Colossians 1:15, we read that Jesus “is the image of the invisible God.” Because “all things were created by him and for him” (v. 16), Jesus is obviously supreme over all creation. In Jesus, all creation holds together (v. 17). The term firstborn well expresses this total supremacy of Jesus.

Not only is Jesus paramount over all the created world, He is also supreme over the re-created, or resurrected, world (v. 18). As we saw earlier (see December 13), it’s not just that Jesus was raised from the dead, it’s that Jesus has been resurrected to a completely new kind of life. As the “firstborn from among the dead” (v. 18), Jesus reconciles all things to Himself, through His shed blood (v. 20). Just as Jesus is preeminent over the created world, so also He is chief over the resurrected world.

As believers, we have been reconciled to God through Jesus. Because we are now God’s children (Rom. 8:14), we have been made “co-heirs” with Jesus (v. 17), adopted into His family. Yet because Jesus is the “firstborn among many brothers” (Rom. 8:29), He will always have the supreme rank over all God’s children.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When the elders and angels in heaven beheld the Risen Lamb, the Firstborn from the Dead, they broke into spontaneous worship.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 2:19-20; Revelation 19:6-9
Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb! - Revelation 19:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
The church bells rang out and the organ played grandly. The moment we’d been waiting for throughout the entire movie had finally arrived: Maria was about to marry Baron von Trapp. Few scenes capture the majesty and stateliness of a wedding better than this one from “The Sound of Music.”It’s hard not to be moved by the celebration and ceremony of a wedding. Perhaps that’s because weddings anticipate the wedding--the Wedding Supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9).

One of the first events recorded in John’s gospel is the wedding at Cana, during which Jesus miraculously changed water into wine, thereby saving the bridegroom from great embarrassment (John 2:1–10). John specifically noted that this event was the occasion for Jesus’ first public miracle; perhaps John was anticipating an even more miraculous wedding to come.

When some challenged Him because His disciples were not fasting as were the disciples of John and the Pharisees, Jesus responded, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast” (Mark 2:19–20). Since fasting and mourning were forbidden during wedding feasts, those who heard Jesus would have most likely assumed that Jesus was referring to Himself as the Bridegroom, as He clearly was.

In Ephesians 5, Paul not only referred to Jesus as the Bridegroom, but he also revealed the identity of His Bride--the church (Eph. 5:29-32)! It’s no wonder that Paul called this truth a “profound mystery” (v. 32).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Because the wedding is such a powerful metaphor of the Lord’s return, here are two suggestions to make this imagery real in your own life.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 13:8; Revelation 21:1-7
I am the Alpha and the Omega . . . who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty. - Revelation 1:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
A Mobius strip may seem an unlikely way to conclude our series on the names of Christ! You may remember from school that a Mobius strip is simply a long strip of paper that has been given a one-half twist and then taped together at the ends. The remarkable thing about a Mobius strip is that you can lay your finger flat against one side of the strip and, as you keep running your finger along the edge, you will trace over both the outside and inside edges of the strip--without ever lifting your finger from the paper!

Yet a Mobius strip is a helpful way to approach New Year’s Eve, when we often look back over the past year’s events forward to the upcoming year. At such times, it is wonderful to remember that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:.

It seems only appropriate to conclude our study of the names of Christ with the description of Christ’s eternal nature found in the book of Revelation that uses the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet--the Alpha and the Omega (Rev. 1:8; 21:6). Elsewhere in this book Jesus’ eternity is des-cribed as the First and the Last (1:17) and the Beginning and the End (21:6). (All three titles appear together in 22:13.) Much of this rich imagery was first used when Isaiah described our eternal Lord: “I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God!” (Isa. 44:6; cf. 48:12).

Another way to understand this eternal name of Christ is to see that He is Lord over creation (recall our study on the Word; see December 10) and that He is Lord over the new creation (recall our study on the First-born; see December 29).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One popular form of poetry is the acrostic, in which the letter of each line also spells a word.

How about writing your own acrostic poem? You could spell out J-E-S-U-S C-H-R-I-S-T or you could list all the letters of the alphabet in a vertical column on a piece of paper.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Judges 1:1-20
Then Joshua sent the people away, each to his own inheritance. - Joshua 24:28
TODAY IN THE WORD
Flannery O'Connor, one of the greatest American short-story writers, was sometimes criticized for her outlandish characters. She explained that they were intentionally grotesque, because “for the hard of hearing you shout, and for the blind you draw large and startling figures.” She could have been describing the characters we'll encounter this month in our study of the books of Judges and Ruth. God has included these stories from the history of Israel in His Word in order to shout some truths to us about His own character.

God has something to teach us in both the structure and the stories in the book of Judges. It sometimes appears to be a string of stories, like a pearl necklace, held together by the common thread of Israel's sin and deliverance. This image is incomplete, however. Judges is one of the most richly textured, crafted, and organized books in Scripture. Rather than a strand of pearls, we'll see the book is designed more like an intricate gold filigree.

We'll see a number of themes emerge: the role of Judah, God's concern for the unity of His people, the relationship between men and women, and the ongoing disintegration of country, family, and individuals as a result of disobedience.

The first phrase of the book, “After the death of Joshua,” gives us the historical context for these events (v. 1). And right away, we see several of our key themes. God designates Judah as the tribe to begin fulfilling His command to be an instrument of justice against the wicked Canaanites. God blesses Judah's obedience with victory.

The story of Acsah is not randomly placed in this passage. We see that she must have been quite a woman, worthy of great and heroic deeds for the right to marry her. We also see her wisdom and initiative in asking her father Caleb for water in addition to her parcel of land, located in the desert. Her story, inserted precisely in the middle of the account of Judah's initiative, illustrates personal initiative that receives a blessing.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Judah took the initiative to obey what God had commanded; Acsah's prudence and wisdom led her to take action to ensure that her family's land would be fertile. Has God called you to obey Him in some area that you've been resisting? Is there some aspect of life where you know that action would be the wise and prudent decision . . . but you still hesitate? Trust in His character to bless and reward initiative!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Judges 1:21-2:5
Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? - 1 Samuel 15:22
TODAY IN THE WORD
The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919 to conclude World War I, imposed restrictions on Germany that Adolph Hitler would exploit to spur the growth of his Nazi Party. Within twenty years, Germany would move from feeling oppressed to invading its neighbors and murdering millions of people, particularly Jews. Throughout history, people who have been oppressed themselves turn into oppressors when given an opportunity—an example of this is in our passage.

Yesterday we saw the obedience of Judah. Today, the story of Judges makes its first downward turn as we read that the Benjamites failed to drive out the Jebusites (v. 21). The chronicle of Israel's failure has begun. Tribe after tribe did not remove the wicked peoples living in the land as God had commanded.

Note that this wasn't due to Israel's weakness. They were clearly strong enough to subdue the people into forced labor (v. 28). It was partial obedience—but the consequences of partial obedience were the same as of complete disobedience. After their experience of forced labor in Egypt, Israel should have known that this was not a long-term solution to their problem of possessing the land. And in fact, the Canaanites would lead Israel into the grave sin of idolatry.

An observer at the time might conclude that the Israelites looked successful. They controlled large portions of the land, they were strong enough to dominate the Canaanites in most areas, and they had several notable military victories. But material success does not equal spiritual success. Israel had failed to follow the commands of the Lord.

After Israel failed to obey God, choosing the comfort of having forced laborers instead of obeying the Lord, they learned the consequences of their sin: God would no longer drive out the Canaanites. The people responded with loud weeping and sacrifices (“Bokim” means weepers in v. 5). But the text has no reference to any repentance on the part of the Israelites.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
You may feel like you're reading a geography lesson in this first chapter of Judges! Most modern readers aren't familiar with these ancient places and names. Like every other detail in this book, the geography gives us a richer understanding of the message. One resource that can help you track the geographical movement of the tribes and the surrounding peoples is the Moody Atlas of Bible Lands, available from your local Christian bookstore or online book distributor.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 11:1-3
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command. - Hebrews 11:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
Did you know you're in ”Faith's Hall of Fame”?

You're probably familiar with Hebrews 11 and the gallery of faithful people listed there. What you may not have noticed is the reference to ”we” who believe in creation (v.3) This applies not only to the original readers, but to us as well. Just as believers have throughout history, we in modern times trust in and follow the Creator God!

John Calvin commented on these verses: ”[We] understand the power of His word, not only as manifested instantaneously in creating the world, but also as put forth continually in its preservation; nor is it His power only that [we] understand, but also His goodness, and wisdom, andjustice.... The faithful, to whom He has given eyes, see sparks of His glory, as it were, glittering in every created thing. The world was no doubt made, that it might be the theater of the divine glory.”

This month we want to take a closer look at this ”theater of the divine glory” as we examine the doctrine of creation. We'll see how closely this vital belief is interwoven with other key aspects of Christian life and doctrine. Along the way, we'll rejoice in the created world and worship our Creator.

Following an introduction, we'll first examine lessons from the Genesis creation narrative. Next, we'll consider how cre ation reveals God's attributes, after which will be a section on the links between creation and redemption. The fourth and final part, by means of favorite nature psalms, will focus on creation and worship. The month will conclude with a ”sneak preview” of the new creation.

If we believe in creation by faith, what is faith? As defined in verse 1, in reference to the past, it is certainw about the unseen (cf. 2 Cor. 4:18). We claim to know what we did not ourselves witness. In fact, no human being saw the creation of the world. Our knowledge is not based on empirical observation or logic, but on a belief in God's trtistworthiness and power.

What do we know and believe? Succinctly, ”that the universe was formed at God's command” (v.3).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Now that you know our topic is the doctrine of creation, ask the Creator to be your teacher and guide through this month's study.

Pray that God will open your heart to new insights into His world and our relationship to it, that He will make real to you the meaning of this essen-tial doctrine, and that He will show you practical application of the biblical truths presented this month.

This will be our prayer for you as well!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 95:3-7
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God. - Psalm 95:6-7
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1715, Isaac Watts penned the words to a classic hymn praising God’s awesomeness as seen in creation, “I Sing the Mighty Power of God.” The first two verses proclaim:

I sing the mighty power of God that made the mountains rise,

that spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies.

I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule by day;

the moon shines full at His command, and all the stars obey.

I sing the goodness of the Lord, that filled the earth with food;

He formed the creatures with His word, and then pronounced them good.

Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed where’er I turn my eye,

if I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky!

This hymn is a powerful summons to worship our Creator, and the same is true of Psalm 95. Yesterday, we affirmed the truth of creation; today, we move to the appropriate response--praise!

Today’s reading makes a connection between the fact that God created and His authority over creation (cf. Ps. 24:1-2). The sea and mountains belong to Him, because He made them (vv. 4-5). Likewise, we should bow down humbly before Him, because He made us (v. 6).

God is our Maker--the creator of both individuals and nations, and for this psalmist, specifically of Israel. “Maker” implies that God is responsible not only for our physical existence, but also for the shaping of our destinies (cf. Deut. 32:6ff.). He is not an impersonal, distant Creator, but a God who cares for and looks after what He has made (v. 7).

The poet uses a metaphor of sheep and a shepherd, which we can also see in well-known passages such as Psalm 23 and John 10. The shepherd image suggests care, protection, guidance, and discipline, as well as kingship (v. 3; cf. Gen. 48:15; Mt. 2:6; Rev. 7:17).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The psalms frequently speak of different physical postures in worship. Today’s verses mention bowing down and kneeling, and other passages also mention lying prostrate, standing, lifting up hands, clapping, and so on.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 1:1-13
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. - Genesis 1:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Paradise Lost,an epic poem by English Puritan John Milton, deals with the Creation and Fall of humanity. In elevated language, he tells a grand story that includes Satan’s and his followers’ rebellion, and God’s plan of redemption.

In Book 7 of this work, Adam is curious to learn the whole creation story, since he can remember only events following his creation on day six. He puts the question to a visitor, the angel Raphael, who has been trying to warn him about Satan. Raphael cautions Adam that God’s creative acts are far above our understanding, but he will say what he can.

Through the mouth of Raphael, Milton retells the Genesis creation story, striving to do poetic justice to the amazing narrative begun in today’s reading.

What is created during these first three days? Light (not the sun), the sky, and all vegetation. This is not only a work of creation, but also of separation: of light from darkness, of waters above from waters below, and of sea from land.

What lessons can be learned from these verses? First, that there was a beginning (v. 1; cf. Ps. 102:25). History had a starting point. The material universe is not eternal. “The heavens and the earth” is an all-encompassing phrase meaning simply that God created everything that exists.

We see also the power of God’s word. He spoke, and it was (cf. Ps. 33:9). Throughout Genesis 1, the pendulum swings from “Let there be...” to “And it was so.” By His power, God made everything out of nothing! Theologians call this idea “creation ex nihilo.” In historic Jewish culture, God’s naming of things--day, night, land, and sea--also reflected his dominion and power.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The scientific aspects of creation are outside the scope of this month’s study, but we encourage you to explore theories of origins for yourself. The Bible is not a science textbook, but where it mentions science we continue to believe it to be God’s inerrant Word.

With this in mind, do some research. What are the varying theories of our origin? What biblical issues are at stake? In what ways have Christians addressed the scientific questions? Ask your pastor to recommend a good book to get you started.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 1:14-25
...And God saw that it was good. - Genesis 1:25
TODAY IN THE WORD
Carl Linné, better known as Carolus Linnaeus, loved botany and spent a great deal of his time in medical school studying it. In 1735, he published Systema Naturae,a system for classifying living things by using two Latin names--for example, humanity is “homo sapiens.” This work continues to influence modern botanists, especially in their naming methods and use of hierarchical classification.

Linnaeus was motivated by a belief in the orderliness of God’s world. He believed that creation would be like a fingerprint, revealing key aspects of the character of the Creator. In making a classification system, he was only discovering an order that was already there.

Today’s Scripture reading confirms that God did indeed build a wise order or pattern into His world. On days four through six, we see the creation of the sun, moon, and stars, as well as of fish, birds (the term includes insects), and land animals.

One evidence of God’s order in creation is that He made living things in “kinds” (v. 25), blessing them to be fruitful and reproduce (v. 22). He created animal species distinct from one another--a view quite different from that of conventional evolutionary theory. Nonetheless, an elaboration of the Moody doctrinal statement affirms: “God created everything 'after its kind’ which excludes any position that allows for any evolutionary process between kinds.”

More order is found in the purposes assigned to the sun, moon, and stars. They are to separate day from night, and to mark seasons and years (v. 14). Indeed, to this day we keep time according to solar and lunar calendars. These purposes may sound ordinary, but they contrasted strongly with how other Near Eastern cultures worshiped these heavenly bodies (cf. Rom. 1:25).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Psalm 136 begins, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.” As we read on, we see that the first items on the psalmist’s “thankfulness list” are from creation, especially in terms of what those reveal about God’s wisdom and power.

Today, why not write your own psalm of gratitude? Give thanks to the Lord for His goodness and love to you! In imitation of Psalm 136, begin with praise and worship based in the created world.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 1:26-27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. - Genesis 1:27
TODAY IN THE WORD
James Watson and Francis Crick are credited with discovering the double-helix shape of the human DNA molecule.

The two scientists faced several barriers, including that they were supposed to be researching other things, and that Crick was still working on his Ph.D. But they also benefited from other people’s research, in particular an x-ray taken by another scientist which Watson was shown without her knowledge. The two built several models of DNA before finding the right combination, and won the Nobel Prize in 1962.

DNA is at the heart of human genetics. Scientists have been working for many years to peer into the secrets of humanity’s creation, and the more they discover, the better a Designer God turns out to be!

It all begins in today’s reading, with the creation of Adam and Eve: God said, “Let us make man in our image,” a formal pronouncement that signals the importance of the event (v. 26; cf. Gen. 5:1-2). (“Man” here includes woman, as verse two makes clear.)

We are the zenith of creation. This is not an egotistical statement, but simply what the narrative points to. Genesis 1 traces its way up the ladder from geographical features (land, sea) to plant life, then to animal life, and now finally to humanity, who is assigned rulership over the earth (v. 26). Although we were created on the same day as the animals, this does not imply that we evolved from them. To quote from the previously mentioned Moody doctrinal statement: “The first human beings were a special and unique creation by God as contrasted to being derived from any pre-existing life forms.”

Unlike the animals, we are made in the “image of God” (v. 27). One commentator explains: “Being in God’s image means that humans share, though imperfectly and finitely, in God’s nature, that is, in His communicable attributes (life, personality, truth, wisdom, love, holiness, justice), and so have the capacity for spiritual fellowship with Him.”
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Since every human being on this planet has been created in the image of God, that makes every human life uniquely valuable!

In light of this, here are several open-ended questions for you to reflect on today: Do you look for the image of God in people? Do you see their God-given value? What would change if you treated everyone you met based on this biblical truth? What you do with your answers to these questions is between you and God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 139:13-16
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. - Psalm 139:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
A remarkable photograph was taken in the fall of 1999 at a hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. In it, a fetus’s tiny hand reaches out from its mother’s womb to grip a surgeon’s finger.

The baby was only 21 weeks old and could have been legally aborted. Diagnosed with spina bifida, he needed an operation to be saved from serious brain damage. The operation wouldn’t cure him, but it could limit the damage caused by his condition.

The baby remained in the womb throughout the pioneering surgery, and the doctors reached in with miniature surgical tools through a slit in the side. He is believed to be the youngest fetus ever to undergo this type of operation, and may be the youngest patient ever in medical history.

To God, every human life, born or unborn, is uniquely valuable. His hand is on the origins of every one of us, as described in today’s verse. From Psalm 139, today we want to develop the idea of humanity’s uniqueness. God created not only the first man and woman--He is involved in the making of every one of us!

David has just described God’s omnipresence and omniscience, truths which both challenge and comfort him (vv. 7-12). There is nowhere he can hide from God, and God sees clearly everything he is doing. How can God know him so intimately and completely? Because He made David.

God sovereignly shapes conception and fetal development. He is described as knitting or weaving us in the womb (vv. 13, 15). (“Secret place” and “depths of the earth” are metaphors for the womb.) He oversees not only our physical development, but our whole person, our “inmost being” (v. 13)--our identity, personality, and character.

God makes us who we are and knows what we will become. Another metaphor, of a book, shows that God has ordained every day of our lives (v. 16; cf. Jer. 1:5). God knows us utterly and completely. If we want to come to grips with who He is, we must realize that He is not only the Creator of ancient times, but the Creator and Lord of us personally (cf. Ps. 119:73).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Given the uniqueness and value of human life, which we’ve looked at both today and yesterday, we suggest that you find a way to participate in the anti-abortion movement. You could research statistics or legal issues, make a financial contribution to a crisis pregnancy center, volunteer to answer phones on a hotline, write a letter to your local newspaper, or pray for people in your community who are currently facing an abortion decision.

Whatever you choose to do, you’ll demonstrate a commitment to the value of human life!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 1:28-31
The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to man. - Psalm 115:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
Reading John 3:16 in his office, college professor Calvin DeWitt noticed something new. While he’d read the verse many times before, he’d never noticed that in the phrase, “God so loved the world,” the Greek word for worldis cosmos.Cosmos means not just humanity but the entirety of the created world. He was struck by the idea that Christ’s redemption has implications not only for people but for creation as well.

Since then, DeWitt has been a leader in Christian thinking about the environment. He has served as director of the Au Sable Institute, an evangelical center for environmental study. He has tried to persuade churches that we as believers have a responsibility to care for creation.

DeWitt and others are motivated by the biblical mandate found in today’s reading. Rulership over creation is a key part of humanity’s blessing and assignment from God (v. 28).

Human responsibility for creation follows from our position at its peak. It’s no accident that God later has Adam name the animals (Gen. 2:19), an act signifying power or authority.

Rulership also follows from our being made in God’s image. It is part of God’s nature to rule and exercise dominion over everything, and in our governance over the earth, He allows us to share in that. Even though we disobeyed Him and fell, and now the way we rule is warped by sin, our responsibility has not been revoked.

Obviously, our rulership occurs in the context of God’s overall sovereignty (cf. Ps. 8:5-8). This means that we should view ourselves more as stewards than as independent monarchs. One day we’ll be required to give God an account of how well or poorly we’ve carried out the awesome responsibility of ruling over the created world.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you practice the principles of good rulership or stewardship over your corner of creation?

Make a list of ways in which you personally can be a good steward. It may include activities ranging from recycling your newspapers to cleaning out your fish aquarium, from putting out a bird feeder and planting a tree in your back yard to participating in environmental debates and decisions in your community.