December 2

December 2:

Ornament with symbol of the world

As we look forward to the coming celebration of the birth of Jesus, let us start at the beginning.  Today’s reading is from Genesis chapter 1.

Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."  God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.  God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."  (Genesis 1:26-31)

Our family has learned a series of questions and answers to help us learn about God.  The first three questions we learned go like this...

Q: Who made you?

A:  God made me.

Q: What else did God make?

A:  All things

Q:  Why did God make you and all things?

A.  For His own glory.

The passage we just read in Genesis tells us all of this about God's creation, and it also tells us that He created us in His image.  

We are going to read three more short passages from the New Testament.  As you listen, keep in mind that God made you in His image and for His glory, and see if you can figure out why we would put a symbol about creation on our Jesse tree.

First, from Colossians...

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by Him all things were created,  both  in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him. (Colossians 1:15, 16 NASB)

And also from Romans...

For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.  And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for  our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:22, 23)

One more from John...

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. (John 1:1-4 NKJV)

Why do we put an ornament about creation on our Jesse tree? 

Because Jesus made us and all things!  The Bible tells us that Jesus was the firstborn of all things, and even now all things are waiting expectantly for Him to return.  Our everlasting God is Creator and the source of all life and spiritual light.