Created in Love: Our Divine Purpose and Stewardship
Summary
In our journey through the "Love Beyond Words" series, we embark on a chronological exploration of God's love, culminating in the ultimate demonstration of love through the events of Good Friday and Easter. Today, we delve into the profound truth that we are created out of love. This is not a mere theological assertion but a foundational reality that shapes our identity and purpose.
From the outset, it is essential to understand that God, in His perfection, did not need us. Yet, He chose to create us for the purpose of relationship—a relationship where love flows from Him to us and back to Him in a complete circle. This divine intentionality is evident from the very beginning of creation, as recorded in Genesis.
As we read the creation account, we must do so with the understanding that Israel, surrounded by pagan nations with their own creation myths, was given a unique narrative. This narrative was not about multiple gods or elemental deities but about one God, Yahweh, who is both all-powerful and all-loving. This God did not just create the universe; He brought order to chaos, transforming it into a cosmos—a well-ordered whole.
On the sixth day, something extraordinary happened: God created mankind in His image. This act sets us apart from all other creation. We are the only beings capable of having a relationship with our Creator, understanding and reciprocating His love, exercising free will, and creating life that reflects His image.
As we reflect on the creation account, we see that God's love is not just proclaimed but demonstrated. He created a universe that is not only good but very good, with mankind as the pinnacle of His creation. We are called to be stewards of this creation, to care for it, and to recognize that it is Yahweh who has made all things.
During this Lenten season, let us draw closer to our Creator, fall deeper in love with Him, and live out our purpose on this Earth. We are created out of love, and it is this love that we are called to share with the world.
Key Takeaways:
- God's act of creation was not born out of necessity but out of a desire for relationship. He who is complete in Himself chose to create us so that we might share in His love and return it in kind. This divine choice underscores our inherent value and the purposeful intention behind our existence. [38:15]
- The Sabbath, a day of rest and reflection, is a gift from God that allows us to pause from our labors and focus on our relationship with Him. It is a day to worship, to receive instruction, and to grow in His likeness. The practice of Sabbath is not merely a ritual but a rhythm of life that aligns us with our Creator. [38:58]
- The Trinity's involvement in creation, as indicated by the plural language in Genesis, reveals a complex unity within God Himself. This early reference to the Trinity invites us to ponder the mystery of God's nature and the depth of the relationship within the Godhead that spills over into His love for us. [21:01]
- Being created in the image of God is a profound truth that encompasses our capacity for relationship, love, creativity, and moral choice. To understand what it means to be made in God's image, we need only look to Jesus, the Incarnate Christ, who perfectly embodies this image and lived among us. [21:52]
- Our role as stewards of creation is not just a task but a sacred calling. We are entrusted with the care of God's creation, reflecting our unique status as beings created in His image. This stewardship is an expression of worship and a response to God's love, demonstrating our love for Him through our care for the world He has made. [23:23]
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Genesis 1:1-31 - The Creation Account
2. Genesis 2:1-3 - The Sabbath Rest
3. John 1:1-5 - The Word and Creation
### Observation Questions
1. What does Genesis 1:1-31 tell us about the order and process of creation?
2. How does Genesis 2:1-3 describe the significance of the seventh day?
3. According to John 1:1-5, who was present at the beginning of creation, and what role did they play?
4. In the sermon, what is the significance of the term "Elohim" used in the creation account? ([05:02])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important to understand that God created the universe out of love and not necessity? How does this shape our view of our relationship with Him? ([38:15])
2. How does the concept of the Trinity being involved in creation deepen our understanding of God's nature and His love for us? ([21:01])
3. What does it mean to be created in the image of God, and how does Jesus exemplify this image? ([21:52])
4. How does the practice of Sabbath help us align our lives with our Creator, and why is it more than just a ritual? ([38:58])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the idea that God created you out of love. How does this truth impact your sense of self-worth and purpose? ([38:15])
2. The sermon emphasized the importance of the Sabbath as a day of rest and reflection. How can you incorporate a Sabbath rhythm into your weekly routine to grow closer to God? ([38:58])
3. Considering that we are created in the image of God, what specific actions can you take this week to reflect His love, creativity, and moral choices in your daily life? ([21:52])
4. The sermon mentioned our role as stewards of creation. What practical steps can you take to care for the environment and demonstrate your love for God through stewardship? ([23:23])
5. How can you use the Lenten season to deepen your relationship with God and live out your purpose on Earth? What specific practices or disciplines will you adopt? ([38:58])
6. The sermon highlighted the unique narrative of creation given to Israel. How can understanding this narrative help you engage in conversations about faith with those who have different beliefs about creation? ([02:55])
7. Reflect on the idea that God’s love flows from Him to us and back to Him in a complete circle. How can you actively participate in this flow of love in your relationships with others and in your worship of God? ([38:15])
Devotional
Day 1: Divine Relationship by Intentional Creation
God's creation of humanity was an intentional act of love, designed to establish a relationship with us. This divine choice to create us in His image reveals our inherent value and the purposeful intention behind our existence. We are not accidents of nature or afterthoughts; we are the result of a deliberate decision by a loving Creator who desires to share His love with us. This relationship is meant to be reciprocal, with love flowing from God to us and from us back to God. Understanding this can transform how we see ourselves and our place in the world. We are not just creatures; we are beloved creations, called to live in a loving relationship with our Creator.
[38:15]
Genesis 1:26-27 (ESV)
"Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."
Reflection: How does understanding your creation as an intentional act of God's love change the way you view your purpose and identity?
Day 2: Sabbath: Rhythm of Divine Alignment
The Sabbath is a divine gift that invites us to pause from our daily routines and align ourselves with God's rhythm for life. It is a day set aside for rest, worship, and reflection, allowing us to focus on our relationship with God. Observing the Sabbath is not about adhering to a strict set of rules but about embracing a rhythm that fosters spiritual growth and closeness with our Creator. It is a time to be refreshed, to receive instruction, and to grow in His likeness. By practicing the Sabbath, we acknowledge God's sovereignty over our time and our lives, and we open ourselves to the transformative power of His presence.
[38:58]
Exodus 31:16-17 (ESV)
"Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. It is a sign between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed."
Reflection: What changes can you make to observe the Sabbath more fully as a day of rest and connection with God?
Day 3: The Trinity's Creative Fellowship
The plural language used in Genesis to describe the act of creation hints at the complex unity within God Himself—the Trinity. This early reference to the Trinity invites us to ponder the mystery of God's nature and the depth of the relationship within the Godhead. The love and fellowship that exist among the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit overflow into the love God has for us. By recognizing the Trinity's involvement in creation, we gain insight into the relational aspect of God's nature and how it shapes our understanding of love and community.
[21:01]
Genesis 1:1-2 (ESV)
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters."
Reflection: How does the concept of the Trinity challenge and enrich your understanding of God's love and your relationship with Him?
Day 4: Imago Dei: Reflecting the Divine
Being created in the image of God (Imago Dei) is a profound truth that encompasses our capacity for relationship, love, creativity, and moral choice. To understand what it means to be made in God's image, we need only look to Jesus, the Incarnate Christ, who perfectly embodies this image and lived among us. As bearers of God's image, we are called to reflect His character in our relationships and actions. This identity empowers us to live with purpose, to love deeply, and to engage with the world in ways that bring glory to our Creator.
[21:52]
Colossians 3:9-10 (ESV)
"Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator."
Reflection: In what ways can you more fully embody the image of God in your daily interactions and choices?
Day 5: Stewardship as Worshipful Response
Our role as stewards of creation is not just a task but a sacred calling. We are entrusted with the care of God's creation, reflecting our unique status as beings created in His image. This stewardship is an expression of worship and a response to God's love. By caring for the world He has made, we demonstrate our love for Him and our commitment to the purposes He has established for us. Stewardship involves recognizing the value of all creation and acting responsibly to preserve and enhance it for future generations.
[23:23]
Psalm 8:6-8 (ESV)
"You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas."
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take this week to exercise stewardship over God's creation in your immediate environment?
Quotes
- "God didn't need us. God doesn't need anything; he is perfect and complete... He chose to create us so why did God create us? Simply so he could have a relationship with his creation where the love of God flows from him to his creation and back to him; it's complete." [38:15](Download | Download cropped video)
- "We are in a season of Lent and... this is a day for us to rest from all of our work and to reflect on our creator, to worship him, and to grow in His image, instruction, and counsel. That's the seventh day." [38:58](Download | )
- "Moses is telling Israel in other words Moses is telling the church it is God that has created everything... why he does it... is not nearly as important as why he does it... it is God that created it and we need to focus on the why." [29:15](Download | )
- "Moses is now telling Israel you have a God who has a name you can call him Yahweh... he has a name because he's meant to be in relationship with you." [27:50](Download | Download cropped video)
- "Only man can have a relationship with his creator and have love towards God... only man can love others like God loves... only man has the free will to deny God... only man has the ability to create like God as we were made in the image of God." [35:09](Download | )
- "God saw all that he had made, and behold, it was very good... it's very good because God's creation is full and has order to it... the Earth in all of its inhabitants are perfect; it's complete." [24:07](Download | Download cropped video)
- "Moses is telling Israel that it is mankind that is to care for God's creation; we are to be good stewards of all that he has given us... everything is perfect in the universe and God says this perfect creation that I have given you, this place you to care for it." [23:23](Download | )
- "Moses is making a point to Israel why worship light when you can worship the creator of those lights... even the Sun as powerful as it is was created by a God who was far more powerful." [16:34](Download | )
- "God is bringing order to the chaos... in scripture there are certain words that carry multiple meanings and have profound implications... light often equals life and darkness often equals death." [08:04](Download | )
- "The entirety of Genesis 1 reveals the perfect and good creative works of God at the Apex of creation as man who is to watch over and care for what God has done." [33:46](Download | )
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