People created in God’s likeness

Ephesians 4:17-24

“And 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 fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” God created man to be an extension of Himself on earth. God is sovereign, and His character is righteousness and true holiness. His original intentions for man was to shine His glory through him (Adam), while establishing His heavenly government on earth. Before sin, Adam was the supreme ruler over the earth. All was subject to his authority, including the animals. He was righteous, holy, and pure. God taught, and he listened, then carried out the will of the Father in obedience. What he spoke was certain, as he named all the animals, and even his wife. So long as Adam obeyed God’s commandments, he would live in an eternity of peace and prosperity.

It’s being taught today that believers are gods in their own right, but this is not biblically sound teaching. There’s only one God, and men are created beings, but operate in godly character. As God is loving, kind, meek, good, and patient, Adam was as well. But giving in to sin caused Adam to lose his authority, as God had intended. Disobedience always hinders us from walking faithfully with God.

Because of the original sin, men have been stained with sinful nature, even at birth. Living according to worldly standards positions you to take on the “old man”, whose ways are corrupt, according to deceitful lusts. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (1 John 2:16). Satanic influence is powerful, so much that many good men and women have submitted to its authority. But God wants us as He intended for us to be; holy, righteous, and to have dominion over the earth. That includes dominion over evil, but this is only possible through the power of God.

For any man to walk in the power and authority of the Holy Spirit, he must first put off the old man. Just as we take off old garments in order to put on better attire, we are to put away evil and corrupt ways, because it’s impossible to hide the stench of filthy garments by covering them with clean ones. God wants us clean on the inside, as well as the outside. Putting on the new man means putting on the character of God. We are not gods, but we were originally made in His image, and after His likeness. God is love, so we are to show love naturally to everyone. God is righteous, and we are expected to be fair in all our dealings. God is patient….I’ll leave this one alone, because I know everyone struggles with this on a daily basis, but we should exude longsuffering at all times.

Many are unaware of their value to God, mainly because their understanding is darkened, and they’ve alienated themselves from His goodness through their own ignorance. Preachers preach, teachers teach, and ministers minister the word of God every day in churches, homes, and other religious gatherings all over the world. Yet, the world continues to turn a blind eye to the message of salvation. To those who are steadfast and unmovable in their walk with God, continue doing well, and recognize your value in God, and in others. Reach out to those who are lost, and help them see that when God made them, He made them awesome, talented, and special, just as He is.

Seek peace,

Ell

God glorified in the heavens

Psalm 104:1-4

“Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.” The writer of this Psalm couldn’t have introduced our glorious Father any better. Have you ever really thought about how great God is? Consider the previous lessons on God’s amazing creation, and how detailed He was as He brought forth every living creature. The human mind can’t fathom the wisdom and knowledge God poured into every aspect of His handiwork, but we sure can reverence Him for it.

God’s glory not only radiates here on earth, but the heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. God’s signature is written in plants, animals, birds, the oceans, and all over the lands, but His majesty is also acknowledged in the spirit realm by His angels, who were made spirits like Himself. God created seraphim, cherubim, and archangels, or chief angels. Each angel has a special assignment from God, that may include communicating to individuals and offering consolation when needed, giving comfort and instruction, or defending on the behalf of God’s children, against evil entities.

Many people are puzzled concerning things of the spirit world, because oftentimes it references things invisible to the narural eye. I’ve discovered that invisible things are made up of material substance which is visible in its own realm. Just because we can’t see into the realm of the spirit by natural means, doesn’t omit it’s existence. Jesus was the outward and bodily image of the invisible God, and the firstborn of every creature. He was very real as He walked the earth for 33 years.

When you look up in the sky, and gaze upon the clouds, God is there. The lovely scents of beautiful flowers you adore, God made that possible. Shooting stars that fly across the midnight skies; God placed them there. It’s a fact that this world is on its way to inevitable destruction, but make sure to stand in awe of how sensational God was in His creation, and offer continual praise to His name.

Seek peace,

Ell

God created plants and animals

Genesis 1:14-25

My appreciation for God continues to swell as I delve deeper into studying His creation. I’m also puzzled as to why many fail to accept the fact that this beautiful world was the product of an intelligent designer, and not from a rock that exploded billions of years ago. Atheists and those who hold fast to the evolution theory fail to see that the intricacies of all created things could not have evolved from nothing; a Creator was present, who orchestrated all that exists.

After creating the sun, moon, and stars on day four of creation, God then brought forth countless moving creatures, birds, and great whales from the waters. Wait, birds were created out of the seas? You can bet your bottom dollar they were. I’ve learned a long time ago, not to question God, nor try to understand all His ways. He’s the source of all things, so I’m sure He’s aware of His doings at all times. In fact, I actually think it’s super cool that he formed the birds from water. God blessed all that He created on day five of creation, then instructed the animals to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the seas and the earth. What’s important to note also, is that every creature produced after their own kind, and nothing came from anything unlike it’s original type.

All sea creatures are unique in their own way, but whales stand out among the rest. There are many different species of whale and they all have their own unique identities and characteristics. The blue whale is the largest creature to ever have lived on Earth. It is larger than any of the dinosaurs, and it’s tongue alone can weigh as much as an elephant, and an entire football team could stand on it! My my goodness; what a awesome God we serve!

The most widespread of all animals in the world are birds. Scientists estimate that there are over 9,500 species of birds in the world, and typically group them into 30 categories. Most of all the bird species can be found in tropical rainforest. Aside from caring for themselves, birds are also essential seed dispersers for plants that provide us with food, medicine, timber, and recreation. In addition, they assist germination when they eat fruit by removing the pulp and scratching the seed coat. These are another group of unique products of God’s wonderful creation.

In Genesis 1:24, God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping things, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.” Evolutionary theories make this verse a lie, but the truth is that God made each creature Himself, on days five and six. That was just a little side information for the evolutionists. I’ll brag a little on only one land creature, the bear. Bears can live as long as 30 years in the wild, and their strong bowed legs allow them to run up to 40 miles per hour, fast enough to catch a running horse. That’s amazing speed for an animal that can weigh up to 600 lbs. The fastest known human alive today is Usain Bolt, who can run 27mph, so I’d advise him never to challenge a bear in a race.

God made all things, and called them good. Take time out daily to acknowledge the beauty of God’s creation, then praise Him for doing such amazing things. Never give credit to man, that only God deserves. He alone is worthy of all the praise. “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Revelation 4:11)

Seek peace,

Ell

Plants witness to the Lord’s work

Job 12:7-13

One of the most interesting men in the Bible was Job. He was considered perfect and upright, he feared God, and abstained from evil. He was married, and had a beautiful family of ten children. One would consider this to be the ideal family, and it was, but what made Job a hot topic in Scripture was that he was not only righteous but he was rich as well. Job also took time to sanctify his children, continually, as he went through religious ceremonies before God, hoping that He would have mercy on his offspring. Just in case they had sinned or cursed God in their hearts, Job made sure to keep them covered in prayer. Job seemed to have had it “made in the cool shade”.

There came a time when Job became the topic of discussion in Heaven, as God inquired of satan if he had ever tried to cause problems in Job’s life. Satan told God that he would make Job turn against Him, if he wasn’t covered in God’s protection. Well, we know how the story goes where God removed the hedge of protection from around Job, his family, and his wealth, then satan came in and wreaked havoc in Job’s life. He lost everything; his children, land, cattle, and his wife lost faith and hope in God as a result. Job’s best friends considered that his misery was the result of sin in his life, and that if he repented and turned from his evil ways, then God would restore him. They were unaware of the meeting that took place in Heaven where God wanted to prove to satan that Job wouldn’t turn against Him, no matter what.

After listening to his wife and ignorant friends, Job considered God’s creation and slowly realized that his suffering was not because he was wicked or committed sin. If you observe the animals, earth, birds, fish, and other forms of life, you’ll notice that the strong and violent prey on the weak, gentle, and helpless. God does not interfere and spare these creatures who are in trouble, so Job wondered that his attacks were from a source beyond what he could control. But through his process, Job never sinned, nor cursed God as satan had hoped.

I mentioned in the previous lessons how God maintains His creation, and if He can ensure that a bird will have sufficient food, then how much more will He provide for us? Job suffered a great deal for the glory of Lord, so he reaped more in the end, than he had in the beginning.

We can learn a lot about God through His creation. “Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” Or, “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.” God created some amazing things, and the more of creation I’m exposed to, the greater appreciation I have of the God responsible for it all.

Seek peace,

Ell

Jesus, agent of God’s creation

Hebrews 1:1-4

In the past, God spoke to His people in various ways. He would communicate with the children of Israel through circumstances, dreams, thoughts, and natural manifestations. God spoke vividly through the prophets as well. The Holy Spirit was present in these men and spake through them in the same manner He dwells in us today. But the most transparent God has been to the world was portrayed through His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus was with God from the beginning, and was made so much better than the angels, unlike men who were made a little lower than the angels. Angels worship Christ, and His anointing is greatest of all.

This text is full of wondrous descriptions of how important Jesus is in God’s creation plan. He was set forth as heir of all things, and was very present at the creation of “worlds”. Christ is mentioned as the brightness, or reflection of God glory. This is interesting, because our human eyes can only see God’s glory, but not His true form yet. In the book of Exodus, Moses once requested to see God’s glory. God said He couldn’t see His face in His usual glory and in the light where He dwells in, because no man can see Him and live. Moses was graced to see the after effects and glimpse of the glory of God instead.

Jesus is unique in many ways. No man was ever anointed as prophet, priest, and king before Christ, and He alone combined all these offices at once. He is a Prophet to all men, High Priest to the human race, and King of all nations. He is the express image of the deity of God. Just as metal is pressed into a die, or as a seal upon wax, Jesus represent God to the detail. His key role in creation was to purge man’s sins, and make it possible for us to be the righteousness of God once again. Our Saviour now sits at the right hand of the Majesty on High, as He awaits His next assignment in God’s master plan.

Seek peace,

Ell

Creation, testament of God’s steadfast love

Psalm 136:1-9

When someone says they love you, how do you know whether they really mean it, or not? Do you take their word alone as proof, or do you need to eventually see some signs of that love? In marriages, love is shown vividly through each lover’s commitment and dedication to keeping their vows. Friends show love to each other by always giving of themselves, even when it hurts. Children give love to animals, farmers pour loads of love into maintaining their lands, and grandparents show a bit too much love to their grandchildren. Love is all around us, even in creation.

God didn’t create this beautiful world, and put us in it because He hates us, but His love for us is so unconditional that He made sure to give us His best. I bragged a little on the sun, the seas, and man in the last lesson, so for this lesson I’d like to shift our focus to the moon and stars. The moon is the earth’s only natural satellite and is in synchronous rotation with earth, meaning the same side is always facing the earth. Another fun fact about the moon is that its surface is unprotected from cosmic rays, meteorites and solar winds, and has huge temperature variations. The lack of atmosphere means no sound can be heard on the moon, and the sky always appears black. I’d love to take a vacation there for a few months…peace and quiet. But the most important job of the moon involves the rise and fall of the tides on earth.

God’s purpose for creating stars can be found in Genesis 1:14, 15. It reads, “And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.” Stars were meant to shine, not twinkle. In fact, the twinkling is not a property of the stars at all, but of Earth’s turbulent atmosphere. I won’t get too scientific, just want to share how intricate and detailed our God was in His creation. Our sun is actually a star that provides all the benefits mentioned in the previous lesson.

God made everything, and everyone with a purpose. Trees, stars, birds, fish, and all other creation, carry out what God intended for them to, but are we doing the same? God created man to be a direct representation of Him, here on earth. Sadly, many people are out of place and position and lack knowledge of how valuable they are to God. In order to know our place in God’s kingdom, we must study the words God inspired select men to write as Holy Scripture. As a young fawn grows and develops into a mature deer, our goal should be to grow daily in the knowledge and wisdom of God so that we’ll know how we should conduct ourselves as His own.

Creation proves God’s endless love for His children. Prove your love to Him by living according to His standards, and appreciating all of His wonder, splendor, and majesty!

Seek peace,

Ell

God created the heaven and earth

Genesis 1:1-13

I’ll never let a day go by, without acknowledging how SUPER AWESOME my God is! He created Heaven, and earth simply by speaking them into existence. He said, “Let there be”, and be was lol. God created everything for His own purpose and pleasure, so who am I to question His doings?

I’m so glad He created the sun to shine bright in the day, so that our bodies can benefit from its rich supply of vitamins D and D3. Energy from the sun is important to the earth as well, as it warms the planet while heating the surface, the oceans, and atmosphere. This energy to the atmosphere is one of the primary drivers of our weather. I’m grateful and thankful also that God created the vast seas. The oceans provide so many benefits to our lives that many people may not be aware of. The ocean produces over half of the world’s oxygen, and transports heat from the equator to the poles, regulating our climate and weather patterns. Ingredients from the sea are found in surprising foods such as peanut butter and soymilk. Another fun fact is that medicinal products come from the ocean, including ingredients that help fight cancer, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, and heart disease. Bet you guys didn’t know that 😊😉.Our God is simply AMAZING!

I’ll conclude this lesson by appreciating God’s most prized creation, man. God created one man, made one woman from the created man, then all of us were products of that original union. King David and I share similar thoughts on why God loves us so much. In Psalm 8, he wrote, “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him”. He concluded this Psalm with, “O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” There are times when I look up in the sky and stand in awe of all of God’s beautiful creation, but mankind was created different from everything else that formed from the mouth of God. We were made in the image of God, and after His very own likeness. There are some who teach that because we were made by God, then we are considered “gods” as well. This is a lie from the very pit of satan’s gut. We are not god’s in any sense, yet we share God’s Spirit, character, and will.

I love God, and all of His wonderful and beautiful creation. Like king David, I will bless the Lord at all times, and His praise shall continually be in my mouth, because He is so AMAZING! Who wouldn’t reverence a God like ours, and how could anyone not want to give Him the respect He deserves? He made EVERYTHING! Sadly, this world will soon pass away, but that’s when things get a “bazillion” times better, because we’ll spend an eternity with God in His ultimate glory.

Dear friends, remember that God loves you, and He wants the best for you. Trust in the Creator and allow His will to be your own. Doing this will guarantee that your life will be lived with purpose, and your eternity will be lived in peace.

Seek peace,

Ell

God’s justice for the widow

Deuteronomy 10:17-21

Moses and the apostle Paul, were two of the most prominent men responsible for establishing Kingdom principles from the Old and New Testaments. They were both direct and concise when imparting God’s word to His people. Although these men were separated by hundreds and hundreds of years, they both understood the nature of the true and living God.

In 1 Corinthians, Paul stated, “For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him.” In both the Old and New Testaments, there were heathens who worshiped idol gods. They not only praised images, but also the sun, moon, planets, stars, oceans, rivers, trees, and many other things that were created.

Years before Paul made his statement, Moses proclaimed to the people, “For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward.” Both men recognized that God the Creator is sovereign, and He rules, and overrules all other gods. Not only did God create, but He also monitors and cares for His creation.

Living in a fallen world, many suffer at the hands of unexpected and unfortunate circumstances. Losing a spouse can be a hard thing to cope with. I’ve yet to experience the bond of holy matrimony, but I’m certain that losing a husband or wife can cause anyone to become faint of heart.

As a child, I often heard men and women in church say, “there’s nothing too hard for God.” God isn’t too big until He can’t be touched with the feelings of our infirmities. We serve a God, not made with hands, who knows every detail of His creation. When we hurt, He knows how to heal. When we suffer, His love is sufficient enough to restore us.

Widows endure much from being disconnected from their married union, but God has the remedy to keep their spirits high. His love is unconditional, and exceeds far beyond the realm of human emotion.

In the absence of a significant other, or someone you loved, never feel as if you’ve been left alone. God was there from the beginning, and He’ll continue to support you until the end of time.

Seek peace,

Ell