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Genesis: 2:4 – 17
At the time when the LORD God made the earth and the heavens —
while as yet there was no field shrub on earth
and no grass of the field had sprouted,
for the LORD God had sent no rain upon the earth
and there was no man to till the soil,
but a stream was welling up out of the earth
and was watering all the surface of the ground —
the LORD God formed man out of the clay of the ground
and blew into his nostrils the breath of life,
and so man became a living being.
Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east,
and he placed there the man whom he had formed.
Out of the ground the LORD God made various trees grow
that were delightful to look at and good for food,
with the tree of life in the middle of the garden
and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
The LORD God then took the man
and settled him in the garden of Eden,
to cultivate and care for it.
The LORD God gave man this order:
“You are free to eat from any of the trees of the garden
except the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
From that tree you shall not eat;
the moment you eat from it you are surely doomed to die.”
The Word of the Lord.
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Whenever God speaks … something happens.
The Book of Genesis, the very first book of the bible, is centered around this idea. We’ve been reading through it for the last three days.
God says, “Let there be light,” and there is light.
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Later in Genesis, God speaks to Abraham, saying, “Walk in my presence, and your descendants will be as numberless as the stars.”
Today half of the world – some 3 billion people – call Abraham their father in faith.
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In the Gospels, Jesus speaks, and demons are cast out; stormy waters are stilled; sins are forgiven.
Then, during his final night on earth, he takes a piece of bread and a cup of wine and says, “This is my Body…this is my Blood.”
Jesus speaks…and feeds the world with his very Self.
The same is true in confession. Through a priest, Jesus says, “Ego te absolvo.” … “I absolve you. Your sins are forgiven.”
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Whenever God speaks, something happens. This was true from the foundation of the world. The same Lord who said, “Let there be light,” can speak to your heart today.
I wonder, what is God saying?
Open your heart.
Be still and listen.
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Image credits: (1) Wisdom Hunters (2) Garden of Eden, World History Encyclopedia (3) TrueHeartSpeaks, Pinterest