11 JANUARY
The wonder-working God
‘And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.’ Genesis 1:2–3
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: John 1:1–5
Now this account of the creation, the Scripture teaches us to use to advantage chiefly for three purposes:
(i) to help our conceptions of the wonder-working God: his wisdom (Psalm 104:24), power (Amos 4:12–13; Isaiah 40:26), goodness (Psalm 104:13–15).
(ii) to instruct us in his readiness and willingness to help his people in their greatest troubles and in the darkest times. When our hearts faint we should remember the right hand of the Most High (Isaiah 51:13; Psalm 146:5).
(iii) as a type or emblem of the new creation. The sinner has faculties and powers originally suited for the service of God—but all is in disorder. His mind is without form and void. Darkness, gross darkness, sin, ignorance and misery covers his heart, but (2 Corinthians 4:6) [God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus], then life and fruitfulness take place and the wilderness becomes the garden of the Lord.
This God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself by the Cross—and in the Man Christ he still reigns upon a throne of grace mighty to save. Believe in his name.
FOR MEDITATION: The old and new creation
That was a wonder-working word
The new creation of the soul
Which could the vast creation raise!
Does now no less his power display;
Angels, attendant on their LORD,
Than when he formed the mighty whole,
Admired the plan, and sung his praise.
And kindled darkness into day.
From what a dark and shapeless mass,
Though self-destroyed, O LORD, are we,
All nature sprang at his command!
Yet let us feel what thou canst do;
Let there be light, and light there was,
Thy word the ruin can repair,
And sun and stars, and sea and land.
And all our hearts create anew.
SERMON SERIES: GENESIS, NO. 2 [3/3], GENESIS 1:2–3
