With Purpose
Posted by Karah
Pause
Read through Genesis 1–2 again. Ask God to guide you by His Spirit, helping you to see how this passage reveals God’s purpose for humanity.
“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” —Genesis 1:26
“The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it.” —Genesis 2:15
Read Genesis 1:26–2:25 in your Bible. Today, look for what this passage reveals about God’s purpose for humanity. Underline any words or phrases that give you insight.
Debrief by thinking through these questions:
God created humans in His image, which implies relationship and reflects His desire to know us. What does that teach you about His purpose for your life?
God placed Adam in the perfect garden, a place meant to bring Him glory. How does that help you to better understand God’s purpose for humanity?
God gave Adam a job to do before sin entered the world. This means that work is good. How Adam lived his life—what he did and how he spent his time—was meant to bring glory to God. How would living with that mind-set affect your daily life? Explain.
The Point
God created humanity with a purpose: to know Him and to live in a way that brings glory to Him.
Respond
God created Adam and gave him a purpose: to know God and to be a steward of all God had created. You are a steward, too. Think of all God has given you: salvation, resources, skills and talents, spiritual gifts, the gospel.
Evaluate your life. Are you using what God has given you to bring glory to Him? Why or why not?
Confess your desire to glorify God through what He has given you. Ask Him to help you have the courage and strength to do so, empowered by His Holy Spirit.
Jot down three things you know God has asked you to be a steward of. List the steps you’ll take to glorify Him, the Author of your story, with those things this week.
Behind the Story
The word translated work in Genesis 2:5 is the Hebrew word ābad. This word was commonly used for tilling the soil and other labor, but can also refer to service to another. Therefore, it’s often used to refer to worship (Ex. 3:12), and its noun form, ăbōdâ, is frequently used to describe the Levitical duties in the tabernacle and temple worship.
Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest Alumni and Friends, Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission., Weekly Devotions