Living As Our Creator | Genesis 1

Hello, this morning we are in Chapter 1 of Genesis. You might already be familiar with it, even if you don’t read your Bible regularly. It’s the chapter about creation. You know, when God created the Earth, man, and animals.

When we spend time in the Bible and with our heavenly Father, we can look for God to reveal new things about himself which are also invitations that we can accept to be more like him.

Ephesians 5:1-2 says that we should be imitators of God, as beloved children and walk in love, just as Christ loved you and gave himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God, as fragrant aroma.

As I was reading through Genesis 1, some unexpected things stood out to me. Mostly words that were repeated throughout the chapter. So, this post won’t be line by line but rather focused on the sum of those words that stood out.

Sometimes we don’t share enough scripture between friends, so let’s begin by reading the full chapter of Genesis 1. 

For whatever reason, it’s a bit of a tongue twister for me, so please extend a little grace

while you listen. ;) If you’d like to follow along, I’m using an NIV translation.

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1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

6 And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” 7 So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

9 And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.

11 Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.

20 And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” 23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.

24 And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.

31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. 

Gleanings:

Sometimes, I like to use a word counter when I study. I did mention it recently in another post, but it’s not something that I usually rely on. When several stuck out to me, I was curious about any others that I may have missed.  So, I used it in this post. While I know you’ve probably heard several words repeated here, let’s take a look at some of them now. Those are the keys that I will be pointing to in this message.

The first is ‘Created.' It’s used five times. The word ‘Made’ appears another 5 times [KJV has it 8x]. In verse 27 he says that we are made in His image. Well, remember that verse I just shared in the beginning from Ephesians about being an imitator of Christ-  well, that got me wondering if we too are meant to ‘create.'

1 Timothy 2:2 says that we should lead Godly lives. There are countless other verses that show us that the things in our life are created to glorify Him. Wouldn’t that consist of doing and being the same as he?  Yet how many times have I heard someone say, I am not talented or creative? How many times have I said those things myself?

I recognize that for some of you listening, it would take a real act of faith to believe that you could create something that might glorify God but isn’t that gap where God does his best work? –When God asks you to believe that he can use your offerings- when you don’t see the way or the means or even direction.

Our God carefully and thoughtfully created each of us with plans and purpose. –And if it there is something that has been brewing in your heart, he might have designed you to do something with it. Please, friend, take the pressure off of yourself and just prayerfully explore it.

The next word I see is the word ‘Saw.' It appears 7 times. In this case, He looked at the things that he made after he made them. Do you and I study the things that we’ve made? Do we let them minister to us while we’re making them or once they are complete?  On the other hand, as humans, maybe we need to first see them in our mind to create them. –To envision them or use our imaginations.

But over and over again every time he ‘saw’ or looked at something, you know what he did? He said it was ‘Good.' That’s our next word. It appears 7x. He saw the light, and it was good. He saw the seas, and it was good. He continues through the passage.

Yet you and I when we create, we’re quick to note the things that we could do better or differently. We judge them usually in a negative fashion or compare them to someone else. He does none of this. I know—He’s God. Why would he?

For every single thing he makes, he says it is good. Then when he gets to man, he says -----‘whoops—do over’. 

Just kidding.

He says that we’re good too!

YOU are good!

Good.

Now, I don’t know if this disclaimer will be helpful or confusing but, when I say that we’re good, I am not talking about who we are as sinners.

We are all sinners. Christ died on a cross for every one of us, but he also died to give us a new life.

1 Timothy 1:15-17 is a great passage (and paraphrased here) it says to me, Christ came to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. BUT because I am the worst and because God shows me mercy- and uses something in my life even when I am still a Hot mess, others are able to believe and have hope in him as well and receive their own eternal life.

He died to use or weakness, to reveal his glory.

Yet how many times, do we tell God, who we are not, why we cannot, instead of living by the Life of a God who is and who is shown time and again using people who create and step out of their comfort zone and use things within their means.

Because you are made in his image, chosen, forgiven, accepted by God, you have power. His power.

John 16:15 says: All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

John 17:10 - All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.

You can’t be full of power available to God, made in his very image, chosen and purposed, and yet still be too broken to make a difference. YOU ARE GOOD!

And I know, this might be too- “self helpy” or too “hippy” because it’s about creating. Some of you are flinching because you think creative only means crafty. Hang in there.

Hear my heart. He does not say we’re perfect or flawless. He says that you (we) are good!

So, the sum of things that you make out of your life, they don’t have to keep you up at night to be perfect either. It’s like we tell our kids; if it was your best, and in the right heart for God, your ‘good enough’ still glorifies our heavenly Father. That might to you feel like a failure because it’s not blue ribbon worthy in your eyes, but it’s good enough for Him.

We’re talking about a God who let Moses part seas with a stick. I don’t think that his standards are too lofty. They might be too lofty for us to attain as it says in Psalms 139.  But that’s is a matter of what we can understand.  –Not who or what he expects us to be.

Moving right along.

Remember that crafty bit? Well, creation isn’t only using a paint brush and canvas. Creation is in your work and how you plan your meetings. It’s in your parenting and how you choose to discipline your kids. True yes, it can be in how you express yourself, your hobbies, your interests but it’s also in the methods that you choose to connect with people, even when—especially when- you have to overcome an obstacle to meet them.

But the next thing that I see is the word ‘Said’ – 11 times it appears. Creation is in your words. It’s how you encourage others. God spoke light, he spoke the sun and moon and stars. Some of the brightest things that you and I will ever create will be things that are made from our words. Even if it’s only what you say to yourself that no one hears-- or what you pray for.

Who do you speak to?

What and whom do you have authority over?

What do you give your power to when you do speak? Are your words about the problem, or the possible solutions? Are they about your worry or your hope? Are they about what you cannot or what God can? 

--or are your words even about what God might be able to do through and in you?

What about what he doesn’t say?

This is the first chapter, right? I get it’s the history of the beginning, but it’s also like the baseline. I mean, it sets the tone for the whole Bible. Not once in the first chapter when God is making the entire universe, do you see the words labor, sweat, work…

Give me some more words that aren’t listed – please. It peaks my interest. (Yes, I know that there is an entire dictionary that's missing from chapter 1.)

In fact, the word we see instead caught me by surprise because it appears 13 times. More than any of the other words we discussed. It’s the word ‘Let.' He said let there be light, let there be water, let there be grass.

I am not saying that there is anything wrong with hard work or planning or trying to make things the best you can. Certainly, we should do our best to glorify God. –But I have been a perfectionist and it sometimes still seeps out. When it does, it robs me of the joy that surrounds me. –I mean does anyone remember Martha? Jesus was at her table, and she couldn’t put the vacuum down.

I am kidding again. Don’t look that up. There are no vacuums in the Bible.

You can read about her in Luke 10. But some of you are the same way. Jesus, the Holy Spirit, GOD is in your midst –and you can’t understand why you don’t see him. Why He doesn’t speak to you. Why you don’t feel his presence. It’s because you haven’t left your work. Even when you’re sitting in a pew.

You’re relying on the things that you can create perfectly, instead of trusting a perfect God to use what you created.

But HE LET- these things happen.

Just stop and Imagine with me all the things your life could be, the person you could be, the things that you could make and the ways that you could glorify God if only you would let it…

Maybe even let it go.

Or Let yourself go.

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Now backing up for a minute. I am really trying to write/speak more about Scripture and challenge myself to go deeper than just ‘what about me”.

I recently shared a post on some tips to help you study your Bible. Then this week, I opened a box of books that were given to me by a friend last year. In it just so happened to be (in a Godly coincidental kind of way) a book on Genesis. It is called, “My Creator, My Friend” by Bruce Larson

On pg. 13, the author gives two more points that I’d like to add to that but to also challenge myself to use here and in the future as well.

The first is:

1. When you study your Bible, what does this chapter say about God? (And how does it say it?)

2. The second tip given was Instead of looking for hidden messages, what does the text say when you take it at its word? So, let me try to answer both of those things here.

So, what do I see about God, simply from the text?

·       First verse – God IS…. and has been from the beginning

·       Verse 2 says he is hovering above waters. Later in the Bible, you will see other verses, like Zephaniah 3:17 that says He is in our midst. The end of this chapter does not lead to the end of God, he is still here.

·       As for God, he is a creator. He is shown over and over making things from what was not there before.

·       He is a part of the Trinity. (v26)

·       He calls things to be. The he restates it. Go back and read each thing that he spoke into existence, then a few lines later you will see, “and it was so” or a summary of what was just created.

·       Next, he is a God of law and order. One or two things were created at a time. He didn’t make it all at once or even on the same day. He was putting things in their place., separating water from the sky. Even designating power to some of those things. The sun and moon were to govern the day and night. Men were made to rule over the fish in the sea…

·       In that same vein, He is a God of purpose – The trees and plants were created to produce seeds. The birds and fish were to multiply. Even the land was called to produce something. When we circle back to our purpose, man’s purpose. Look at verse 28 – God blessed man and woman and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.

Subdue doesn’t mean to force submission. It means to make things calm. 

So, with your purpose and circling back to the point of my message, imitating Christ as a creator; When you create, how can you bring law, order, yet calmness to your realm. -In your work place, in your home, at your church, in your neighborhood?

Colossians 3:15 says:  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Philippians 4:7 says that it’s the peace of God that transcends all understanding.

Matthew 5:9 says Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Friend to friend: I don’t know what this speaks to you, but I hope that it speaks the same light to you as it did to me. But I had to go through this on my own and learn it before I even saw it here. So, let me wrap this up with a few tips from what I’ve learned. If you’re not looking to have the power to use, or looking for a way to use God’s power in your life, there’s a void. Create an opening and let it in. If you don’t have a hobby, get one. Find things to learn about. I had a lot of things that I was interested in but when all this changed for me, it started by painting rocks that I found at the river with my kids. You don’t have to use rocks. It’s what I had available. Don’t buy anything if you’re not able, find some things in your house and google it. –or message me, maybe we’ll have an adult creative experience. Haha (I don’t know what that means).

1.     Curiosity seems to feed your creative energy. You can be curious about being a gardener, and it can feed your thoughts in another area of your life, unrelated to gardening.

2.     Whatever you attempt the first time, heck even if it’s a big deal like a presentation or a speaking event that you have never done. Don’t go in, making it perfect.  Go in, making a list of what you’ll learn from it so that you can do it even better next time.

3.     If you can tie it to scripture and meditate on it while you’re doing it, it will speak to you, but it will also help you memorize it.  –That’s part of why all those verse coloring pages and Bible journals are such a hit.

4.     More than that, though, having a hobby, all your own, will give you a sense of accomplishment and your own little private thing to enjoy. But it’s also a form of meditation. It’s relaxing. Because the thing requires such focus, it helps you stop giving attention to all the other chatter running behind the scenes that is stressing you out.

5.     Finally, don’t stop there. When you get too comfortable or bored, look for another hobby or take it up a notch. Do the same in your spiritual life.

So, with that, I challenge you to go into the day being willing to put your ideas to work. "Let us challenge ourselves." Be willing to try new things, reinvent, even if it's only ourselves. In the end, no matter the results, acknowledge the effort and what was produced. –How’s that for another look at holy living?

I would LOVE for you to read Genesis 1 on your own and share your findings with me as well. (Links, emails, comments – all of it! –Even if it’s a week or month later or if your points are extremely different than mine.) J

 4 Kids

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All of this started because I wanted to have a lesson with our neighborhood kids. Using this message and doing an art project. I had to cancel my event because of weather, but I know it will happen soon, so these are my notes.

1.     What are the things that you can see about God here?

a.     Well, he’s a creator. What else?

2.     What are some of the things he created?

3.     How did he create them?

a.     He spoke many of them.

b.     Some of the brightest things that you create will be the things that you speak into your life and others as well.

4.     Can you name something that you heard about us in this passage?

a.     We’re created in his image too. – v26

b.     What else –we’re good?

c.     See commentary on 1:25

5.     In fact, it looks like every time he made something –he stood back, checked it out and decided that it was good.

a.     Admire your work [take picture]

b.     Tell me things 3 things that are good about it. [Write them down]

c.     He doesn’t say look at your best friends work or write what you wish was different.

d.     He doesn’t tell you everything that’s wrong with it either.

6.     Did you learn anything from what you made today?

Washing Seashells

At first, I was a little disappointed to have to cancel my plans for the day. I had been collecting things to have an art day/Bible message with some neighborhood kids. But as the time drew near weather reports were only predicting rain. I was forced to give in and cancel.

As it was, most of the week I had been fighting a cold, and by last night and this morning, I was spent. There were many things that would not have been finished. It was hard not to be thankful for the break even if I was disappointed.

Several friends had given items for the kids to use in their creations. One of which was a tub full of shells that my friend Sue had collected off the western coast of Florida.

By noon the sun was still shining, and there wasn’t a drop of rain, so I called to ask what she used to clean them with—Thinking that maybe I could muster up enough energy to still make use of the day. By the end of the call, Sue and I decided that she would come over. We’d have a mini lesson with the kids and neighbors and see what came of it. 

I remembered a friend and Pastor named Terry that would frequently have children bring something to church on Sunday and make a lesson out of it. I always admired his attempt, especially never knowing what the kids would bring each morning. 

I was sure that today, we could do the same. Then I prayed for the words to share.

Sue’s enthusiasm touched me. She insisted that she bring her own things to clean with. She told the kids the name of every shell and little stories about where she found them. The kitten's paw, a treasure chest, olives, whelks, lady slippers, the list went on. She tried to make music out of the worms and ‘swooshed’ the dead sea grass.

Every time she rinsed one off, she would ooh and awe over how much more it sparkled; pointing out the true colors, now revealed, that were hidden beneath the elements.

The love gushed from her as if she’d made them each herself. I was reminded of Isaiah 43:1 

“…I have called you by name, and you are mine.”

The kids crowded around her sorting, lifting, rinsing. –Scurrying to the table to dump one bowl, only to fill it again with new wonder(s).

When the tub was empty; each shell washed, and drying, she packed up her things and headed home.

I attempted a mini Bible lesson, although the kids were too busy, literally--claiming their plunder. Next time I might wait until we’re by the fire to have the story, I thought to myself after.

I talked about the pretty ones, how sometimes, it’s what we all go after. Even on the cover of magazines and who we friend at school. The ones that look perfect and unmarred. Yet every.single.one is made by our Father. –Knit together. By hand.

Each shell once had something living in them just like our bodies still have something living within our shell of skin.

We talked about how some might have housed better filters for the ocean floor. Some were stronger, others were better fighters. –But my favorite is how the broken ones might get cast aside by collectors, but it’s also the broken ones that are used for a purpose (like cutting, piercing, or as other tools).

While the table was full of many that looked similar, each and every shell was unique, just like each person sitting there.

Just as we so eagerly hold each shell and marvel over them. The Lord marvels and loves each of us, no matter how we appear, when we are before Him. Later on, I would find the perfect verse to summarize it.

The kids quickly filled their bags and were well on their way to the next adventure. Painting them.

Then we ate dinner and roasted marshmellows around a fire.

Sitting around it, I couldn’t help but feel like I myself, had been renewed. -Not quite as achy and still congested, sure. But peaceful. Like a good kind of tired. Not from doing or making things perfect with my own hands. But by my accepting what was offered even it wasn’t how I envisioned my plan. -His was better.

It's such a reminder that when we seek to glorify him with our lives, even when our attempts fail, he stands in. Every time that I am willing to accept a variation or a detour, His provision blows my mind. –Like a friend with many treasures.

The verse in Zephaniah 3:17 says it best.

The Lord your God is in your midst;

He is a warrior who can deliver.

He takes great delight in you.

He renews you by his love;

He shouts for joy over you.

Oh Lord, teach us all of your unfathomable ways and to be your grateful recipients and messengers.

Without Walls

It doesn’t matter if we’re on the team that’s responsible for delivering the message or if we are receiving what someone else has prepared; both sides can be found worrying about the color of rooms, the feel of seats, the lighting, and effects when we attend church.

‘How can we create or have a new experience?”

Yet when I read the Bible, His Gospel is seldom seen in a building. HE parted seas, healed the sick, and bound the broken- and most often did so using only what was around; a staff, mud, 5 loaves and so on… Only asking us to believe.

In fact, in my experience, there is NO ‘experience’ that compares with that of the Holy Spirit. Why on earth would we ever want to distract from him?

How might the sinner within us be changed, if we could allow ourselves to simply sit before HIS FULL presence, without our walls?

Photo credit: @srochellephoto

When You're Not Connecting With Your Bible

A friend recently shared a testimony and a struggle she’d been having reading scripture and feeling disconnected when reading the Word. She felt guilty because she was supposed to be a woman of faith and yet she felt completely lost in her study time. It was a very discouraging experience for her.

Her testimony was that for Lent she was going to get up earlier so that she could spend more time in the Word. She tried some different translations and a version that she usually didn’t care for ended up being the solution.

She posted this on Facebook and others that were reading her post were encouraged by knowing that they weren’t alone. They too were struggling and shared the same disappointment.

This happens to all of us from time to time. Especially when you’re just starting out. Her experience reminded me of this piece of scripture, and I’d like to share it with you. I’d also like to share some other things that have helped me when I feel disconnected in my own time reading the Bible.

I’m going to go through this passage in its entirety first, then go through it again line by line and share some things that stand out.

This section has a really flashy title too called ‘Philip and the Ethiopian’ Acts 8:26 – 40

26Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 

²⁷ So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian^[a] eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 

²⁸ and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 

²⁹ The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

³⁰ Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

³¹ “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

³² This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, 
    and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,     so he did not open his mouth. 
³³ In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
    Who can speak of his descendants?
    For his life was taken from the earth.”^[b]

³⁴ The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 

³⁵ Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 

³⁶ As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” 

^{37 IS A MISSING VERSE -} [^[a]And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”]

 ^[c]38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 

³⁹ When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 

⁴⁰ Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

Now verse by verse so that I can pick out the things I’d like to show you.

26Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” Philip is traveling alone

²⁷ So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian^[a] eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, So you have Philip the prophet or interpreter, crossing paths with the Eunuch who has considerable rank. –AND he’s on his way home from church!  

²⁸ and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. So you have the Eunuch making good use of his quiet time. Both of them are traveling solo and well, sometimes life, even the faith-filled one, feels like a lonely road, now doesn’t it?

²⁹ The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”  Shouldn’t we all be that sensitive to the Holy Spirit and not tied down with all our plans to be too busy. I mean really, if you’re on your way somewhere and you get a tug to check something out or talk to someone, will you be inclined to do it? Or do you have too much to do?” Here it looks like Philip just has to be in ear shot.

³⁰ Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. Maybe Philip just needed to be close enough to hear what was happening, because once he did, he’d jump right in. haha. But I like that Philip is the one giving some room to the struggle. Initiating the talk. “Do you understand what you are reading?”

³¹ The Eunuch replies “How can I,” “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. I can't tell you how relieved I was to read that the first time. Hallelujah, even in the Bible they weren’t able to understand it! 😉-- we're not alone!! But after the cat’s out of the bag, the Eunuch asks Philip to come talk. They have fellowship, discussion. They end up reading on in the Bible, and it whets the appetite for more.

³²  Verse 32 to reads This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: (Remember it was from Isaiah)

Now in your Bible, most of you should have a column that lists other verses off to the side. This is to cross reference sections where similar verses or passages appear that have more information about what you’re reading.  So, if your Bible has this, look at Acts Chapter 8:32-33 and off to the side you should see Isaiah 53:7-8 listed. If you go there, you should see a similar verse. Sometimes the other references will have different content, but it may help you with what you’re reading.

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, We are going through the motions, be it church, reading, etc.  Not feeling connected yet thinking that simply because we’re doing it, it’s enough.
    and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, (too still)
    so he did not open his mouth. There are so many ways this verse gets me when I read it, but how many of us are struggling, but we just don’t say a word.
³³ In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
    Who can speak of his descendants?
    For his life was taken from the earth.”^[b] Pointing back to Jesus. –The gospel!

³⁴ The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”  - I have to wonder if the Eunuch would have asked his question here if Philip didn’t already get him talking about a challenge earlier on.  –But Philip set the stage by giving him a safe environment, already discussing challenges.

³⁵ Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.  We’ll talk more about commentary in a minute, but my commentary on this verse in my Bible says that when we share the Gospel with others, we should start with where the other person’s concerns are focused. We see Philip doing just that. Picking up where the Eunuch is reading. But also, Philip is talking to him about the Gospel. How can we work that into our conversations? After all, it’s the Gospel that gets people fired up. It’s what saves. It’s what heals.

³⁶ As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?”  - Seriously – let’s talk about hungry. I’m a little on the goofy side but when I see this, I just envision him walking by a mud puddle. “Quick, let’s get baptized, right here!” Then flopping down in the road. It may have even looked like that. Haha. Something tells me it was more graceful. ;)

But have you ever been so hungry that you couldn’t wait? You had to eat something, no matter what it was, right then?

--So hungry that you’ll get up earlier to read more, so hungry that you’ll take the time to try a few translations if you need to. So fired up that you have to share your testimony right then! It just can’t wait. –If you haven’t felt that. I want you to consider if you’re like the lamb--  too quiet. Too still.  

–This guy didn’t talk about getting baptized until he talked about his struggle and got some Jesus in it. The same with my friend and her testimony. –The same with me.

³⁷ IS A MISSING VERSE –

[^[a]And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”] This is important because I am putting a lot of emphasis on being hungry here. According to scripture, all you need to be saved is to believe in him as your Lord. Then just like that you’re forgiven and accepted.

I am adding the hunger part because there is so much more to the personal relationship that you can have with Jesus. –On earth, as it is in heaven.

 ^[c]38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. –But isn’t it getting a good Word, the work of the Holy Spirit? It’s what ignites that hunger and makes us accept the call. –or get baptized, even if it is in the middle of the road?

³⁹ When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again but went on his way rejoicing. Wait- what, he disappeared just like that?  Who knows if he vanished or if the Holy Spirit just led Philip to another location and they got to say bye. Scripture doesn’t tell us that. But I know that it’s our human nature to want to hold on to things. If this meal is good, we’ll make it again. If we like this thing, we want to own it. If we meet someone we like, we want to be friends forever. Especially if there is some significance. But as soon as what was needed was done, they were separated. Both back on their way to their journey.

– Maybe you can Meditate on that today and consider some other reasons why-- or perhaps some things or people you’re trying to hold on to.

This verse says the Eunuch walked away rejoicing. Yet how many times, would you and I be like “I can’t believe he just left me in the middle of the road like that.”

Then months or years later, we’d still be like: “He doesn’t call me. He never writes…” 

How does that minister to you?

⁴⁰ Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea. –At the end of the day we all have a job to do, and we have somewhere to be.

That concludes the part of the passage, but you and I have somewhere to be too. I can’t guess all of the struggles that you might have with scripture, but I can tell you that I have my own share of them. Here are some things that have helped me. –Please feel free to comment on the things that help you.

-       Just like my friend, trying other translations. It’s an honorable thing to want to stick to the King James and understand it. –But if it doesn’t make any sense to you, it’s not going to make you want to read it. 

o   NIV or NASB are fairly easy translations to understand.

o   LIFEWAY – You can make an afternoon to go sit on the floor and open any Bible there to compare translations and read the same chapter in each.

o   Browse online at Bible Gateway, Bible Hub or Bible Study Tools.

o   YouVersion Bible for your phone. Each of those will allow you to read all of the translations.

Other tools are:

-       Commentary, this is the history behind passages. It explains the times, significance, things you might not know ‘behind the scenes.' The sites that I just mentioned have commentary available on the sites for free. Or while you are searching for a new Bible, you can look for a Bible that includes it. Like the Life Application Bible, which is what I use. You can still pick from one of the main translations. The only caveat there is that in order to include extra words, the font is much smaller. You may have to buy a much larger font, which can make the right book pretty heavy.

-       Concordance – This is like an index of words, listing all of the verses where each word is included.

-       Dictionaries also help. You can look up the definition, origin, root words in Greek and Hebrew.

-       But my favorite tool is what we see here fellowship. Philip sat down and explained it to him. You and I all see different parts. We’re interested in different things, and so we’ll study different pieces. Some really great conversations happen around questions from the text in the Bible and our own personal challenges. In fact, I too benefited greatly from a study group. It is where I discovered the Bible that I just mentioned and it transformed the way that I read it. If you can’t attend the small group at your church, find out where your friends go and attend another church’s studies if you need to. –Or lead one during your lunch break, at home or in your personal time.

-       Other things that help too are:

-       Setting aside enough time (whether that's earlier or later or somewhere mid-day) so that you can try another translation if you need to, look something else up, etc.

-       Removing distractions

-       Getting a notebook or a word document and writing line by line. Take each line of the Chapter you're reading, write one verse, then look into it with the tools that I mentioned above. You can also rewrite it into your own words. Then do the next. (I got that from the SEED study by Priscilla Shirer-- HUGE help!)

     When a whole chapter doesn't really stand out, look for one thing that strikes you, like a weird phrase or a repetitive word and start there.  (Here's an online Word counter. copy/paste text.) Know that there’s a difference in reading a passage to check it off versus reading to know the details.

-       Ask in Prayer – Ephesians 3:20 says Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. – Ask God to give you a love for his Word, a love for prayer, a love for others.

I hope that some of these tips help you. I’d love to hear the things that have helped you because I too struggle in this area from time to time.  Just like we see in this chapter- We don't know the precise location of either man on their journey, just the same, where ever we are in ours and no matter our rank, our how much faith we have, we all need a friend and a little help on the way!

Finally, I’d like to end with a challenge for you- Go on a treasure hunt!

I mentioned a missing verse earlier from 8:37. There are actually more of them in the Bible. I also talked about the reference verse off to the side in the column of your Bible.  Having something specific to look up is another way to get “into, interested” in the Bible. So, I challenge you this week, to go through and find out about the missing verses, then mark every one of them in your Bible. Or if you’re already reading something else, when you go through it, check out those reference verses on the side. Read what they have to say.

What every you do or where ever you start, I pray that it whets your appetite and ignites a new hunger for the Word.