God of Order, God of Presence

Under ConstructionGod of Order, God of PresenceGenesis 1-2 - God sets the functions of time, weather, food, seasons, reproduction, human purpose, and rest. So often we get hung up on HOW these things started, but the bigger picture of Genesis is WHY. God gave function to everything INCLUDING humans. We were created for community (God and others), meaning (reflecting God and work), and with individual freedom (any fruit, just not one). When a human being misses out on any of these things OR WORSE obsesses over one more than the others - we end up NOT living the good life.God didn’t just set things up and then walk away, but establishes from the beginning He has being among His people as part of the plan. Genesis, along with other early creation stories, establishes God in His Temple... except for the God of the Bible, the entire Earth was His footstool. He was NOT in a building, but the whole EARTH was His dwelling place. Without His presence, nothing would have come about or been held together.Taking it to Jesus - Jesus came establishing the same order and presence. His is GOD WITH US, and He establishes what is most important for us - Loving God and loving others. In Christ, we use our individual freedom to love God and love others, and in doing so, God’s purpose for our lives comes through - reflection of and conformed to the image of His Son.