Matthew 1:1-17, Acts 1:1-11, Psalm 1, Genesis 1-2

Recall:

Genesis 1:1-7 So God created humankind in his image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.

Psalm 1:2 but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law they meditate day and night

Matthew 1:12 and after the deportation to Babylon

Acts 1:8 "you will be my witnesses"

Reflect:

Genesis 1 and 2 contain some wonderful and wonderfully strange stories about how everything came into being. The story that the most ancient people told about themselves is that they are created in the image of God. I want to nurture the God-image in my life. I want to meditate on God, God's truth, God's "law" day and night. I want to see change in my life. Then I can really be a witness--not one that just talks about what God can do, but someone who is experiencing it as fully as possible who can then share it with others.

Matthew 1:1-17 is kinda boring--the genealogy of Jesus. There are some famous names in there, but it is still a genealogy. One thing I thought was interesting--the little phrase "and after the deporatation to Babylon." That was a horrible experience in the life of the people of Israel, but the genealogy went right along anyway!

Respond:

Your image, God--that is what I want for my life. My experience, however, has been that I cannot possibly get there by myself. I am giving 2009 to you, God. I am going to focus on the things I know to do--the disciplines that effect my relationship with you, my relationships with others, my career, etc. And I am going to let you be concerned with the results. I will be a first-hand witness to what you can do in a life.