October 2, 2025
Thursday, October 2, 2025
New Bible
Last week I ordered and received a new Bible. My last Bible was purchased in 1995, so I was a little overdue. My previous Study Bible was embattled with yellow highlighted verses, favorite passages underlined with ink and earmarked folded corners from previous Bible Studies and Sunday school classes over the past thirty years. It had even gone thru three years of Disciple classes here at PUMC. It was well used and had the markings of a well read and used Study bible. While there are electronic Bible apps of all types there is nothing that replaces the comfort of your personal Bible.
I was eager to "get into" my new Study Bible. I read the introduction and explored all the features. Pics, and QR links are offered that lead you to additional readings or factoids thru your cell phone. Admittedly I was impressed so I jumped in and started reading the creation story. And then there it was:
Genesis 1 26: 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, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth" So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God;
I read and my mind exploded:
God loved me first. He created me. He wants me to love him. I was built for this relationship. If He created me - He wants me to spend eternity with him. If God, my Creator, wants me to spend eternity with him, why don't I live my life with that expectation. So essentially, right here in Chapter one, is the most important starting point in my Love relationship with God.
God created me, my spirit "self" and my thoughts in the image of the Holy Trinity and God himself. My Creator, like all creators, is proud of his creation. He desires for us to Love him as much as he Loves us and to spend forever with him.
Honestly, I was reading this like I had never read it before - like it was something new to discover. I double checked my 1995 Bible and there it was. Word for word thirty years later.
Why does it mean so much more to me now that it did all the previous times I had read it?
Then there is the Sin that slithers into the Garden. And ultimately God says "Who told you, you were naked" God knew Adam had Sinned and ate of the fruit from the Tree of knowledge. Adam had not put his loving relationship with God first but had followed the ways of others. God continued to Love Adam and Eve and showed them how to fashion skins into clothing to replace their strategically placed leaves. God may have been disappointed, but he didn't stop Loving. So the Love story continues throughout the entire Bible. One God loving covenant after another. Man comes up short, and God still loves his creation.
As Pastor/Author John Mark Comer in the book Practicing the Way said, "Who or what do you follow"? "Everyone follows something. We are all disciples, the question isn't am I a disciple but what am I a disciple of?"
What gets your time; is it your endless cell phone swipes, hours of political TV or the constant monitoring of your Facebook community? Again: What are you following more that God, because sadly that's what we are worshiping?
The Disciples were told by Jesus to "lose their old life" and to follow me. Our Creator is calling.
Reflect: God Loved me first. God's Love can bring change in our broken World. It begins with me. What or Who am I following, if I quantify it with how I spend my time, money and energy? If I am a true Disciple (follower of God) then I will trust, believe and obey God.
Prayer: God thank you for your endless Love. Help us to discover our opportunities and shortcomings. Help us to redirect our time and energy into producing good fruit and in turn multiplying your followers. Guide us to identify the editing we need to do in our lives to cleans our minds so we can clearly Follow You.
Ron Worley Member PUMC