Dear Cornerstone Brothers and Sisters,
Grace and peace in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. “Why is God silent? Where is God? Is He at work in the church? Why are things ending up the way they are? This is not how I thought it would go?” Have you ever asked these questions? If we are honest, we have all asked these questions? And so did the prophet Habakkuk. This Sunday we will begin a new series working our way through the book of Habakkuk. This minor prophet is a wonderful, and often neglected portion of God’s word. Join us as we mine the treasures of the Scriptures together!
There is much going on in the life of our church … a few highlights to note:
1. This Sunday we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper, collect the deacon’s offering, and enjoy a fellowship lunch together. The lunch will be catered, so all we need are salad, drinks, and desserts.
2. Wednesday, June 5th is our next prayer meeting. Please note the date … location TBA.
3. The next men’s breakfast will be Saturday, June 8th. Men, be on the lookout for details.
4. The ladies will meet for mugs & muffins in the coming weeks. Time and location TBA.
5. Please see the announcement below re: an opportunity in June:
From the Pastor’s Desk
Mid-week Devotional
“In the Beginning”
Gen 1:1, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
The first verses in the Bible are some of the most significant verses in the Bible. The Bible opens with the absolute claim that God is – that God exists – and that God creates. All that is was created by the power of Almighty God! And what is it that God created? Everything! The expression, “the heavens and the earth,” is a Hebrew expression to indicate scope. That is to say, God created the heavens and the earth … and everything in between. Simply put, God created the universe. I want to consider this notion of God’s creating along several line of thought.
First, how did God create? Verse 3 tells us, “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” God speaks, and it is done (Ps 33:6, 9)! God created by his powerful word (Gen 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26). God is a God who speaks. He is not a silent God; but he is a God who creates and communicates by his powerful word.
Second, why did God create? Did God need to create? Was there some deficiency in God’s character that creation could remedy? Of course not. God is perfect. There is no deficiency in God. God created, therefore, to display his glory. Creation is like a theatre or stage on which the glory of God is shown forth. The psalmist says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Ps 19:1). And as the prophet Isaiah puts it, “…everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made” (Is 43:7). God created us for his glory; He crated to display his glory!
Third, the what question. Or more specifically, the ‘so what’ question. What are some implications of the doctrine of creation? One significant implication is that Gen 1:1 rules out many prevalent ‘isms’ of our day. Gen 1:1 rules out ‘naturalism’ – the idea that this world is all there is – that there is no God, no heaven, no hell, no resurrection, etc. Gen 1:1 boldly declares there is a God! And he is the God who created the universe! Also, Gen 1:1 rules out ‘pantheism’ – the idea that god is somehow in nature; or that nature is somehow divine. Pantheism denies any distinction between God and his creation. Gen 1:1, however, declares that God is God and we are not. God is creator – he is distinct from, and sovereign over, his creation! Finally, Gen 1:1 rules out ‘polytheism’ – the idea that there is more than one God. There is one God. The true and living God who spoke the universe into existence.
The truth of God as creator is one of the most foundational truths of the Christian faith. Is it any wonder, then, that this truth is under constant attack? But the Bible is clear. God spoke, and it was! God brought forth the heavens and the earth by the power of his word. Therefore, God is the true King. And he is to reign in our hearts! Dear reader, may we submit to him! May the Lord reign in our hearts as he reigns over his creation! And may we see the fingerprints of our Creator in his creation!