“Don’t Rely on Happy Accidents”

Genesis 1:2-5
 
“The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.”
 
One of the earliest marketing campaigns for Reese’s Peanut Butter cups had two strangers colliding at the corner of a busy sidewalk, their snacks crashing together. “Hey, you put your chocolate bar in my peanut butter!” “Hey, you got your peanut butter on my chocolate!” Then each smiled with delight after trying the result of their happy accident. And the world changed after that. Halloween bags and Easter baskets were improved 10x and no longer did we have degenerates walking down the sidewalk with their fist in a peanut butter jar.
 
Happy accidents are great! They turn our mishaps into masterpieces. But I wouldn’t want to live my life banking on them. Happy accidents are few and far between. In fact, most of the time, accidents aren’t happy at all.
 
When we get the chance to spend a little time in nature, whether in the mountains, at the beach, or just relaxing outside next to the garden we can get overwhelmed with the beauty of the world around us. It’s wild to me that some folks simply chalk it up to a happy accident. Creation is simply too complex to be explained without a creator, and one that knows what He’s doing.
 
Our first image of God in the scripture is His ordered creativity. He builds the world with His words, pulling newness and life out of nothing but His own power. The writer points out that God is measured and progressive in every step He takes. He built upon each previous day’s work and ended with His most complex, those who would be His stewards and children.
 
In shaping our worldview, there are three principles we can take from this passage:
  1. God has a plan and He works things according to it.
  2. God deeply cares about His creation and takes joy in it. And as the final work in creation, we receive benefits and responsibilities that the other elements of creation don’t enjoy.
  3. He is in control and comfortable with the complex. He is able to bring light and life out of chaos and nothingness.
So, I don’t know about you, but I’m going to put my faith in the intentional, ordered, creative and caring God of the universe instead of hoping for a few happy accidents.
 

Consider the passage above using the HEAR method

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you?
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
Jon Price, Associate Pastor
 
 
 
 

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“In the Beginning”

Genesis 1:1  
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
Where it all started.
Talk about an amazing first impression!  This statement has three major principles that should guide our thinking.
  1. This is a declarative statement, not a theory begging for proof.
  2. God is independent of His creation. He preceded His creation. As a matter of fact, John 5:26 says, God has life in Himself. He does not need blood to keep Him alive. No one breathed into His nostrils and made Him a living soul.
  3. Our existence and every breath must acquiesce to the consequences of this statement. Lee Strobel added, “Simple enough for the youngest child to understand and yet sufficiently profound to inspire the greatest thinkers to ponder its ramifications. Genesis 1:1 is certainly one of the most beloved and consequential sentences ever written.” Because God holds together His creation, including His creatures, we are totally dependent on Him.
  4. If you are created, God meant for you to be here.
While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following question:
  • Which of the points above stands out to you most? Share which and why in the comments below.
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you?
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
Pastor Stephen Williams

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Genesis 1

Genesis 1
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
 
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
 
And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.
 
And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.
 
And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.
 
And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.
 
And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.
 
And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
 
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
 
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
 
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.”
 
Click on the image below for a beautiful explanation of Genesis 1 from the Bible Project!
 
The Bible Project – Genesis 1 (Video)

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“A Look to 2021”

This next week we begin our journey through the Bible together. The plan for 2021 is to read and discuss Genesis through Revelation. I hope you’ll commit to join us. 

Similar to the previous format, Monday through Friday will be our daily scripture reading with a devotional thought and HEAR questions. Saturday will be a wild card dealing with Belmont’s mission and strategy or Bible study tools. Sunday will be a look ahead to the next week’s daily scripture. 

We try to keep the passages fairly short each day. However on weeks where we have a long narrative passage that works best in one sitting, we’ll have little to no additional reading, and we’ll usually post those on Monday. Whenever we can throw in additional multimedia treats, we’ll link to it as an option for you. Let’s begin! 



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“A Deep Subject for Christmas”

Revelation 22:17
“The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.”
Merry Christmas!
Today we celebrate the birth of Jesus, yet His birth is only the beginning. Today’s passage, from the last chapter in Revelation, comes after John’s emphasis on the importance of Christ’s return. He reminds the reader that, in the midst of uncertain times, Christ offers salvation to all who will “Come.” This offer is extended to all people through the Spirit and the Church. And WE are the church.
Do you remember Christ’s invitation to the woman at the well in John 4? Jewish readers would have caught something significant in the setting of this conversation that most of us miss. When a Hebrew author wanted to signify the beginning of a relationship leading to marriage, the author would have the couple meet at a well. The Old Testament does too. You have Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel, and Moses and Zipporah. These stories always followed a particular order:
  • Journey
  • Encounter at the well
  • Water is drawn
  • The women go and share the news of their encounter
  • The man is invited into the woman’s home and a meal is shared with her family.
  • Wedding
In John’s gospel, Jesus stopped on his journey at a well in Samaria where he encountered a woman.
Here’s the twist. He offered her not just water but “living water,” a life in connection with Himself. His words were unusual.  He spoke of living water.  He brought up her five previous husbands as well as her current living situation, not to mention that she was from a people despised by the Jews. To any Jewish reader, it would be obvious that there would be no marriage here, not to someone so undeserving. But the “well” pattern continued. The Samaritan woman went to tell others about this man who knew everything about her, yet offered her living water, a way to never be thirsty again.
The “marriage” we witness in John 4 is the bond between the Messiah and His bride, those who choose to join themselves with Him. Let’s read the Scripture in Revelation again. “The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.” The imagery in this verse is so beautiful, so full of hope. Its position, at the end of John’s description of the trials believers were facing and would face, reminded them that the Church is bonded to Him. We are united with Him. And that is the good news we get to share with all who will hear.  It’s a beautiful invitation to ALL people, from the Holy Spirit and the Church. It’s an invitation for us to invite others to unite with Christ.
What part of this verse stands out to you?
  • Is it His invitation to come?
  • His reminder that you are united with Him and not alone?
  • His expectation that we are to reach out and extend His invitation to all?
Who are you inviting to come?
Use the HEAR method to dig deeper into today’s passage, and again have a Wonderful Christmas!
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you?
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
April Price,  Jon’s wife
 

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“Can God put the pieces back together?” – Luke 2:36-38

Luke 2:36-38
“And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.”
Here is this woman who was widowed after only seven years of marriage. She never remarried and is now eighty-four and spends her days at the temple worshipping, praying, fasting, and looking at every newborn child that comes into the temple. Her life was in pieces, but she kept looking for that face, that face of God. Anna, whose name means “Favor” or “Grace.” Mary found favor with God and Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. She was from a place named Penuel which means “The face, or appearance of God” from the time of Jacob. Perhaps the most intriguing, and somewhat mysterious information the Gospel gives us about Anna is that she comes from one of the lost tribes of Israel, the house of Asher. But without knowing what exactly happened to the lost tribes after the exile, we do know that at least some of them made their way back to Israel. Anna, a member of the tribe of Asher, was praying, fasting, and worshiping there in the Temple.
God placed a member of a lost tribe, widowed, named Favor or Grace to see the face of God where the lost can be found. God has some very intricate puzzle pieces He can put together at the right place, at the right time, for His glory and His purpose. Let us see what He does with our circumstances and convoluted puzzle pieces.
While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:
  • What pieces do you have in your life that don’t seem to fit into the puzzle of your life?
  • Is there a time in your past when God took a “convoluted puzzle piece” from your life and fit it in a way that you didn’t expect?
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you?
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
Jim Sellers, Minister of Music and Sr Adults
 

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