It is Good

It is Good

 

And God said, ‘Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.’ So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. 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 of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.’ And it was so. God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’
So God created humankind in his image,
   in the image of God he created them;
   male and female he created them.
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 air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.’ God said, ‘See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon 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 air, 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. God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

                                                     Genesis 1:20-31

Our reading today is satisfying to my soul. 

To think the Creator intentionally formed humans out of this good earth, it’s a very good story.

Years ago I was at a protest concert in a place called Doubtful Creek. A band played Joni Mitchell’s song ‘Woodstock’:

“….and we’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden.”

There’s an interesting moment in John’s gospel, when Mary speaks to the risen Christ for the first time. She doesn’t recognise him, she thinks he’s a gardener.

(I learned this from a sermon under the trees, in a garden, at a place called Eureka).

I confess I can be overwhelmed by the worries of life, the anxiety and fear of what’s coming with our changing climate. I have to be reminded to get back to the good story. The gardener is alive, and he is at work in the world. 

Lord Jesus, help us encourage one another to know; it is good. 

_____________

Luke’s song ‘It is Good’ was originally written and performed for Common Grace’s 2022 Season of Creation evening of prayer and praise. 

Luke Vassella is an inspirational performer and accomplished singer/songwriter from Lismore, Widjabul Country. Luke ‘s soulful music powerfully weaves joy and pain, local and global, faith and justice together. He always has a new song to tell an old story and regularly performs at weddings, markets and the beautiful Hinterland Chapel as well as contributing to many Common Grace events and prayer vigils.

This devotional is the sixth in a series of daily email devotionals for Advent 2022. This year's series reflects on the hope and joy of the good breaking in with the birth of Christ. 

Would you like to receive

the rest of this email series?

Yes, send me this email series