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Together in Christ: 'All Together in the Beginning' — Genesis 1:1-2 Wednesday, January 3, 2024 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. — Genesis 1:1-2 NLT Key Thought Throughout Scripture, God reveals Himself as Father, Son, and Spirit. [1] As Creator, God revealed this three-in-one nature. Jesus, the Son, was present and everything was created through Him. [2] The Spirit of God moved over the waters bringing breath and life to what was formless and empty. This three-in-one God brought beauty out of nothingness, order out of chaos, and specificity out of randomness at creation. God wants the beauty, order, and specificity that originate in His nature to overflow into our relationships! [1] Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 14:7-8; 1 Corinthians 8:6, 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:1-2. Sometimes the combined three ways in which God is revealed is called the Trinity. [2] John 1:1-3; Hebrews 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-17 all emphasize the Son's indispensable role as Creator. We will reflect on these verses in the coming days. TODAY'S PRAYER We thank You and praise You, Almighty God. You are the Father who conceived us in love, the Son who re-created and redeemed us from sin, and the Holy Spirit, Whose power inspires and enables us. We desire, O God, to live with each other and reflect the harmony and grace with each other that we find in Your nature. We trust that You embedded this aspect of Your character within us.* Would You please increase our desire to live with each other with grace and in harmony? We ask that the Holy Spirit enable us to mature into this aspect of Your divine character as we seek You, Lord.^ We pray this in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. * See Genesis 1:26-27 for God creating humans in the beginning and Psalm 139:13-16 for His creation of each human being at conception. ^ 2 Corinthians 3:18. RELATED SCRIPTURE READINGS John 1:1-18 Colossians 1:15-23