Today’s Reading: Genesis 3, Romans 8, Psalm 19

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

In December of 2018, our family climbed aboard a boat before sunrise and ventured out into the Pacific Ocean in hopes of seeing humpback whales. The sky was dark and the ocean was peaceful. In that moment, I was reminded of the beauty of creation and the power of our Creator. As the sun began to peek over the mountain and cast its glow across the water, I thanked God for His presence in this world and the evidence of His hand at work in all I could see and hear.

I am reminded of that early morning boat ride as I read the first chapter of Genesis. I try to imagine what it was like when darkness covered the deep waters. I consider the relationship of the Trinity as the Spirit hovered over the surface of the earth, while God spoke the world into existence, and the Word gave life to everything that was created (John 1).

THE HARMONY OF THE TRINITY AS SEEN IN CREATION IS A BEAUTIFUL THING TO CONSIDER.

Two days ago, we studied the beautiful way God created the world through separation, but the creation story also tells us of a more painful separation that created a new reality. When Adam and Even chose to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge and evil, sin was introduced into the creation story. Their disobedience separated mankind from the beauty of the Garden of Eden, causing a separation between creation and its Creator. In the same way, when we choose sin over God’s righteousness in our lives, there is a separation that takes place between us and our holy God. Once again, the harmony of the Trinity plays a role in bringing us back into a relationship with our Creator.

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. — Romans 8:1-4

GOD THE FATHER GAVE HIS SON FOR OUR REDEMPTION. GOD THE SON WILLINGLY BECAME THE SACRIFICE FOR OUR SINS. GOD THE SPIRIT FREES US FROM THE POWER OF SIN THAT LEADS TO DEATH.

The Spirit of God frees us from the hold that sin has on us, and this is possible because the Son of God was willing to become one of us in order that He could become the sacrifice for all of our sins. The sinful nature with which we were born is naturally hostile towards God; that’s why we need the Holy Spirit to come in and take control over our sinful nature, giving us life and making us right with God. When we invite the Spirit to come in and lead us, putting to death the deeds of our sinful nature, we become children of God.

Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. – Romans 8:15b-17

The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives gives us a foretaste of the glory we will experience one day, when sin no longer separates us from our Heavenly Father. One day, we will be released from the sin and suffering our bodies are currently experiencing, and we will be given new bodies as God gives us our full rights as His adopted children. Our current experience of the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives gives us hope for what we will one day experience in God’s presence.

I find peace in imagining God’s Spirit hovering over creation just as I find peace in the knowledge that He is present in my life, hovering over and around and in me each day. I am thankful that He helps me in my weaknesses, praying to God on my behalf in harmony with the will of the Father (8:27). This gives me context to one of my favorite verses:

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. — Romans 8:28

GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT WERE WORKING TOGETHER WHEN THEY CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH, AND THEY CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER ON OUR BEHALF.

What an amazing reality! What a perfect truth to rest on as we begin the third day of a new year! Even though we daily experience the separation that sin in this world has caused between creation and its Creator, we can still feel God’s presence when His Spirit lives within us. Each day is a mixture of feeling the separation that exists until Jesus comes again, while also feeling the closeness of His involvement in our life. Separate, yet together. Distant, yet close.

Father God, I am so grateful this morning for the Spirit’s role in my life — hovering over me and daily creating me to be who you want me to be. The Spirit’s presence creates a longing in my heart for the day when I will worship before Your throne. Jesus, thank you for becoming the perfect sacrifice for my sins. Spirit, empty me of all that is selfish and sinful, and make me to be a child of God who daily brings glory to the Father in my actions and attitudes. Lord, we join David in this prayer as we begin another year:

How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
Don’t let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
and innocent of great sin.
May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. – Psalm 19:12-14