How Do I Know God Loves Me? God’s Love in Genesisعينة

Genesis 1:1 starts in the beginning, literally, as it tells of the world's creation. But the first humans are far from the heroes of the story. > "We, cherished humans, are > not spot lit in our origin. > Not centered in our galaxy. > Acute attention to our dusty feet dimly, > drastically, > under-shines > the radiance of the Son... > Our genesis gleams with a greater story." > (Jen Weaver, "Origin Stories" in A Beckoning to Wonder ) It’s only natural to look for human characters we can connect with in a story. The ones we dislike as much as the hero does. The ones we think will make it out at the end. The ones who remind us of ourselves. We can marvel at Adam and Eve’s supernatural start and relate to their shortcomings. We can celebrate how, even when they hid in shame, God came to find them (God seeks us out this way too). We can even get frustrated at their disobedience, forgetting for a moment that we struggle the same way. Or wonder curiously about if they had belly buttons. But let’s refocus our lens for a moment. The God who loves us is the hero of the story. We get to watch in awe and wonder at what He does. > "In the first words > of the first book > of God’s Holy Bible, > we meet our glorious God > of no beginning." (Jen Weaver, "Origin Stories" in A Beckoning to Wonder ) Let’s reread the creation story and retrain our eyes to look for God as the main character. Find stability in knowing that while we began, our good God always was and always will be. Find wonder at the power of His breath. Find communion as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit move in perfect agreement. Find sovereign creativity in how He provided for our needs. Find love offered to humanity since the very beginning. “In the beginning God…” In the light of our glorious God and this great story of our beginning, discover the unchangeable truth of your beloved identity.