Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In the past week, I’ve been preparing to begin preaching in Genesis. One of the things that has struck me in my studies is how much my tendency is to think about myself in relation to God. Perhaps it is just me, but I tend to think that life is about me. For example, when I do Bible study, I tend to think, so what does this mean for me? And this is not a bad question, but it typically is the final question that is built on an understanding of what God says and what God means and what God wants.
Genesis 1, where we begin this week in our series through Genesis, also begins, not with us, not with mankind, but with God. The Bible doesn’t begin with “In the beginning, man was…” It rightly starts with “In the beginning, God…” The Bible isn’t primarily about me or about you. It is about God, and how He interacts with His people, you and me.
When we get the prepositions wrong, things become distorted. If we live with a mindset that life is about us and God is for us, we tend to subordinate God, trying (and failing) to make him into someone we can control. And then this comes out in our prayers. We only pray when we need something, treating God like a genie or someone who can help us out in a pinch.
But life is about God and God is for us. With this understanding, we live in awe and wonder of who God is. We worship and adore God for who He is. We seek to live dependently on him, following His lead, and obeying His word. After all, God is for us. My hope is that the truth that God is for you will be abundantly clear as you read through Genesis 1. God’s work of forming and filling his creation are done in preparation for the creation of male and female. God, because of who He is, is for us. He doesn’t need us. But He delights to bless us. He made us so that we could enjoy Him in a loving relationship and enjoy the good things He creates/provides.
On this Chinese New Year’s Eve, do you live with the knowledge that life is about God and God is for you?
Additionally, please continue to pray for the nations of Israel and Ukraine. Pray that the wars would end. Here is a suggested list of prayers if you are at a loss for words in how to pray: https://send.org/story/hh_pray_for_ukraine. And https://worldrelief.org/blog-prayer-for-israel-and-gaza/ Thank you for kneeling on behalf of the people of Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Gaza and taking a stand (or a knee in prayer) against the forces of darkness in this present age.
This Week (Feb. 9 – Feb. 15, 2024):
1. Tonight, Feb. 9, 2024, the Living Stones Friday Night Bible Study is meeting from 7:30-9:30 to study about the majesty of God’s name. You can read Psalm 138 to prepare. Join in person in Room A-218 or online via the following link at 7:30 pm:
https://zoom.us/j/685376249?pwd=cWtyUk1pckJiRHJxZVZCSGdJZWw2UT09
Meeting ID: 685 376 249
Password: 840840
Join by phone: +1 929 436 2866 US (New York)
2. The Living Stones Sunday School and Grace Ambassadors Sunday School are meeting this Sunday. The Grace Ambassadors will continue a discussion of “The Pilgrim’s Progress: Part 2”. The Living Stones will be studying an Overview of the NT in the Koinonia Room (A-216). They will use the following link for those who wish to join online this Sunday:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/491248585?pwd=RnpLcnpjQ01nTGZLSmhaZ3l4L3dKQT09
Meeting ID: 491 248 585
Password: 403767
Join by phone: +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
3. This Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, at 11:25 am, our CrossPoint Community Service will start and Pastor Nathan Willems will be preaching. Pray for him! Join us for worship at CBCGL!
Text: Genesis 1:1-5; 26-2:3
Title: Our Origin Story
Live stream via Youtube: https://www.cbcgl.org/live-stream/
4. Each Wednesday, such as this week (Feb. 14 – Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day!) at 7:45 pm, you are invited, encouraged, and requested to join our weekly prayer meeting. We will not grow in Christ without growing in our dependence on God through prayer. The link is found below in the section on prayer.
Administration / Events
For Prayer:
1. From Bishop J.C. Ryle – “To be prayerless is to be Christless, Godless, and in the high road to destruction…It will always be found that when prayers are few, grace, strength, peace, and hope are small.” Please join our Wednesday night prayer meeting (7:45 – 9:00 pm) even if you can’t participate the whole time.
https://zoom.us/j/758587937?pwd=aS9sZUdxcm1janNNM2I2aXJ6Smx2QT09
Meeting ID: 758 587 937
Password: 030086
Join by phone: +1 929 436 2866 US (New York)
2. We’d be glad to pray for you. If you need prayer, you can submit your prayer request via the following link: https://www.cbcgl.org/pray/
In Christ, your servant, SDG,
Rev. Dr. Nathan Willems
Associate Pastor of CrossPoint Community – A Ministry of CBCGL