James 1:18

Well, it has taken me over a month to get as far as verse 18 of the first chapter - do you think that is some kind of record and if so, is it one to be proud of??!!! Whatever it is, at least I am still managing to read though my bible. I'm actually not just reading James, but seem to be skipping all over the place at the moment having read Ezekiel, Joel, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2 and 3 John, and have almost finished Revelation. All since our church conference at the beginning of November. I am not, mind you, journalling all those other books. There are, after all, only 24 hours in each day and only 7 days in a week, no matter how much I ask for 28/8 so I can get done everything I want to do!

Anyhow, enough rambling as here (drum roll please!) at long last is James chapter1 verse 18....

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NIV: He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created

The Message: He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.

God chose to create us, to bring us to life. This was a sovereign act of God made in full knowledge of all that we would do, of all that would come to pass and has still to come.

I think of time as being somewhat like a ribbon, and God can go to any point on that ribbon at any time and be fully aware of everything else that is going on in that ribbon no matter where or when. There is no beginning, no end to the ribbon, it just is and God can see the whole ribbon at all times. Isn't it just amazing to now that God knew about the atom bomb, abortion, drugs, gay marriages, paedophiles, famine, earthquakes, volcanoes, wars, genocide, and everything else that goes on in this world and yet he still chose to create the world and everything that is in it including us? He knew before he even created the world that Jesus would die for our sins, yet he still went ahead and did it. I find that amazing and so humbling, because who am I that God should do that for me?

Not only that, but as these words from James tell us, he created us through the word of truth, through speaking his word. Just read Genesis chapter 1 and see how God created the world. It wasn't by waving a magic wand, or by conducting some huge scientific experiment. All He did was speak the world into existence. Just imagine how powerful a voice He has if just by speaking He can create things!!!!

Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

His word is living and active. It is not something that is dead or dormant, something that was once of use or purpose and is now no longer doing anything. It is living, alive, tangible, real, something you can reach out and touch, feel, experience. It is active, moving, working, doing things and is full of energy. Just take a look at the bible, the word of God. Read it, really read it, taking in the meaning, the context of each and every word. There is nothing in the bible without a reason, a purpose. How often do you look at a verse and it is as if you have never read it before when you know that you have read that verse, that chapter possibly more than once, twice or even three times. The word of God is active and living, it moves, changes. You can read a verse one day and get one meaning from it, then read the same verse another day and get a completely different meaning.

He created us using his word. Amazing!

Not only that, but as the NLT puts it, we, out of all creation, became his prized possession. So each and every one of us is prized, treasured by God. Not one of us is deemed worthless, of no use, not good enough. Each one of us is worthy.

The NIV uses the word "firstfruits" of all he created. The firstfruits were the first and best crops of the harvest and which were to be given to him as an offering:

Exodus 23:19 Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God

The first fruits were the cream of the crop, the best the harvest would offer and God considers each one of us to be the best of his creation. Giving the first fruits to God was a sign of faith that the harvest would yield enough to provide for the family, for the rest of the year. It was symbolic of trust in God's promises that He would provide a full harvest, just as today, our belief and trust in Jesus is symbolic that we believe in God's promises of eternal life.

So the next time you feel that you aren't good enough, that nothing you do could ever live up to the standards set by your parents, your boss, your teachers, your spouse or whoever, just remember that God thinks of you as his prized possession, the best of the harvest, the crown of all his creations. And if the God of the Universe believes that about you, why do you believe any less?