A teaching by Rev. Barbara Williams, President of the Ministry of the Watchman International
Week of June 19-23, 2023
MONDAY
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Genesis 1:26-28
What is the purpose of the human life? What are we here for? This question may sound trite, but many people have asked it. David asked of God, “What is man that thou are mindful of him?” (Psalm 8:4).
If we are to understand and appreciate who we are, then we must ask this question. We all want success, but success at what? Do we really understand what manner of spirit we are? Do we even know much about ourselves as human beings?
If we are to find the purpose of any created thing, we must search the mind of the Creator. What did God have in His mind when He created man?
We see the story of creation in Genesis chapter one. After God created the heavens, and the earth and many other living creatures, He created man. You might say that since man was created on the day before God rested, that He could not rest without creating man. We can say that man completed God’s creation on the earth. God saved the best for last.
If you are in need of healing, there is good news! Proverbs 4:20-22 SAYS:
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
So there is life and health in God’s word. Since God’s word is medicine, we must take it like we would a prescription. I suggest three times a day, like you would your food. Remember, healing is the children’s bread. Consider this your “dose” for today. Remember, read, and meditate three times a day the following:
Rx: Isaiah 40:29 ~ He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength.
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15
If you’ve never studied the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, we invite you to join us as we read through the Bible in a year. Read and meditate on these chapters this week:
June 19: Deuteronomy 24, Psalms 114-115, Isaiah 51, Revelation 21
June 20: Deuteronomy 25, Psalms 116, Isaiah 52, Revelation 22
June 21: Deuteronomy 26, Psalms 117-118, Isaiah 53, Matthew 1
June 22: Deuteronomy 27-28:19, Psalms 119:1-24, Isaiah 54, Matthew 2
June 23: Deuteronomy 28:20-68, Psalms 119:25-48, Isaiah 55, Matthew 3
June 24: Deuteronomy 29, Psalms 119:49-72, Isaiah 56, Matthew 4
June 25: Deuteronomy 30, Psalms 119:73-96, Isaiah 57, Matthew 5
TUESDAY
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Genesis 1:26-28
So what did God have in mind when He created man? The answer is found in verse 26, where God says, “Let us make man in our own image.” In other words, God had Himself in mind when He created man. He then gave instruction for man to be just like Him.
God always prospers and succeeds, so He made man a success. He told him to be fruitful, multiply and replenish the earth. He gave man lordship, or dominion and responsibility over the whole earth. As man walked with God, he was taught how to manage the earth.
Adam was the first disciple on the earth. He walked with the Master every day and learned what it was to be like God.
WEDNESDAY
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Genesis 1:26-28
Man was taught the most important lesson while walking with God. He was taught responsibility in a relationship. Everything God does is done in the context of relationship. This relationship is known as a covenant. He has different covenants with man.
There is the covenant of life, peace, and strong friendship, but the overall relationship He has in each covenant that He has established is love. At the foundation of all relationships that God has had with all His creation is love.
God is love. Man was made in love when he was created, just as God is love. Love is the foundation of all God ordained relationships. When we love, we are most like God. God taught the man many things while they enjoyed fellowship in the garden. What happened?
THURSDAY
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
Genesis 2:16-18
Choice was introduced. As part of Adam’s training in being like God, God had to introduce the concept of decision-making and choosing. Whenever a decision is made, there is a judgment to be made. This is the highest level of decision-making: that of choosing right over wrong. Prior to this time, there is no evidence that the man ever had to do anything except obey what God said. Then, after the man and woman had enjoyed their lives in the garden, God decided to complete their training by allowing them the power to choose life or death. This is a very high level of decision-making, but one that will complete God’s purpose in creating the man and woman just like Himself. Will man pass the test?
FRIDAY
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
Genesis 2:16-18
Man will ultimately pass this test because God never gives up on His creation, and God always succeeds at what He does. God is still teaching us this important lesson. Each time we make a decision, we are going back to the tree in the garden. We are passing the test of God each time we choose life, or the God way of doing things.
Our purpose on this earth is to love and choose to have good relationships with everyone. Just because we are tempted and fail does not disqualify us, just as it did not disqualify Adam and Eve. When we choose Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we pass this test, and our judgment is sure. When we choose to forgive and not seek vengeance, our judgment is sure. When we allow God to take us on the path He has chosen for us, we pass this test. Whenever we choose to obey God, we pass the test.
Our purpose? To show our love for the Creator through a life of worship… dedicated to His great purpose of love for all humanity.