Scripture:

   In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. 

  Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” 

   So God created humankind in his image,
   in the image of God he created them;
   male and female he created them. 

— Genesis 1:1-5, 26-27 (NIV)

 Devotional:

In a few short chapters, the Bible gives us two accounts of Creation. In our present day, we find ourselves saying, “How? When? I need details!” 

In these simple stories, though, we find so much more than the how and the when. We find the who and the why. And I read truth here in a way that I don’t always find in a textbook or scientific account. 

If you ask a psychologist what happens when someone falls in love, they might use terms like “dopamine,” “testosterone,” and “neurotransmitters.” (Yes, I had to look it up.) If you ask a poet, though, you might get this: 

I ne’er was struck before that hour
With love so sudden and so sweet,
Her face it bloomed like a sweet flower
And stole my heart away complete.
My face turned pale as deadly pale,
My legs refused to walk away,
And when she looked, what could I ail?
My life and all seemed turned to clay. 

And then my blood rushed to my face
And took my eyesight quite away,
The trees and bushes round the place
Seemed midnight at noonday.
I could not see a single thing,
Words from my eyes did start—
They spoke as chords do from the string,
And blood burnt round my heart.  

Are flowers the winter’s choice?
Is love’s bed always snow?
She seemed to hear my silent voice,
Not love's appeals to know.
I never saw so sweet a face
As that I stood before.
My heart has left its dwelling-place
And can return no more.
— John Clare, “First Love” https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/50263/first-love-56d22d33757cd  

Both the psychologist and the poet speak truth.

Prayer:

Gracious Father, we thank You for all creation, for speaking to our hearts with who and why. Even as You’ve given us minds to research and analyze, may we find rest in Your love and the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ. In His name we pray. Amen.

Written by Jon McHenry. Jon leads our devotional team, is a council member, worship speaker and part of the men's ministry at Arcola Church. He is a devoted husband and father.