January 10: Let Man Have Dominion
God created humanity to carry out His purposes on earth. When God created man in His image, He gave him free will, therefore, man has the ability to plan and make decisions, and able to take action to fulfill those plans, just as God did in creating the world. Man is meant to carry out God’s purposes using his own will and initiative. He’s to reflect the God who formulates plans and carries them out through creative acts.
How is humanity to fulfill this vocation? Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule (have dominion NJKV) over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground” (Gen. 1:26). Man was created not only to have a relationship with God, but also to share God’s authority. “You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet” (Psalm 8:6). Again, “The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.” (Psalm 115:16 KJV).Man’s vocation is to carry out God’s purpose on this earth.
The account of the creation of mankind shows that God never intended to rule the earth directly by Himself. Why? It is because, God is love (1 John 4:8, 16), and He wants others to share in what He has. We must understand that the relationship of love that God established with mankind is not separate from the purpose God has for mankind. Rather, the relationship is foundational to the purpose. Both are essential keys to prayer. Note: Our prayer every day should be that the Lord would help us live in His presence all the days of our lives. Nobody lives in His presence and is not made a saint. With prayer, fasting and a daily dose of the Word, we can grow out of religion into being saints. God wants saints in His kingdom, not religious people. Which one are you?
Prayer: Our father, God, I desire to have a relationship with you and to be a part of carrying out your purpose on this earth. Please Lord, make this a reality in my life, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Today’s reading: Genesis 23-25; Matthew 7
The Kingdom of God is not about Religion.