Daily Devotional - Tuesday May 9, 2017

“I say, ‘You are “gods;” you are all children of the Most High. But you will die like mere mortals and fall like every other ruler.’ Rise up, O God, and judge the earth, for all the nations belong to you.” — Psalms 82:6-8

We Are God’s Offspring

When God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the garden of Eden, He never intended that they’d leave. Instead, He wanted the garden to be spread over the earth. God wanted them to spread worldwide the character of the garden—God’s presence, light, and truth. God said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it” (Genesis 1: 28). This was the overarching purpose for man’s dominion over the earth.

Isaiah 11:9 says, “The earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” God shares His authority with humans because they are His offspring. He didn’t create men and women to be servants, but to be sons and daughters who are wholeheartedly involved in running the family business. God has always wanted His children to help fulfill His purposes. The Father wants to share His purposes with us. This means that He doesn’t want man to work for Him, but rather with Him!

The Bible calls us “God’s partners.” (2 Corinthians 6:1) In the original Greek, “partner” means “those who cooperate, who help with, who work together.” We should think of humanity’s dominion as a joint purpose with God based on mutual love and the relationship of sons and daughters to their heavenly Father.

Prayer: Father, I thank You that I can call You Father because of Your love and Your creation of humanity, help me to represent You today as Your son/daughter. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Read Genesis 1: 28 | Psalms 82:6-8 | Isaiah 11: 9 | 2 Corinthians 6:1

Pastor Ted Winsley, Chaplain of the Philadelphia Eagles