Genesis 1:1-5 (NRSV)
Read Genesis 1:1-5 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 1In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, Verse 2the 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.
Verse 3Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. Verse 4And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. Verse 5God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
Devotion
I believe it was no coincidence that the first thing God created was light. The dark can be a scary place. We modern folk rarely encounter true physical darkness. Recently I was at a church meeting when all the power in the neighborhood went out. All of a sudden we literally lived in utter darkness. Utter darkness—for about three seconds, that is. Then everyone pulled out their smart phones and the room was aglow with artificial light. It's difficult to imagine a time when physical darkness meant danger, fear and perhaps even death.
We do, however, understand figurative darkness and the danger, fear and dark that can accompany that. God breaks in and creates light. Physical light to be sure, but also spiritual light. Light to guide our way. Light to give us hope. Light to calm our fears. May you know the light of Christ today and always.
Prayer
God of light, shine in our darkness that we may not be afraid. Amen.