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Commentary on "The Atmosphere of Praise"

TERRY MIRRA

 

Day 2: Sunday, May 16, 2010

 

OVERVIEW

This day focuses on the physical creation of the world and specific details in relationship to it, such as oxygen, water, etc. At the end, the author states how creation was clearly an “orderly, planned and meticulously executed event. What does that tell us about the character of God? How could this realization help you with whatever struggles you’re going through?”

 

OBSERVATIONS

What really strikes me about this less is the magnitude with which it misses the whole point. This lesson is about an “atmosphere of praise” (supposedly), not organic details of creation, or God’s amazing organizational skills. While we are in awe over God’s creation, that’s not what the focus of this lesson is about.

The most pertinent detail is the inclusion of Gen. 1:2, “…and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Here, in the very beginning, is the mention of the Holy Spirit—ready to bring life to creation; the Spirit of God was the first mover. It’s this same Spirit that God breathed into Adam, and is the same Spirit that brings us to “spiritual life” when we accept Christ as our Savior. Without the Spirit, we are unable to do anything, as He calls us to Himself, and has chosen us.

“He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will, to the praise of His glorious grace that He favored us with in the Beloved.” (Eph. 1:5, 6) (Once again, note the use of the word “praise” in this passage.)

The ending questions are rather unrelated to the subject presented, though reflecting on creation and the miraculous nature of God is always a worthy thing to do.

“From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse. For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened.” (Rom. 1:21, 22)

The more we learn about our Creator and His power and sovereignty, the more we love and trust Him. As the Holy Spirit works in our life, and as our relationship with Jesus deepens, the more we want to praise Him for who He is and what He has done for us.

“But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us! Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath.” (Rom. 5:8, 9)

 

CONCLUSIONS

  1. This lesson misses the whole point—the details of creation are amazing, but have nothing to do with an “atmosphere of praise”—just atmosphere.
  2. The mention of “the Spirit of God” was the most pertinent part of this lesson (though the author doesn’t develop this point, but only says, “We can, for now, only speculate on what that means.”), as the Holy Spirit is what changes everything by bringing us back to “spiritual life” when we become believers. Without the Holy Spirit, there couldn’t be an “atmosphere of praise” toward God. It’s an internal atmosphere, not an environmental one.
  3. The ending questions are unrelated to the subject presented. Creation does display God’s majesty, therefore enlarging our view of God, but is still void of a real connection to breath, the Holy Spirit, or anything related to an “atmosphere of praise”. The author is trying too hard to connect creation and our external environment with our internal need for a transformed heart through the Holy Spirit.

 

GO TO DAY 3

 

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