Before the Beginning

Before the Beginning

You loved me before the creation of the world (JOHN 17:24).

Matthew 3:13-17

Reading

“But if God has no beginning and no end, and has always existed, what was He doing before He created us? How did He spend his time?” There’s always one kid who’ll ask this during a Sunday school class! I used to answer that this was a bit of a mystery. But recently I learned that the Bible actually gives us an answer to this question.

When Jesus prayed to his Father in John 17, he said, “Father . . . you loved me before the creation of the world” (V.24). Before God ever created the earth or ruled over it, God was a Father loving His Son through the Spirit. When Jesus was baptised, God sent His Spirit in the form of a dove and said, “This is my Son, whom I love” (MATT. 3:17). This unending, life-giving love is the most important part of who God is.

What an amazing and encouraging truth this is about our God! The mutual love shown by each member of the Trinity—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—is key to understanding the character and ways of God. What was God the Father doing before the beginning of time? Loving his Son through the Spirit. God is love (1 JOHN 4:8) and this picture helps us begin to understand what that means.

Father, You have made me to give to others just as You have given to me. Teach me to give so that I can better show Your character and be more like You today.

What I’m thankful for . . .

God, thank You for Your unending, life-giving love.

WE ARE CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF A GOD WHO IS LOVING AND RELATIONAL—SO WE, TOO, ARE MADE TO LOVE.

Youth Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries