In August and September, our Delight in the Word Challenge theme was Defeating Discouragement. You can read the posts on this topic HERE and  HERE. The last key in our series on defeating discouragement is to FOCUS on Jesus. That topic is too huge for just one week.

Therefore, our theme for this entire month (October 2018) is going to be FOCUS on Jesus.

I got the word FOCUS from these two Scriptures:

Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV   Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 3:1 NIV.  Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.

For the second week in October, we are focusing on Jesus as Creator.

Whenever I think of God creating the world, I tend to think of God the Father. But when we examine the Scriptures we see Father, Son and Holy Spirit all taking part in creation. Since our theme this month is Focus on Jesus, we will be looking at Scriptures that mention Jesus as creator.

Genesis 1:1 says that God created the heaven and the earth.

The name commonly used for God in this Scripture is the Hebrew word Elohim. It is also found in the singular form El and Elah. Whenever we find the English word “God” used in the Old Testament, it is a translation of this Hebrew word Elohim or one of its forms.

The exact meaning of Elohim is not known though it seems to contain the idea of strength and power. The noun Elohim is plural but it is always used with a singular verb when it speaks of the true God. This indicates a unity and diversity within the nature of God. This unity and diversity is revealed in Scripture as the doctrine of the Trinity. – excerpt from article on blueletterbible.com by Don Stewart

In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1).

The noun Elohim is plural but it is always used with a singular verb when it speaks of the true God. This indicates a unity and diversity within the nature of God. This unity and diversity is revealed in Scripture as the doctrine of the Trinity.

There are other Scriptures which also support this belief.

For instance:

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. – Genesis 1:26

 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: – Colossians 1:16

In this verse, we see, from reading the preceding verses, that “him” is referring to Jesus. This is also the case in John 1:3.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. – John 1:3

Here is a Journal prompt for you…

Why is it important that we know that Jesus is the maker (creator) of everything? Ask God this question and write down the answers in your journal.

I also created some sharable graphics of these Scriptures for you to share on social media.