Chapter 6 - Putting on the New Lighter You

Living Your Best Life

Genesis 1:14-19 – “Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. 16 Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. 17 God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.”

A comparison can be made between God's creation of the sun, moon, and stars, and the broader idea of putting on a new ‘lighter’ you can be found in passages like Ephesians 4 and other Christian teachings.

God's activity and purpose in creating celestial bodies on the fourth day—such as to separate day from night, serve as signs to mark sacred times, days, and years, and provide light on Earth—highlight God's power, wisdom, and the structure he establishes in creation.

This concept, present in many Christian teachings, highlights God's role in redeeming and transforming individuals through His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. It involves shedding the old, sinful self and adopting a new identity rooted in righteousness and holiness. This process is divinely initiated and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

This passage explains God's creation of the celestial order, offering structure and signs such as days and seasons for human life. It suggests embracing a new way of living aligned with God's Will, marked by a renewed mind and righteous conduct. This brings clarity, order, and purpose to a believer's life.

This passage discusses the physical lights, such as the sun, moon, and stars, that illuminate the Earth. It is commonly associated with the idea of Christ as the "Light of the world" and the belief that, through Christ, believers become "children of light," reflecting God's illumination to others. This symbolizes spiritual enlightenment and the shift from darkness to light.

While Genesis 1:14-19 highlights God's creative power in the physical universe, establishing order and providing light, the concept of "putting on the new you" emphasizes God's

transforming power in the spiritual realm, leading individuals to a renewed life in Christ. Both illustrate God's active involvement in ordering and bringing light into areas of darkness – both physically and spiritually.

Would you consider yourself a “child of the light”? Do you reflect God’s light to others? When and how?

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Are you living your best life? Why not??

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What do you know about the sun, the moon, and the stars? Do you know how they tell signs and seasons, the days and years – and which ones?

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Brain Teaser:

This section speaks of the sun, the moon, and the stars. Why doesn’t God mention creating the other planets in our Solar System here? Are other planets mentioned elsewhere in the Bible?

What do you think?

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Google AI Overview states:

The solar system as we understand it scientifically is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible. The Bible primarily focuses on the creation of Earth and other celestial bodies, but it does not delve into the specific details of planetary arrangements or orbital mechanics. While some verses might be interpreted as alluding to the broader concept of a universe created by God, they don't provide a detailed description of the solar system.

Here's a more detailed explanation:

Biblical Perspective: The Bible, particularly Genesis, describes God's creation of the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1: Day four of creation focuses on the sun, moon, and stars, but it doesn't explicitly name or describe the solar system.

No Detailed Explanation: The Bible doesn't offer a scientific explanation of planetary motion or the structure of the solar system.

Metaphorical Language: Some verses use poetic and metaphorical language when referring to the heavens and earth, which shouldn't be taken as literal scientific descriptions.

Modern Science: Our understanding of the solar system, including its planets and their orbits, is a product of modern scientific observation and study, not the Bible.

The concept of a solar system, with planets orbiting a star, has evolved over millennia. Early civilizations observed the planets visible to the naked eye, like Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, considering them celestial wanderers distinct from stars. The understanding of our solar system as a heliocentric (sun-centered) system, with Earth as one of several planets, took shape during the Renaissance and was solidified by figures like Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo. The invention of the telescope allowed for the discovery of Uranus in 1781, and subsequently Neptune in 1846, based on its gravitational influence on Uranus's orbit.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Early Observations (Pre-Renaissance):

Visible Planets:

Ancient civilizations observed Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, recognizing them as moving lights in the sky distinct from fixed stars.

Geocentric Model:

The prevailing view was that Earth was the center of the universe, with the sun, moon, and planets revolving around it.

The Renaissance Shift:

Heliocentric Theory:

Figures like Copernicus proposed a sun-centered (heliocentric) model, but it initially faced resistance.

Galileo's Discoveries:

Galileo's telescopic observations in the early 17th century provided strong evidence for the heliocentric model. He discovered Jupiter's moons, the phases of Venus, and sunspots, all challenging the geocentric view.

Kepler's Laws:

Johannes Kepler formulated laws of planetary motion, describing elliptical orbits and varying speeds of planets, further solidifying the heliocentric model.

Telescopic Discoveries:

Uranus:

In 1781, William Herschel discovered Uranus, marking the first planet found using a telescope.

Neptune:

In 1846, Neptune was discovered, primarily due to the observed deviations in Uranus's orbit, which led astronomers to infer the presence of another planet.

Moons and Rings:

Telescopes also enabled the discovery of numerous moons orbiting other planets (e.g., Jupiter's Galilean moons by Galileo, Saturn's moons by Huygens and Cassini) and the ring systems of Jupiter and Uranus.

Brain Teaser #2

So, Google AI Overview states that the planets move and the stars are fixed in the sky… interesting. What do you think?

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Were the days of the week listed in the Bible? What do you think?

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Who named them? What were they named after?

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Google AI Overview states:

The names of the days of the week in English (and many other languages) are rooted in ancient mythology and celestial observations. They primarily derive from the names of celestial bodies and Germanic or Norse gods.

Here's a breakdown:

Sunday: Named after the Sun.
Monday: Named after the Moon.
Tuesday: Named after Tiw, the Norse god of war.
Wednesday: Named after Woden (or Odin), the chief Norse god.
Thursday: Named after Thor, the Norse god of thunder.
Friday: Named after Frigg (or Freya), the Norse goddess of love and beauty.
Saturday: Named after Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture.

These names were adopted from the Roman calendar, which associated each day with a planet (including the Sun and Moon). Germanic peoples, who later adopted the seven-day week, replaced some of the Roman deities with their own, leading to the days as we know them today.

Brain Teaser #3

What do you think about the names and meanings of the days of the week?

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What about the months of the year? Were they listed in the Bible? What do you think?

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Who named them? What were they named after? Do they follow the same pattern as the days of the week did?

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Google AI Overview states:

The names of the months in the Gregorian calendar, which is widely used today, primarily come from the Roman calendar. Many months are named after Roman gods, festivals, or historical figures. For example, January is named after Janus, the god of beginnings, February after the purification festival Februa, and March after Mars, the god of war. Other months like July and August were later named in honor of Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar, respectively. The months September through December were originally the seventh through tenth months in the Roman calendar, hence their names derived from the Latin words for those numbers.

Here's a breakdown:

January: Named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and endings, depicted with two faces looking in opposite directions.
February: Named after Februa, a Roman festival of purification.
March: Named after Mars, the Roman god of war.
April: Possibly derived from the Latin word "aperire," meaning "to open," possibly referring to the opening of buds and flowers in the spring.
May: Named after Maia, a Roman goddess of spring and fertility.
June: Named after Juno, the Roman queen of the gods and goddess of marriage and childbirth.
July: Originally named Quintilis, it was renamed in honor of Julius Caesar.
August: Originally named Sextilis, it was renamed in honor Sextilis, it was renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar.
September: Derived from the Latin word "septem," meaning "seven," as it was the seventh month in the original Roman calendar.
October: Derived from the Latin word "octo," meaning "eight," as it was the eighth month in the original Roman calendar.
November: Derived from the Latin word "novem," meaning "nine," as it was the ninth month in the original Roman calendar.
December: Derived from the Latin word "decem," meaning "ten," as it was the tenth month in the original Roman calendar.

Listed above is a picture Google AI Overview used to explain the text.

Brain Teaser #4

April means to open? Interesting… as in the opening of the Calendar?... month one? What do you think?

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September was the 7thmonth in the Roman calendar?... October the 8th… November the 9th… December the 10th… Interesting…

What do you think of that?

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What does the Bible say about time other than the days of Creation? Is anything else mentioned?

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What calendar would Jesus have followed during His time on Earth?

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When is the first day of the year on the Hebrew Calendar?

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Google AI Overview states:

The Bible doesn't provide a complete calendar in the way we think of one today (with specific dates, months, and years). However, it does outline a system for marking time based on natural phenomena and important events. This system is primarily lunar-solar, meaning it uses both the moon's phases and the sun's cycle to determine months and years.

Here's a breakdown of how time is marked in the Bible:

Days: Days begin at sunset and end at the following sunset.
Weeks: Weeks are seven days long, with the seventh day being the Sabbath.
Months: Months begin with the sighting of the new moon, and most months have 29 or 30 days.
Years: Years are generally 12 lunar months, but an extra month (a 13th) is added periodically to keep the calendar aligned with the agricultural seasons.

The new year in the Hebrew calendar, called Rosh Hashanah, is celebrated on the first day of the month of Tishrei. In 2025, Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset on September 22nd and concludes at nightfall on September 24th, according to Chabad.org. It's the start of the High Holy Days, a period of introspection and reflection, and is also known as the "head of the year" or "birthday of the world".

Cultivating a Personal Relationship with Jesus

Cultivating a Personal Relationship with Jesus

Chapter 6 - Putting on the New Lighter You

Living Your Best Life

Google AI Overview states:

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Cultivating a Personal Relationship with Jesus

Chapter 6 - Putting on the New Lighter You

Living Your Best Life

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