When most people think about God’s commands, the first thing that comes to mind is a list of restrictions. Do not lie. Do not steal. Do not kill. Faith can feel like a long checklist of rules to avoid. But if we go back to the very beginning of Scripture, we see something surprising. The very first command God gave humanity was not a “don’t” at all, it was a “do.”

Genesis tells us, “God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it.” Before there were prohibitions, there was purpose. God did not begin humanity’s story by saying what not to do. He began by blessing them and sending them out with a mission.

That perspective changes everything. God is not a cold rule giver waiting for us to slip up. He is a generous Creator who designed us for abundance. His heart from the start was life and growth. Even when He gave limits, like the command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, those limits were set inside a world overflowing with freedom. Thousands of trees were theirs to enjoy. Only one was off limits. God’s commands have always been rooted in freedom, not restriction.

We often shrink our faith down to the negatives. We measure spiritual maturity by what we avoid, by what we do not watch, do not drink, do not say. While there is wisdom in those things, the life God calls us into is so much bigger. The real question is not only “What am I staying away from?” but also “What am I stepping into?”

The first command to humanity was to create, to multiply, to steward, and to rule. God’s vision for His people is active, not passive. It is about filling the earth with His goodness, building lives that reflect His glory, and multiplying His image through generations.

That calling has not changed. We are still invited to live lives of growth, not fear. To pursue purpose, not just avoid sin. To see God’s commands not as burdens that hold us back but as blessings that push us forward.

The very first word God spoke over humanity was blessing. And when He gives us commands today, they still carry that same heartbeat. They are not meant to shrink our lives, but to expand them into everything He created us to be.

When you’re not sure how to pray, A.C.T.S. gives you a simple path to follow: Adore, Confess, Thank, and Ask.

In Jesus name, Amen

“Pray For Me” Cover by Rascal Flatts

Thanks for letting us be part of how you start your day with God.

Remember, from the beginning, God’s call has been to live with purpose, not fear.

See you tomorrow,

Zach and the Daily Devotion team