Men’s One-Year Bible Reading Plan  | January 1 — Genesis 1:26–31: Created in God’s Image — Called to Steward and Lead Faithfully  

🛡️ Begin Today’s Reading 

Dear brothers in Christ, greetings in the Lord!

Welcome to the first day of the Men’s One-Year Bible Reading Plan. At the beginning of a brand-new year, we return to the very beginning—Genesis 1—to reconsider how God created us and what He has called us to do.

As brothers who belong to Christ, we are not only looking for answers to life’s questions; we are learning to live out God’s purposes for us as men. Today’s passage takes us back to humanity’s creation, where we see both the dignity God gave us by creating us in His image and the responsibility He entrusted to humanity to exercise dominion and stewardship over His creation.

In this new year, may we no longer allow the world to define what it means to be a man. Instead, may we stand firmly on the truth of Scripture and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, faithfully take our place as responsible stewards and godly leaders.

Let us quiet our hearts and begin today’s journey through God’s Word.

📖 Before You Read: Quick Background 

Book: Genesis
Author: Traditionally attributed to Moses, written for the people of Israel and reminding them of God’s created order and covenant purposes.
Main Theme: God’s creation of all things, humanity’s unique dignity, and the responsibility God entrusted to His image-bearers.

What to Notice:

1. “Image” and “likeness” — Human beings are uniquely created in God’s image, giving every person God-given dignity and value.

2. “Dominion” and stewardship — God’s commission is not permission for harsh domination, but a calling to care for His creation with justice, love, wisdom, and order.

3. “Very good” — God’s declaration over His completed creation reveals the goodness of His original design.

Genesis 1:26–31 

26 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.

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

🛡️ Today’s Devotional: Living as God’s Image-Bearers — Embracing the Call to Stewardship 

As we make our way through life, the world often measures a man’s worth by power, wealth, achievement, status, or influence. But Genesis 1 brings our attention back to something far greater: a man’s deepest dignity does not come from what he owns or accomplishes, but from the fact that humanity was created in the image and likeness of God.

1. The Source of Our Dignity: We Bear God’s Image

God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” In the ancient world, a king’s image represented his authority throughout his kingdom. In a far greater way, God created human beings to reflect something of His righteousness, holiness, love, wisdom, and character in the world.

Brothers, this means you do not need to prove your worth through worldly approval, success, position, or accomplishment. Your deepest identity is found in God. Wherever He has placed you—in your family, workplace, church, or community—you are called to live in a way that reflects His character and honors His name.

2. Our Spiritual Responsibility: The Call to Steward and Care for What God Has Entrusted to Us

God not only gave humanity dignity; He also gave humanity a responsibility: “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion…”

Biblical dominion is not selfish control or exploitation. It is stewardship—the responsibility to care for what belongs to God in a way that reflects His justice, order, protection, and goodness. In our personal lives, this means learning to govern our emotions, time, desires, habits, and choices under God’s authority. In marriage and family, it means loving, protecting, serving, and taking spiritual responsibility rather than becoming passive or controlling. In our work and church life, it means handling responsibilities, resources, relationships, and ministry with honesty, wisdom, excellence, and faithfulness.

A godly man does not ask only, “What authority do I have?” He also asks, “What has God entrusted to me, and how can I care for it faithfully?”

3. From “Very Good” to Faithful Responsibility

After God completed creation and entrusted humanity with responsibility, “God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.”

We now live in a world marked by disorder, avoidance, broken responsibility, and misuse of authority. Yet God continues to call men who are willing to stand faithfully in the places He has given them. As Christ restores us and shapes His character in us, we can bring greater order, faithfulness, love, and wisdom into our personal lives, families, workplaces, churches, and relationships.

Brothers, as we begin this new year, God calls us not to remain passive spectators, but to become men of responsibility, wisdom, courage, and love—faithful stewards of everything He has placed in our hands.

🎵 Response Song :  

🙏 Closing Prayer 

Loving Heavenly Father, Creator of heaven and earth,

We praise You for the wonder and goodness of Your creation. Thank You for creating us in Your image and giving us dignity, purpose, and responsibility.

Lord, as we read Genesis 1 today, Your Word reminds us that You have not only given us a precious identity, but have also entrusted us with the responsibility to steward what You have placed in our hands. We confess that because of weakness, laziness, fear, or the pressures of this world, we have sometimes avoided responsibility. At other times, pride and self-reliance have caused us to handle our families, work, relationships, and service in ways that do not reflect You. Please forgive us and cleanse us through Jesus Christ.

Father, on this first day of the new year, give every brother a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. Through the Holy Spirit, restore in us the character that reflects Your holiness, righteousness, wisdom, and love. Give us spiritual vision and courage so that we may faithfully care for our families, serve with integrity and excellence in our work, and become dependable members of Your church.

Lord, wherever You have placed us, help us to live with the character and responsibility of faithful stewards. May our words and actions bring greater order where there is confusion, faithfulness where there is neglect, love where there is hurt, and Your light where there is darkness.

As we begin this 365-day journey through Your Word, personally lead us and build our lives day by day. May we grow in spiritual maturity and become increasingly like Christ.

We pray in the victorious name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.