Day 30 - Psalm 25 - Thru the Bible 2019

Bible Readings:  Exodus 10:1-12:13;  Matthew 20:1-28: Psalm 25:1-15; Proverbs 6:6-11

To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul.—Ps 25:1

Cross-Reference Verses: 

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct it to You,

And I will look up.-Ps 5:3

Evening and morning and at noon

I will pray, and cry aloud,

And He shall hear my voice.—Ps 55:17

I rise before the dawning of the morning,

And cry for help;

I hope in Your word.—Ps 119:147

I said to the LORD: "You are my God;

Hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.—Ps 140:6

Lord...I will cry out to You in the morning...hear my cry.  Father, I don’t do this enough!   Oh remind me as I wake that You are my morning song...You are my sufficiency.  Anything I have that is good is of You.  I don’t want to do anything Lord unless You go with me and before me! 

Day 29 - Psalm 24 - Thru the Bible 2019

Bible Readings: Exodus 8:1-9:35; Matthew 19:13-30; Psalm 24:1-10; Proverbs 6:1-5

Whenever I read thru Ps 22-24, I think of what I read about them several years back and truly I stand in awe. 

“Psalm 22 deals with the Cross and Psalm 23 with the crook. Here, Psalm 24 will deal with the crown. Psalm 22 deals with Jesus’ death and Psalm 23 with His life. Here, Psalm 24 will deal with His return for us. In Psalm 22, we see the Good Shepherd who laid down His life (John 10: 11) and in Psalm 23, the Great Shepherd who guides us in this present life (Hebrews 13: 20). Here in Psalm 24, we’ll see the Chief Shepherd who is coming back for us (1 Peter 5: 4).”—Jon Courson

Such beautiful pictures of our Lord! 

Day 28 - Exodus 7; Matthew 18; Psalm 23 - Thru the Bible 2019

Bible Reading:  Exodus 5:22-7:25; Matthew 18:21-19:12; Psalm 23:1-6; Proverbs 5:22-23

The common theme that I saw running thru today’s passages is the hardness of the human heart even in the face of God’s mercy.   Mercy is something I cry out for daily...sadly not for others but for me.  Mercy is defined by the Thompson Chain Reference Bible as a form of love especially directed toward the needy and unworthy.   That is me!  Needy and unworthy.  

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),—Ephes 2:4-5

So much to think about...praying for a soft and merciful heart this morning and that God would keep my own heart with all diligence for truly out of it springs the issues of life. 

God’s mercy is eternal

Psalm 103:17: But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children,

God’s mercy is boundless

Psalm 108:4:  For Your mercy is great above the heavens, And Your truth reaches to the clouds.

God’s mercy prolongs life

Lamentations 3:22-23:  Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning;  Great is Your faithfulness.

Encourages Penitence

Joel 2:13:  So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God,

For He is gracious and merciful,

Slow to anger, and of great kindness;

And He relents from doing harm.

God’s mercy forgives sin

Micah 7:18: Who is a God like You,

Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?

He does not retain His anger forever,

Because He delights in mercy.

Makes Salvation Possible 

Titus 3:5:  not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

Reasons to be merciful...

Proverbs 11:17:  The merciful man does good for his own soul, But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.

Matthew 5:7:  Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

James 2:13:  For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.  Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Ending with these  gems...

Hos 12:6:  So you, by the help of your God, return; Observe mercy and justice, And wait on your God continually.

Micah 6:8:  He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you

But to do justly,

To love mercy,

And to walk humbly with your God?

Mercy Promised to the righteous...

Psalm 23:6:  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me. All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

Day 24: Genesis 49; Matthew 16 - Thru the Bible 2019

In my reading of Genesis 49 this morning, I noticed that Jacob as he was nearing his death toward the end of his prophecy called out for God’s salvation. 

“I have waited for your salvation, O LORD!” --Genesis 49:18

The Hebrew word for salvation is "yeshuwah." I don’t know if Jacob knew he was calling out for Jesus or not, but truly the salvation he waited for was Christ.  He had just spoken of the promised seed in vs 10, and had just finished speaking about Dan being a serpent in the way in verse 17. Maybe it all came together in his heart and he cried out.  Either way, I found it interesting and it gave me a lot to think about this morning.  

In regard to the leaven of the Pharisees and Saducees in Matthew 16.  

Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. ⁶ Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”
⁷ And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.”
⁸ But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? ⁹ Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? ¹⁰ Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? ¹¹ How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” ¹² Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.--Matthew 16:5-12

I knew the wrong doctrine of the Pharisees would be legalism and as far as the Saducees, materialism and unbelief came to mind. I looked up what Dr. Henry Morris thought and he coined the Saducees wrong doctrine as skepticism.  Jesus warning in regard to false doctrine brought Paul’s warning to mind in Colossians 2. 

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;

10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. (emphasis mine)

I am COMPLETE in Him!  I want to remember that!  I want to look to my God when I am in want...He is the source of all I need...He is the Becoming One...the Great I AM.  He has all I need...my job is to open my mouth wide and receive it.  This is the mindset I am praying for!!!  

2nd Peter 1 tells us that "His divine power has already granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence." We are in need of nothing else...

Day 25 - Matthew 16 - Thru the Bible 2019

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

"For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?--Matthew 16:24-26

So thankful for the paradoxes in the Scriptures... It is such a comfort to me that when I give my life away and sow to my Spirit it has eternal value and significance.  My work is never in vain in the Lord. He uses even the smallest sacrifice to further His kingdom.  Here is the beautiful irony...When I live for me, I am most miserable, but when I live for God my joy abounds. God’s ways are perfect.  

The paradox I am most thankful for, however, is that when I am weak, He is strong...Thinking on this one for any length of time, never fails to fill my eyes with tears of gratitude.  So grateful for those things in my life that cause me to want Jesus...that cause me to depend on His sufficiency...that cause me to draw my strength from Him because truly I have no other choice.  

And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.—2 Corinthians 12:9-10

I have listed the paradoxes of the Bible below in case anyone wanted to look them up. 

Paradoxes in Bible:  Matthew 10:39; 16:25; 

2 Cor 4:18; 6:8-10; 12:10; Ephesians 3:19.  

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Matthew 16:16–18 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

“Jesus uses two Greek words for “stone” in this passage. Petros, or “Peter,” means small stone. Petra means massive stone. In other words, Jesus is saying, “Blessed are you, little stone. Upon the massive stone of your confession, I will build My church.” —J Courson

I love that...God is not building His church on Peter but on Peter’s confession of Christ.  BTW this is the first mention of the Greek word church in the NT. 

Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.—1 Peter 2:4-5

Day 26 - Exodus 3; Psalm 22 - Thru the Bible 2019

Bible Reading: Exodus 2:11-3:22; Matthew 17:10-27; Psalm 22:1-18; Proverbs 5:7-14

Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” And God said to Moses, “I Am Who I Am.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I Am has sent me to you.'”--Exodus 3:13-14

When I think of the name I AM my heart goes to this explanation I heard a long time ago when listening to a Chuck Smith teaching...I LOVED it and have been helped by it time and again.  Hoping if you haven’t heard it, it blesses you and if you have heard it does the same.  ❤️

“Also inherent in the idea behind the name I Am is the sense that God is “the becoming one”; God becomes whatever is lacking in our time of need. The name I Am invites us to fill in the blank to meet our need – when we are in darkness, Jesus says I am the light; when we are hungry, He says I am the bread of life, when we are defenseless, He says I am the Good Shepherd. God is the becoming one, becoming what we need.”

I need not go anywhere else.  My God meets me at my point of need.  

Psalm 22 - Fulfilled Scripture always encourages my faith.  Ps 22 is holy ground. 

Hears prophetic words repeated in mockery

Ps 22:8 "He trusted  in the LORD, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!"

Matthew 27:42,43 (NKJV)

42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

Mocked and insulted

Ps 22:6-8 NKJV
But I am a worm, and no man;

A reproach of men, and despised by the people.

7 All those who see Me ridicule Me;

They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

8 "He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him;

Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!"

And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads

40 and saying, "You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."—Matt 27:39-40

Hands and feet pierced

Ps 22:16 NKJV
For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet;

John 20:25,27 (KJV)

25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust [it] into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

Soldiers cast lots for His clothes

Psalm 22:18-19 NKJV

18 They divide My garments among them,

And for My clothing they cast lots.

19 But You, O LORD, do not be far from Me;

Mark 15:24 (NKJV)

24 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.

Also go here: https://istwenty63.blogspot.com/2011/02/crimson-worm-psalm-226.html 

for a fascinating and encouraging description of the crimson worm spoken of in Psalm 22:6. 

Day 23 - Genesis 47; Psalm 19 - Thru the Bible 2019

Bible Readings:  Genesis 46:1-47:31; Matthew 15:1-28; Psalm 19:1-14; Proverbs 4:14-19

Since I am currently studying the book of Philippians this passage jumped off the page and reminded me that Jacob saw his life as a pilgrimage...His true citizenship like Paul’s was in heaven. 

And Jacob said to Pharaoh, "The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years; few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage."—Genesis 47:9

By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as [in] a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;....13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.--Hebrews 11:9, 13(NKJV)

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,—Philippians 3:20

Praying I can hold on lightly to the things of this world remembering that this world is not my home..I am a heavenly citizen! 

❤️Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,—Hebrews 12:1

In reading Psalm 19 this morning, I made the connection for probably the very first time between the two things being discussed in this Psalm.  It is obvious, but it escaped my notice until today.  David speaks of two of the major ways that God reveals Himself to us...first, through His creation and second, through His word. Both of which are beyond the comprehension of our finite minds.  (At least mine, anyway). In addition, this same awesome Creator desires a relationship with me!  This too, is beyond my comprehension!

“What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You VISIT him?”--Psalm 8:4 (NKJV)

Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and MAKE OUR HOME WITH HIM.--John 14:23 (NKJV)

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, AND he WITH ME.--Revelation 3:20 (NKJV)

Day 22 - Ps 18 and Genesis 45 - Thru the Bible 2019

Bible Reading:  Genesis 44:1-45:28; Matthew14:13-36; Psalm 18:37-50; Proverbs 4:11-1


The LORD lives!
Blessed be my Rock!
Let the God of my salvation be exalted.—Ps 18:46

In Him is life...our God is alive and because He lives, we will live also! Our life comes from Him and is sustained by Him.  The book of Hebrews tells us because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood and is therefore able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.  Our God will not fail those who place their trust in Him. He is the true God, the living God and an everlasting King.  At His wrath the earth shall tremble and the nations shall not be able to abide His indignation. Behold, The LORD JEHOVAH is my rock and my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid.  Be exalted, O God, above the heavens and let Your glory be above all the earth. Oh, exalt the LORD with me, and worship at His holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy!

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Genesis 45:7-8 NKJV And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.  So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

BUT GOD...What a testimony these verses are to not only the forgiving spirit that was in Joseph, but also that he saw the over-arching hand of God in his circumstances.   Yes, Joseph was a victim of men, but God turned it around for His glory.  The truth of Romans 8:28,  Ephesians 1:11 and Psalm 23:6 shine like the sun in these verses.  "

Romans 8:28 - "all things work together for good to those who love God",
Ephesians 1:11 - "For He who works all things according to the counsel of His will,"
Psalm 23:6  - "surely goodness and mercy shall follow me"

So thankful that my God rules my life...not my circumstances...not fate...not men...BUT GOD.

My Anna at "the land"...

Day 21 - Matthew 13:52 - Thru the Bible 2019

Bible Readings: Genesis 42:18-43:34; Matthew13:47-14:12; Psalm18:16-36; Proverbs 4:7-10


Matthew 13:52 Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old."

What a beautiful verse!  Every scribe who is instructed about the kingdom of heaven...the Scriptures...is likened to a householder who brings forth out of his treasures both old and new.  So much rich truth and beauty to share from the Scriptures with one another as we study His word!!  As citizens of heaven we fill our hearts with this treasure daily.  In truth, the “Word” lives within us!  These treasures...old and new...when brought out never contradict each other but only enhance the meaning of another or clear up misunderstandings.

Romans 15:4
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

2 Timothy 3:16,17
16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Matthew 12:35
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

2 Corinthians 4:5-7
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Song of Songs 7:13
13 The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates [are] all manner of pleasant [fruits], new and old, [which] I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.

Day 20 - Matthew 13:44-46 - Thru the Bible 2019

Bible Reading: Genesis 41:17-42:17; Matthew13:24-46; Psalm 18:1-15; Proverbs 4:1-6

Matthew 13:46 Pearl of Great Price...I really liked Henry Morris' interpretation of this parable.  He says that the treasure in the field parable and the pearl of great price both teach the same basic truth under different figures. (like the mustard seed and the leaven parables) He says that both these parables speak to the tremendous value of becoming true citizens of the kingdom.  In both cases the one finding the kingdom surrenders all he had to gain it.  He quoted Paul in Philippians 3:8 here and Hebrews 11:6

Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

To gain the kingdom, Dr. Morris says, the Lord may not call on us to give up all, but we must be willing, in effect, to do so.  We are "dead" in our sins, and dead men do not bargain, hoping  to enter the kingdom and yet holding on to the world.  He points to the rich young ruler in Luke 18, who, when being told he must give up all his possessions if he would "inherit eternal life",  refused to follow Jesus. 

(The common opinion or interpretation of these parables is that the "man" in each case is Christ, the "treasure" is Israel and the "pearl" the church)  This Henry Morris says seems to miss the thrust of the other parables in Matthew 13 all of which have to do with the character and people of the physical aspect of God's kingdom. )

Day 19 - Psalm 17 - Thru the Bible 2019

Bible Reading: Genesis 39:1-41:16; Matthew 12:46-13:23; Psalm 17:1-15; Proverbs 3:33-35

Psalm 17 is the first of three Psalms specifically titled a Prayer of David and it is filled with David’s heartfelt petitions.  It is so easy to see why God said this about David in 1 Samuel 13:14:

The Lord hath sought out a man after his own heart,

 And then this in Psalm 89

I have found My servant David;

With My holy oil I have anointed him,

And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.'—Acts 13:22

Henry Morris says that this Psalm can only be fully understood if applied prophetically to the Lord Jesus.  

As I read Psalm 17 this morning, my heart was drawn to verse 7 which speaks of the Lord's lovingkindness to those who put their trust in Him. 

Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.--Psalm 17:7

Father,

Your lovingkindness is better than life...It is the rejoicing of my heart.  You are my God who comforts me when my soul is downcast.  One glimpse of You and Your kindness to me in Christ Jesus and my heart is lifted up and my spirit renewed within me.  Blessed be my God, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;  who comfort me in all my tribulation.  You turn my mourning into dancing and lead  me always in triumph.

My desire is for You, Father.  Show me your tender mercies.  Hear my cry and bring me up out of the pit.  Set my feet upon a rock and establish my steps.  Put your song in my heart.

Let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

Day 18 - Genesis 37; Matthew 12, Psalm 16 - Thru the Bible 2019

Bible Reading: Genesis 37:1-38:30; Matthew 12:22-45; Psalm 16:1-11; Proverbs 3:27-32 

Speaking to the unpardonable sin...

Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.  And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.--Matthew 12:31-32

In the context of this passage (12:22-32) verse 22 tells us that a man was brought to Jesus who was demon-possessed, blind and mute.  Jesus heals him so that the man both spoke and saw.  The people were amazed and wondered if Jesus could be the Son of David.  When the Pharisees heard of it, they rejected this clear witness of the Holy Spirit that Jesus was God come in the flesh (casting out a demon and healing) and attributed Jesus' powers to Satan.  This is not surprising in that Jesus' healing of the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath (in the previous passage) caused them to immediately go out and hold a council together against Him on how they might destroy Him.  The truth was in front of their face and they willfully rejected it.  They had observed Him performing other miracles that were clearly done by power supplied by God... Miracles that were "freely given" by Jesus in lovingkindness toward those who were obviously suffering and/or oppressed by evil.

Jesus' words are in verses 31 and 32 are clear, and they are merciful as He is warning the Pharisees against calling His good evil.  Their subsequent rejection of Him especially in the light of what they had seen of Jesus and heard of him was willful and according to the explanations I read, showed an utter rejection of the ministry of the Holy Spirit which testifies to Jesus. (John 15:26)

David Guzik: "When that testimony of Jesus is fully and finally rejected, one has truly blasphemed the Holy Spirit and essentially called Him a liar in respect to His testimony about Jesus. The religious leaders were close to this." 

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.--John 3:18

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.--John 3:36

Christians who are afraid that they have “blasphemed the Holy Spirit” need not worry, because by that very admission, they have shown that their desire is not to blaspheme the Holy Spirit.


Matthew Henry writes:
 
“Let it be observed that no man who believes the divine mission of Jesus Christ ever can commit this sin” “We have reason to think that none are guilty of this sin, who believe that Christ is the Son of God, and sincerely desire to have part in his merit and mercy: and those who fear they have committed this sin, give a good sign that they have not”

see also Genesis 6:3 and Jeremiah 7:16 

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For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.--Matthew 12:37

Your words will either justify you or condemn you. 

 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.--Romans 10:9-10



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 Genesis 37....I really love when I reach the story of Joseph in Genesis, and his story goes all the way to Chapter 50!  God spends 12 chapters on a single individual.  Why?  Because Joseph is a beautiful picture of His Son, Jesus!  I can't remember when I heard it or who said it but at one time in the very beginning of my walk with the Lord, I was told to look for Jesus on every page of the Bible...it was one of the best pieces of advice I have ever received and in the story of Joseph, we see Jesus everywhere!  

For instance, Genesis 37:3 says this:

Now Israel loved Joseph more...of many colors.

 Jesus' Father loved Him dearly..

And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." --Matthew 3:17


Who else was hated by His brothers...

But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.--Genesis 37:4  

He came unto his own, and his own received him not.--John 1:11

For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world."  For even His brothers did not believe in Him. --John 7:4-5 


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Psalm 16...Before I read Psalm 16, I read an introduction/background for it.  This intro told me that it was a messianic Psalm telling us what Jesus was thinking the night before He was crucified.  I read it then, thinking on Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.  It obviously applies to David but in applying it also to Jesus it became rich with meaning and significance. 

For example:

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.  For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.--Psalm 16:9-10

As I do your will...as I drink the cup that You have prepared for me, I know You will not leave me in the grave. (my flesh also shall rest in hope) This points to the resurrection.


Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.--Psalm 16:11

Verse 10 speaks to the resurrection then clearly verse 11 speaks to Jesus' Ascension...of His return to Heaven. (where is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore.)

So thankful for Jesus who made Psalm 16:9-11 also true for you and me because He did the will of His Father in heaven.  Absent from the body, present with the Lord...
 




 

Day 17 - Genesis 35:1-3 - Thru the Bible 2019

Bible Reading: Genesis 35: 1–36: 43 Matthew 12: 1-21 Psalm 15: 1-5 Proverbs 3: 21-26

Then God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother." 2 And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments. 3 "Then let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me in the way which I have gone."—Genesis 35:1-3

From my point of view or anyone’s really, Jacobs family is disintegrating..His daughter raped, his sons taking revenge and murdering all the males in Shechem (not to mention the deception and blasphemy that preceded that act). Jacob said it best...”ye (speaking to his sons) have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land.” Things looked pretty hopeless and downright scary for Jacob.  

The story continues in Genesis 35: 1 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there… Bethel—previously called Luz until the night Jacob had an encounter with God—was the place where Jacob was saved. It was the place where Jacob said “Surely, God is in this place, and I did not know it.” Now God says, “Go back to the place you met Me.” How gracious is our God!!  I am so thankful that no matter how far I have strayed, no matter how much I have messed up, God has provided for me (us)a way of return through the death of His Son on the cross.

Jacob and his family are sunk pretty deep in the mire but the Lord graciously sets his feet back on a rock and showed him the path on which to place his feet.  When I think what my life would look like without that way back...without the hope of heaven...if when I sinned I was done and had no hope of reconciliation only the darkness of hell before me...life would not be worth living and death would only be a worse option. 

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),—Ephesians 2:4-5

Where can I go from Your Spirit?

Or where can I flee from Your presence?

8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;

If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning,

And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,

And Your right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fallfn on me,"

Even the night shall be light about me;—Psalm 139: 7-11

But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,—Romans 5:20b

Day 16 - Matthew 11:11;Matthew 11:28-30; Proverbs 3 - Thru the Bible 2019

Bible Reading:  Genesis 32: 13–34: 31 Matthew 11: 7-30 Psalm 14: 1-7 Proverbs 3: 19-20

No matter how many times I have read thru the following passage over the years, it always confuses me in that I need to go back and see what Bible expositors say about it.  The following is from David Guzik...I like the Spurgeon quote the best. 

Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.—Matt 11:11

According to Jesus, John then was greater than Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Job, Daniel or any other of the Old Testament men of God. 

He who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he: “Though John was great, he was not born again under the New Covenant. This is because he lived and died before the completion of Jesus’ work at the cross and empty tomb. Therefore, he did not enjoy the benefits of the New Covenant (1 Corinthians 11:25, 2 Corinthians 3:6, Hebrews 8:6-13).”—Guzik

“As we may say, as a rule, that the darkest day is lighter than the brightest night; so John, though first of his own order, is behind the last of the new or Gospel order. The least in the Gospel stands on higher ground than the greatest under the law.”—Spurgeon

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“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”—Matt 11:28-30

Come to Me...a phrase to write on your heart and remember throughout the day...His call is to those that feel overwhelmed and burdened...that’s me...His heart is gentle and lowly...His yoke is easy ( can be translated kind) and His gift to us when we “come” is rest.❤️

The fool has said in his heart,

"There is no God."

They are corrupt,

They have done abominable works,

There is none who does good.—Prov 3

The fool:  Atheists and pantheists are mere fools in the sight of the omniscient God, regardless of their intellectual achievements.  The delusion that this beautiful, intricately complex cosmos, with its multitudes of marvelously designed living creatures, could have evolved by itself is absurd in the highest degree.—Henry Morris