January 5, 2009 Reading Schedule

Read Genesis 13, 14, 15 and Matthew 5:1-26

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Apparently I got a little overzealous and read chapter 13 yesterday. I thought something was a little off….

14:14 Go Abram! Family obviously meant more back then than it does now. He could have been like, “Man, that stinks for Lot. I’ll pray for him,” but he didn’t; he took action, went and rescued him, and then in v 23 tells the king of Sodom “Hey, I don’t want to be obligated to you….just pay my homies and I’m out.” Now, that’s some integrity right there; most folks would be grabbing all the wealth they could, regardless of the source. It tells us in v. 20 that Abram also gave a tithe to Melchizedek….I’d be interested in knowing more about this High Priest of God….I know he is mentioned again in James when he tells us that Christ is a high priest in the order of Melchizedek, but other in that, I am unaware of any other times in Scripture that he shows up….yes, I could Google it, or go to Blue Letter Bible, but I’d really rather just have one of you guys do it…..nah, I’m kidding; I’ll get to it after this long chapter I have to read for school.

15:1 There we have it again; Don’t Be Afraid. No complexes! I gave up complexes about a year and a half ago, myself. I was in a very unique situation that presented me with a choice: I could do what I wanted to do and reap the results of that, or I could choose to be obedient, die to self, and do what I felt the Lord was asking of me. There are still mornings I wake up and wonder, “Lord, what are you doing? What can you possibly have in mind from all of this?” But I know that many of the blessings I am reaping are a direct result of obedience, and I am so very blessed, much more than I could ever deserve, and I have the assurance that He is gonna work everything out for His will anyway, and as I remind myself daily, His plans are better than mine. In 15:6, it says Abram believed in the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness. If there is one thing I am sure of in this world, it is that God will do what He says He is going to do. I believe.

15:18 God makes His covenant with Abram. Having learned exactly what a “covenant” is, well, it’s deep, guys. In our world, in my world, promises don’t mean anything. Just about everyone has been hurt by someone who has broken a promise to them, and just about everyone has broken a promise at one time or another. A lot of country songs remind us of that. It’s our nature. Praise God, it’s not His.

Matthew 5: I love the thought of being up on a mountaintop somewhere, surrounded by my best friends, learning from Jesus right at His feet. When I get discouraged, it’s one of the things I remind myself will become reality when we get to Heaven. It’s gonna be awesome, guys. I’m so excited!

5:11 I think it’s interesting that Jesus says we’re blessed when we’re persecuted for His sake…and yet that’s what keeps me a lot of time for living full on for God….I don’t want the hassle, the confrontations, the debates (I’m a terrible apologist)….I don’t like making others uncomfortable…. It’s rude, right? How many blessings has my hesitancy cost me? More importantly, how many will it in the future, because I can’t change the past? Forgive us, Father, for the times we kept silent when You tell us the very rocks will cry out if we don’t. I’m reminded also to pray for the persecuted church….check out the Voice of the Martyrs website for more specifics…

5:16 The Newsboys say it best!

5:18 Jots & Tittles….wouldn’t that be a great name for a Christian preschool?

5:19 Our influence can be great on others, encouraging obedience or leading them astray, even unintentionally. “What should I do, Chris?” I have no idea why I get asked this question a lot. “Well…..maybe….” Do I offer a no-compromise, be obedient to Christ at all costs answer? Not always. Have there been times I have happily skipped off, hand in hand with a friend right into the big sin pit? Oh yes. Am I horrified and ashamed over it? Absolutely. I mean, I’m supposed to be a Christian here! When I think that God would bestow such complete grace and forgiveness on someone such as myself….shock and awe takes on a new meaning.

5:23-26 In a nutshell, forgive. And if you start getting re-riled about something your brother or sister did to you, forgive again. As many times as you have to; it will take eventually; I promise. I used to think I couldn’t forgive, love, fill in the blank, if I didn’t have the feelings to back it up. If we purpose in our hearts to forgive, love, etc, eventually the feelings will follow, with prayer and perseverance, because God gives us His power through the Holy Spirit to have feelings that are not able in our own power to create. Pretty cool huh? Have a great weekend, and for those of you resuming a normal school schedule Monday, we’re in the same boat; my thoughts and prayers are with you. Actually, they’re with all of you. :-)

January 5, 2008 at 3:45 PM
Anonymous said...

Wow, each and every day God is showing me so many things from both the Old Testament and the New Testament, but in light of time, I just wanted to blog today about Matthew 5:19. Talk about convicting and inspiring all in one.

v. 19 "Whoever, therefore, breaks one of the least of these commandents, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdon of heaven;" Oh that is the convicting part. Oh, how I never want to lead anyone astray.

"but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." This portion of the verse is so inspiring and yet so convicting. Notice it says that it is possible for you to be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Yeah....oh wait there is a condition. After further review it says whoever DOES and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom. So God requires us believers not only to just know and teach God's word, He requires us to not only be hearers of the Word, but doers as well. James so eleoquently states it in James 1:22 "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."

I don't know about you, but I have a gamut of feelings and emotions when I have been deceived. I feel angry, frustated, violated, and stupid when I have been deceived and to think that according v.22, I could be actually deceiving myself???

So in order to insure that I am not deceiving myself and in order to be called great in the kingdom of heaven, I must put feet to my faith and live out what I heard and say that I believe. In other words, God wants us to be authentic and sincere about our faith and not a hypocrite by just teaching what I have heard, but actually doing it.

Just do it! originated from God, not Nike. Just one more reason why the Bible is true. Eccel. 1:9 - there is nothing new under the sun. Unfortunately, Nike stole it's ad campaign from God.

Either way, I have been exhorted to "Just Do It!" Be a doer of His Word, and not a mere hearer. Well, I don't know about you, but those are tall marching orders, but with the help and the power of the Holy Spirit, I know that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13

Blessings!

Lynnette

January 6, 2008 at 11:50 AM

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