The Lord’s Prayer is something I can recite without even thinking about it. Anyone else in that boat? That’s what happens with things that I’ve heard since I was born. They become routine. Today, as I was reading the words of The Lord’s Prayer, they jumped off the page. Is that what it really says? I wondered…. The words seemed to light up as I read through them. (And no that lighting up was not the mouse on my keyboard running over the words).
In particular, Matthew 6:11 spoke to me. This part of the prayer reads, “Give us today our daily bread.” It seems like such an essential verse. You may be thinking: “Of course God will give us what we need to eat every day. It’s a given for Christians.”
But do we actually thank him when that bread does appear?
I think today I need a does of thankfulness about the small things. I really need to thank God for the bags of groceries I just bought home from the store. The only reason they’re in the fridge right now is because God has blessed us with the money to buy that food. Not everyone is as fortunate.
Prayer: So Lord, Thank you for the daily bread you’ve given me today. And thank you for this insight into your word.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Day 6: Genesis 16, 17; Matthew 5:27-48
“Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, 'You are the God who sees me.' She also said, 'Have I truly seen the One who sees me?' So that well was named Beer-lahai-roi (which means 'well of the Living One who sees me'.” -Genesis 16:13-14
Hagar refers to the Lord here as El-roi: The God who sees. God saw the needs of a lonely servant girl who ran away to the wilderness, and he meant her where she was.
What an honor to be visited by an angel. And what a great reminder of how God sees our every need, nothing escapes his all-knowing nature. He comes to us where we are, in each moment of the day.
Our God is Creator, Redeeming, All Powerful, All Knowing and All Seeing. What part of God’s nature do you need to cling to the most today? He is more than willing to meet you where you are.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for meeting me where I am today, and for knowing my every thought even before I speak it aloud.
Hagar refers to the Lord here as El-roi: The God who sees. God saw the needs of a lonely servant girl who ran away to the wilderness, and he meant her where she was.
What an honor to be visited by an angel. And what a great reminder of how God sees our every need, nothing escapes his all-knowing nature. He comes to us where we are, in each moment of the day.
Our God is Creator, Redeeming, All Powerful, All Knowing and All Seeing. What part of God’s nature do you need to cling to the most today? He is more than willing to meet you where you are.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for meeting me where I am today, and for knowing my every thought even before I speak it aloud.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Day 5: Genesis 13-15 & Matthew 5:1-26
I love hearing about Melchizedek, the Priest King. Did you know that he is the only man to be a king & priest? After Abram heroically saves his nephew lot in Genesis 14, Melchizedek comes to break bread & drink wine with Abram. He blesses him for his good deeds, but blesses God the Father most of all. The book of Hebrews explores this unique Priest King. Nothing is said of Melchizedek’s origin. Instead, “He remains a priest forever, resembling the Son of God” (Hebrews 7:3).
I encourage you to read all of Hebrews 7 when you get the chance. It’s quite fascinating. In particular, Hebrews 7:4-7 says,
“Consider then how great this Melchizedek was. Even Abraham, the great patriarch of Israel, recognized this by giving him a tenth of what he had taken in battle. Now the law of Moses required that the priests, who are descendants of Levi, must collect a tithe from the rest of the people of Israel, who are also descendants of Abraham. But Melchizedek, who was not a descendant of Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham. And Melchizedek placed a blessing upon Abraham, the one who had already received the promises of God. And without question, the person who has the power to give a blessing is greater than the one who is blessed.”
Melchizedek was not even a Levitical priest, yet Abraham understood how unique he was. He is an Old Testament image of the role Jesus Christ would one day fulfill. How so? Jesus is a priest, who offered up his body as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. Because of this sacrifice we can spend eternity in heaven.
Jesus is also the King of All Kings. He justly rules over all the world. While he was living in this world, he taught us using his kingly knowledge. In Matthew 5, he encourages attributes such as humility, purity and mercy. These are the sort of attributes that will help us share the love of God with those around us.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for being our Priest and King. Help me to live every day for you.
I encourage you to read all of Hebrews 7 when you get the chance. It’s quite fascinating. In particular, Hebrews 7:4-7 says,
“Consider then how great this Melchizedek was. Even Abraham, the great patriarch of Israel, recognized this by giving him a tenth of what he had taken in battle. Now the law of Moses required that the priests, who are descendants of Levi, must collect a tithe from the rest of the people of Israel, who are also descendants of Abraham. But Melchizedek, who was not a descendant of Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham. And Melchizedek placed a blessing upon Abraham, the one who had already received the promises of God. And without question, the person who has the power to give a blessing is greater than the one who is blessed.”
Melchizedek was not even a Levitical priest, yet Abraham understood how unique he was. He is an Old Testament image of the role Jesus Christ would one day fulfill. How so? Jesus is a priest, who offered up his body as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. Because of this sacrifice we can spend eternity in heaven.
Jesus is also the King of All Kings. He justly rules over all the world. While he was living in this world, he taught us using his kingly knowledge. In Matthew 5, he encourages attributes such as humility, purity and mercy. These are the sort of attributes that will help us share the love of God with those around us.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for being our Priest and King. Help me to live every day for you.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Day 4: Genesis 10-12 & Matthew 4
Hello everyone! Here’s the portion of scripture that stuck out to me today:
“‘The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.’ So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed” –Genesis 12:1-4
This is the beginning of Abraham’s story, and what an amazing story it is! In leaving his home and family, Abraham understood that he would never see these people and places again. How tough.
I don’t know what I would do if I was told that I would never see my family again. I may live a thousand miles away from them, but I talk to them regularly and manage to see them several times a year. Abraham was saying good-bye for a lifetime.
I have to admire his faith. No, Abraham was not a perfect man. We need some of that imperfection in Genesis 12, when he lies out of fear and says Sarah is his sister instead of his wife. But here in Genesis 11, we have to admire Abraham, at least a bit. We have to admire him for heading off into an unknown world, holding onto a promise that God would go with him and bless the nations through him. It must have been difficult to truly fathom what that promise even meant. Abraham didn’t have any children, so how could God possibly bless the world through him? To some, the promise might seem like an over-exaggeration. God might bless a person or two, but bless everyone on the earth, come-on! Believe it or not, God’s words were true. He did bless the entire earth through Abraham. One of his decedents would be Jesus Christ, who would die on the cross for our sins.
Prayer: Lord, please open my heart & ears so that I can hear any words of direction from you. Help me to be like Abraham, unafraid to go wherever you may leave me in this life.
Questions: What struck you from today's readings? Is there anything you want to research more fully? If so, check out www.blueletterbible.org
“‘The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.’ So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed” –Genesis 12:1-4
This is the beginning of Abraham’s story, and what an amazing story it is! In leaving his home and family, Abraham understood that he would never see these people and places again. How tough.
I don’t know what I would do if I was told that I would never see my family again. I may live a thousand miles away from them, but I talk to them regularly and manage to see them several times a year. Abraham was saying good-bye for a lifetime.
I have to admire his faith. No, Abraham was not a perfect man. We need some of that imperfection in Genesis 12, when he lies out of fear and says Sarah is his sister instead of his wife. But here in Genesis 11, we have to admire Abraham, at least a bit. We have to admire him for heading off into an unknown world, holding onto a promise that God would go with him and bless the nations through him. It must have been difficult to truly fathom what that promise even meant. Abraham didn’t have any children, so how could God possibly bless the world through him? To some, the promise might seem like an over-exaggeration. God might bless a person or two, but bless everyone on the earth, come-on! Believe it or not, God’s words were true. He did bless the entire earth through Abraham. One of his decedents would be Jesus Christ, who would die on the cross for our sins.
Prayer: Lord, please open my heart & ears so that I can hear any words of direction from you. Help me to be like Abraham, unafraid to go wherever you may leave me in this life.
Questions: What struck you from today's readings? Is there anything you want to research more fully? If so, check out www.blueletterbible.org
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Day 3: Genesis 7-9, Matthew 3
Day 3 brings us to the story of the flood and to the baptism of Jesus. Isn’t it interesting that both sections of scripture talk about water? The great flood’s purpose was to cleanse the world of its evilness. God saw the world as being so evil, that he decided to start anew. In Matthew, baptism is an outward acknowledgment of an inward change of heart. In becoming baptized, Jesus is indicating that he is reading to publicly do the work of his Lord.
Consider what John the Baptist says in Matthew 3:11: “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”∗
As Christians we participate in water baptism to this day. For me, it was a serious commitment of faith, where I told my church what I believed and asked them to pray for me in the coming years. John is saying in this portion of scripture that Jesus gives a whole different type of baptism. But what does being baptized with the Holy Spirit and with fire mean?
To find this out, I turned to Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Matthew 3. Henry writes,
It is Christ’s prerogative to baptize with the Holy Ghost. This he did in the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit conferred upon the apostles, to which Christ himself applies these words of John, [in] Acts 1:5. This he does in the graces and comforts of the Spirit given to them that ask him, [consider] Luke 11:13; John. 7:38, 39; Acts 11:16.
They who are baptized with the Holy Ghost are baptized as with fire; the seven spirits of God appear as seven lamps of fire, [see] Revelation 4:5. Is fire enlightening? So the Spirit is a Spirit of illumination. Is it warming? And do not their hearts burn within them? Is it consuming? And does not the Spirit of judgment, as a Spirit of burning, consume the dross of their corruptions? Does fire make all it seizes like itself? And does it move upwards? So does the Spirit make the soul holy like itself, and its tendency is heaven-ward. Christ says I am come to send fire, Luke 12:49.∗∗
The Holy Spirit baptizes us with a fire that cleanses our souls. It is a pour within us that enlightens, illuminates, and convicts us. It is very much like a fire in the way it consumes our lives. Through dying on the cross, Jesus was able to give this great gift of the Holy Spirit to us. It is a gift for believers alone, people who have admitted that they are in need of a saving grace. And what a wondrous gift it is!
Prayer: Lord, thank you for consuming my life. Please enlighten me to needs in the world around me and consume me with your love today.
Questions: What does the image of the Holy Spirit as a consuming fire mean to you? Did Matthew Henry’s commentary on Matthew 3:11 make sense to you, or did it just confuse you? What questions do you still have, and how will find those answers?
∗Quoted scripture is from the New Living Translation, unless otherwise indicated.
∗∗Henry, Matthew. "Commentary on Matthew 3." Blue Letter Bible. 1 Mar 1996. 2009. 9 Jul 2009. http://www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/comm_view.cfm?AuthorID=4&contentID=1598&commInfo=5&topic=Matthew
Consider what John the Baptist says in Matthew 3:11: “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”∗
As Christians we participate in water baptism to this day. For me, it was a serious commitment of faith, where I told my church what I believed and asked them to pray for me in the coming years. John is saying in this portion of scripture that Jesus gives a whole different type of baptism. But what does being baptized with the Holy Spirit and with fire mean?
To find this out, I turned to Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Matthew 3. Henry writes,
It is Christ’s prerogative to baptize with the Holy Ghost. This he did in the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit conferred upon the apostles, to which Christ himself applies these words of John, [in] Acts 1:5. This he does in the graces and comforts of the Spirit given to them that ask him, [consider] Luke 11:13; John. 7:38, 39; Acts 11:16.
They who are baptized with the Holy Ghost are baptized as with fire; the seven spirits of God appear as seven lamps of fire, [see] Revelation 4:5. Is fire enlightening? So the Spirit is a Spirit of illumination. Is it warming? And do not their hearts burn within them? Is it consuming? And does not the Spirit of judgment, as a Spirit of burning, consume the dross of their corruptions? Does fire make all it seizes like itself? And does it move upwards? So does the Spirit make the soul holy like itself, and its tendency is heaven-ward. Christ says I am come to send fire, Luke 12:49.∗∗
The Holy Spirit baptizes us with a fire that cleanses our souls. It is a pour within us that enlightens, illuminates, and convicts us. It is very much like a fire in the way it consumes our lives. Through dying on the cross, Jesus was able to give this great gift of the Holy Spirit to us. It is a gift for believers alone, people who have admitted that they are in need of a saving grace. And what a wondrous gift it is!
Prayer: Lord, thank you for consuming my life. Please enlighten me to needs in the world around me and consume me with your love today.
Questions: What does the image of the Holy Spirit as a consuming fire mean to you? Did Matthew Henry’s commentary on Matthew 3:11 make sense to you, or did it just confuse you? What questions do you still have, and how will find those answers?
∗Quoted scripture is from the New Living Translation, unless otherwise indicated.
∗∗Henry, Matthew. "Commentary on Matthew 3." Blue Letter Bible. 1 Mar 1996. 2009. 9 Jul 2009. http://www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/comm_view.cfm?AuthorID=4&contentID=1598&commInfo=5&topic=Matthew
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Day 2: Genesis 4,5, 5 & Matthew 2
After the reading yesterday I started thinking about the interesting correlations between Genesis and Matthew: the beginning of the Old & New Testaments.
In Genesis we read of the fall of man and the entrance of sin into human life. In Matthew we read of the entrance of a man who will be the redemption of sins.
Adam and Eve made a decision and changed the course of history. Ever since that day, God planned for atonement. In the Old Testament the Israelites sacrificed animals to cover their sins. In the New Testament, one man would sacrifice himself for the redemption of all mankind. This sacrifice would cover every sin Adam & Eve ever committed, and every person since. All we have to do is accept the great gift of redemption God offers us. He’s provided the way we just have to let him into our lives.
Out of the verses I read today, Genesis 4:9 spoke to me the most. In this verse Noah is introduced as a “righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.” Oh that such a definition could be given of me! I know from reading Genesis that Noah was not a perfect man. He made some mistakes, but he was someone who walked with God. What does walking with God mean? I think it means that Noah looked toward God for strength and support; he worshiped God with all that was within him; from the moment he woke up to the moment he lay his head down at night, he was living his life for God. Out of an entire world of people, Noah was the only one seen as worthy of saving. He was the only one left worshiping God. I wonder: would I be the same? Would I still worship God if I were the last person doing so? I’m sure Noah faced criticism for his behavior; he may have been viewed as “weird” and “un-cool,” yet he followed God. And so God gave him a daunting task, collecting two of every kind of animal into a handmade ark, and saved his family from certain death. What an honor!
Prayer: Lord, help me to be more like Noah, who “walked with you” on a daily basis. Show me ways to strengthen my relationship with you.
Questions: What do you think would have been the toughest thing about Noah’s task? Building the ark? The rebuke of others? Believing that a flood would actually cover the world?
What lesson can you take to heart from the story of Noah? What does God want to teach you today?
In Genesis we read of the fall of man and the entrance of sin into human life. In Matthew we read of the entrance of a man who will be the redemption of sins.
Adam and Eve made a decision and changed the course of history. Ever since that day, God planned for atonement. In the Old Testament the Israelites sacrificed animals to cover their sins. In the New Testament, one man would sacrifice himself for the redemption of all mankind. This sacrifice would cover every sin Adam & Eve ever committed, and every person since. All we have to do is accept the great gift of redemption God offers us. He’s provided the way we just have to let him into our lives.
Out of the verses I read today, Genesis 4:9 spoke to me the most. In this verse Noah is introduced as a “righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.” Oh that such a definition could be given of me! I know from reading Genesis that Noah was not a perfect man. He made some mistakes, but he was someone who walked with God. What does walking with God mean? I think it means that Noah looked toward God for strength and support; he worshiped God with all that was within him; from the moment he woke up to the moment he lay his head down at night, he was living his life for God. Out of an entire world of people, Noah was the only one seen as worthy of saving. He was the only one left worshiping God. I wonder: would I be the same? Would I still worship God if I were the last person doing so? I’m sure Noah faced criticism for his behavior; he may have been viewed as “weird” and “un-cool,” yet he followed God. And so God gave him a daunting task, collecting two of every kind of animal into a handmade ark, and saved his family from certain death. What an honor!
Prayer: Lord, help me to be more like Noah, who “walked with you” on a daily basis. Show me ways to strengthen my relationship with you.
Questions: What do you think would have been the toughest thing about Noah’s task? Building the ark? The rebuke of others? Believing that a flood would actually cover the world?
What lesson can you take to heart from the story of Noah? What does God want to teach you today?
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
A New Attempt to read the Bible in a Year: Genesis 1,2,3 & Matthew 1
I was recently inspired to attempt to read the Bible in a year. I have started this process many times in my life. I don’t have adequate excuses as to why I never accomplished it. I have no explanation why I never read the Bible cover to cover in my twenty years of walking with God.
One thing I want to make sure about this new goal is that what I read sinks in. I don’t want to be reading it just to “get through” my reading for each day. I really do want some revelations to come from this study. Over the course of my life I’m sure I have read most of the Bible, but I’m praying that with this study it becomes new all over again.
My goal is to blog everyday about what I’m learning through the readings. I’m sure I won’t be perfect in this goal, but I believe that it will help me overall.
I’ve chosen a Bible in a Year plan by HEARTLIGHT® Internet Magazine - http://www.heartlight.org. Each day has a portion of scripture from the Old and New Testament. For the most part, this reading plan goes straight through each book of the Bible. I like this because I want to keep things in context. I don’t want my reading for each day to be so random that I lose the context of each passage of scripture.
The reading for today comes from Genesis 1, 2, 3 and Matthew 1.
In Genesis 1, I was once again in awe of our God who has existed since the beginning of time. It’s so past my comprehension. He has always been there. For me, my life began with my first breath. For God, he has always been around. It was he that created this spectacular earth that I live on. Each and every thing was created by him.
As I read about God creating “light” and separating light from darkness, I started thinking about the wonder of light. Light is something I take so for granted. When I wake up in the morning, I expect the sun to rise…it’s just the natural progression of a day. It’s funny to think of a time that existed without light or darkness.
Not only did God create light and darkness, but he created such beautiful ways for them to begin and end each day. Sunrises and sunsets are spectacular things. I remember once, standing on a beach, watching the sun crawl up into the sky. The clouds glowed a beautiful orange color. The air was crisp, the beach quiet. It was a time for me and my God. Together we greeted the day and all the spectacular things in store.
Sometimes I feel insignificant in this big world God has created. Then I am reminded of Genesis 1:26: “Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.” I am created in the very image of God. How wonderful to be reminded that I do have a purpose: to worship my creator, my God with everything that I am. I can get so caught up looking at my imperfect self. Instead, I need to be looking toward my perfect Creator God who makes no mistakes in his creation. He credited all of his creation as being “good,” so who am I to argue?
God created human beings and determined specific order of life. A husband & wife would come together and conceive children, who would then grow and bring glory to God with their lives and reproduce more offspring. This has been the order of life since Adam and Eve. In the gospel of Matthew we see the one and only exception. In Matthew 1:20 an angel appears to Joseph and says, “Joseph, son of David…do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.”
The Virgin Birth is such a spectacular story, and the only one of it’s kind. Right from the beginning God was showing how significant this birth would be. He could have just had Jesus conceived the normal way… but he chose not too. Since the beginning, he determined that Jesus’ human birth into the world would be a miraculous one. A young, virgin would be the mother of the Christ. It must have been a wondrous thing to watch her belly grow, and contemplate who was living inside, the Savior of the world. Such responsibility was on Mary’s shoulders, but such blessing as well. For she was just an imperfect human being, yet she was chosen to be the mother of the Christ-child.
Questions: What strikes you as amazing about the Creation story in Genesis 1-3? What specific lessons does God have for you here?
What do you find the most appealing in Genesis 1?
How can you apply these lessons to your daily life?
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for creating this wonderful earth we live in. Help me to be thankful for everything in it, big and small. Also, thank you for sending your Son into the world to forgive me of my sins and give me eternal life. Help me to take the lessons I learned today to heart, and to serve you with all that I am.
One thing I want to make sure about this new goal is that what I read sinks in. I don’t want to be reading it just to “get through” my reading for each day. I really do want some revelations to come from this study. Over the course of my life I’m sure I have read most of the Bible, but I’m praying that with this study it becomes new all over again.
My goal is to blog everyday about what I’m learning through the readings. I’m sure I won’t be perfect in this goal, but I believe that it will help me overall.
I’ve chosen a Bible in a Year plan by HEARTLIGHT® Internet Magazine - http://www.heartlight.org. Each day has a portion of scripture from the Old and New Testament. For the most part, this reading plan goes straight through each book of the Bible. I like this because I want to keep things in context. I don’t want my reading for each day to be so random that I lose the context of each passage of scripture.
The reading for today comes from Genesis 1, 2, 3 and Matthew 1.
In Genesis 1, I was once again in awe of our God who has existed since the beginning of time. It’s so past my comprehension. He has always been there. For me, my life began with my first breath. For God, he has always been around. It was he that created this spectacular earth that I live on. Each and every thing was created by him.
As I read about God creating “light” and separating light from darkness, I started thinking about the wonder of light. Light is something I take so for granted. When I wake up in the morning, I expect the sun to rise…it’s just the natural progression of a day. It’s funny to think of a time that existed without light or darkness.
Not only did God create light and darkness, but he created such beautiful ways for them to begin and end each day. Sunrises and sunsets are spectacular things. I remember once, standing on a beach, watching the sun crawl up into the sky. The clouds glowed a beautiful orange color. The air was crisp, the beach quiet. It was a time for me and my God. Together we greeted the day and all the spectacular things in store.
Sometimes I feel insignificant in this big world God has created. Then I am reminded of Genesis 1:26: “Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.” I am created in the very image of God. How wonderful to be reminded that I do have a purpose: to worship my creator, my God with everything that I am. I can get so caught up looking at my imperfect self. Instead, I need to be looking toward my perfect Creator God who makes no mistakes in his creation. He credited all of his creation as being “good,” so who am I to argue?
God created human beings and determined specific order of life. A husband & wife would come together and conceive children, who would then grow and bring glory to God with their lives and reproduce more offspring. This has been the order of life since Adam and Eve. In the gospel of Matthew we see the one and only exception. In Matthew 1:20 an angel appears to Joseph and says, “Joseph, son of David…do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.”
The Virgin Birth is such a spectacular story, and the only one of it’s kind. Right from the beginning God was showing how significant this birth would be. He could have just had Jesus conceived the normal way… but he chose not too. Since the beginning, he determined that Jesus’ human birth into the world would be a miraculous one. A young, virgin would be the mother of the Christ. It must have been a wondrous thing to watch her belly grow, and contemplate who was living inside, the Savior of the world. Such responsibility was on Mary’s shoulders, but such blessing as well. For she was just an imperfect human being, yet she was chosen to be the mother of the Christ-child.
Questions: What strikes you as amazing about the Creation story in Genesis 1-3? What specific lessons does God have for you here?
What do you find the most appealing in Genesis 1?
How can you apply these lessons to your daily life?
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for creating this wonderful earth we live in. Help me to be thankful for everything in it, big and small. Also, thank you for sending your Son into the world to forgive me of my sins and give me eternal life. Help me to take the lessons I learned today to heart, and to serve you with all that I am.
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