January 3rd
Readings: Genesis 5:1 – 6:22, Psalm 2:7-12, Proverbs 1:7, Matthew 3:1-17
Genesis 5
The patriarchs living before the flood averaged a 900 year life span. After the flood, the average age span declined rapidly.
V24. Enoch is described as having walked with God & in Hebrews 11 is described as someone who pleased God.
Ch 6.
V3. Because of the corruption which had already become prevalent on the earth, God ordained the number of years a man would live.
V5 & 6. I think that we get to understand something of the profound sense of disappointment felt by God. These verses almost groan.
V8. Noah finds favour with God & throughout the Bible there are many others who do the same such as Moses & David.
V11-13. In Matthew 24:36-39, Jesus says that around the time of the day of the Day of the Lord it will be just as in the time of Noah. The corruption & violence of the earth will come to sudden end. This is why we should be ready at all times for the return of Jesus.
V14-16. God gives Noah precise detail for the construction of the ark, its shape would mean that it was difficult to capsize. I often wonder what people round about would have made of what Noah was doing. I can imagine Kevin McCloud from Grand Designs turning up every so often for an update!
V18. This is the first mention of a biblical covenant. God’s protection of Noah & his family throughout the flood is the first stage of the promise.
Psalm 2
Yesterday, in the first half of this Psalm we saw how rebellion against God is futile. He always wins. In the second part of the Psalm we are introduced to Jesus, who is given the Nations as an inheritance.
For this reason in verse 10 the psalmist gives some advice to the rulers of the world in verses 10-12.
“Serve the Lord with reverential awe, and rejoice with trembling” this is a command to us as well. But as is always the case with God, it brings wonderful blessing serving Him this way. As we saw Noah had favour with God serving Him wholeheartedly, remembering He is sovereign & majestic, and always rejoicing is the way to gain favour.
To disrespect Him or serve half-heartedly brings the wrath promised in verse 12.
Proverbs
1:7 This is a verse I committed to memory a long time ago. It is the key theme of Proverbs. It is not the terror of a tyrant, but the kind of awe & respect which will lead to obedience to Him who is wisest of all.
Matthew 3
I am sure like we would today, this man John, on a human level would be dismissed as a crank & people would have gone to scorn & laugh at him. But yet we read in verses 5&6 that people were flocking to him & being baptised. On the face of it, his message was not one of great oratory, but a simple call to repentance.
So what was it the drew the crowds? You will find the answer in Luke 1:15.
V8. A sign that we have been truly born again is the fruit that we bear. True regeneration causes us to hate sin. If we continuously return to the same sins again & again, then we have not truly repented. We need supernatural power to overcome sin.
V11. John clearly tells us that his baptism is one of repentance. Significant in that it means being immersed in water to symbolise death to our old way of life & being lifted up into new life. Jesus however, brings another baptism, one of the Holy Spirit & fire. This can be a controversial verse to many – but is perhaps best understood in the light of verse 8. Does what we have received from God when we were born again bring the fruit of the Spirit & fire. Does it produce in us what is expected? Am I on fire?
V12. Is the Holy Spirit working in us to burn up everything which hinders our walk with God? Is He taking what is good & purifying it?
V16. Notice the separation of events. Jesus receives the baptism of repentance & then the Holy Spirit comes down from heaven to rest upon Him. Here the word for ‘opened’ means to tear apart. This would not have been a quite, unnoticeable event. Whilst we would often like to think the Holy Spirit would work quietly behind the scenes, the Bible of depicts events involving the Holy Spirit as spectacular.
V17. Would we all like to receive such a commendation from God?
Readings: Genesis 5:1 – 6:22, Psalm 2:7-12, Proverbs 1:7, Matthew 3:1-17
Genesis 5
The patriarchs living before the flood averaged a 900 year life span. After the flood, the average age span declined rapidly.
V24. Enoch is described as having walked with God & in Hebrews 11 is described as someone who pleased God.
Ch 6.
V3. Because of the corruption which had already become prevalent on the earth, God ordained the number of years a man would live.
V5 & 6. I think that we get to understand something of the profound sense of disappointment felt by God. These verses almost groan.
V8. Noah finds favour with God & throughout the Bible there are many others who do the same such as Moses & David.
V11-13. In Matthew 24:36-39, Jesus says that around the time of the day of the Day of the Lord it will be just as in the time of Noah. The corruption & violence of the earth will come to sudden end. This is why we should be ready at all times for the return of Jesus.
V14-16. God gives Noah precise detail for the construction of the ark, its shape would mean that it was difficult to capsize. I often wonder what people round about would have made of what Noah was doing. I can imagine Kevin McCloud from Grand Designs turning up every so often for an update!
V18. This is the first mention of a biblical covenant. God’s protection of Noah & his family throughout the flood is the first stage of the promise.
Psalm 2
Yesterday, in the first half of this Psalm we saw how rebellion against God is futile. He always wins. In the second part of the Psalm we are introduced to Jesus, who is given the Nations as an inheritance.
For this reason in verse 10 the psalmist gives some advice to the rulers of the world in verses 10-12.
“Serve the Lord with reverential awe, and rejoice with trembling” this is a command to us as well. But as is always the case with God, it brings wonderful blessing serving Him this way. As we saw Noah had favour with God serving Him wholeheartedly, remembering He is sovereign & majestic, and always rejoicing is the way to gain favour.
To disrespect Him or serve half-heartedly brings the wrath promised in verse 12.
Proverbs
1:7 This is a verse I committed to memory a long time ago. It is the key theme of Proverbs. It is not the terror of a tyrant, but the kind of awe & respect which will lead to obedience to Him who is wisest of all.
Matthew 3
I am sure like we would today, this man John, on a human level would be dismissed as a crank & people would have gone to scorn & laugh at him. But yet we read in verses 5&6 that people were flocking to him & being baptised. On the face of it, his message was not one of great oratory, but a simple call to repentance.
So what was it the drew the crowds? You will find the answer in Luke 1:15.
V8. A sign that we have been truly born again is the fruit that we bear. True regeneration causes us to hate sin. If we continuously return to the same sins again & again, then we have not truly repented. We need supernatural power to overcome sin.
V11. John clearly tells us that his baptism is one of repentance. Significant in that it means being immersed in water to symbolise death to our old way of life & being lifted up into new life. Jesus however, brings another baptism, one of the Holy Spirit & fire. This can be a controversial verse to many – but is perhaps best understood in the light of verse 8. Does what we have received from God when we were born again bring the fruit of the Spirit & fire. Does it produce in us what is expected? Am I on fire?
V12. Is the Holy Spirit working in us to burn up everything which hinders our walk with God? Is He taking what is good & purifying it?
V16. Notice the separation of events. Jesus receives the baptism of repentance & then the Holy Spirit comes down from heaven to rest upon Him. Here the word for ‘opened’ means to tear apart. This would not have been a quite, unnoticeable event. Whilst we would often like to think the Holy Spirit would work quietly behind the scenes, the Bible of depicts events involving the Holy Spirit as spectacular.
V17. Would we all like to receive such a commendation from God?
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