January 1. New Beginnings

Welcome to 2009 & a very happy New Year!

I'm disappointed not to have the One Year Bible's yet, but unfortunately Wesley Owen had run out of supplies. I have been chasing them almost daily & they have ordered directly from the publishers so as soon as I get them I will let you have one.

I do plan to use this site as often as possible just to put down my own thoughts as I go through the Bible myself. Hopefully some will find these thoughts useful & please feel free to add comments.

As far as I can, I will aim to publish the day before, so I will need to be one day ahead. But it will not be always possible everyday.

I hope you will be blessed, encouraged, challenged & changed as a result of your studies.

So here are the thoughts for today.

Readings Gen 1:1- 2:25, Psalm 1:1-6, Prov 1:1-4; Matt 1:1-25

Genesis 1

v3. Here is God's opening line "Let there be light" - Jesus is the light of the world. God sets out His intention at the very beginning - He wants to dispel the darkness

v11. God creates seeds as the form of reproduction. Seeds are a prominent feature of the Bible and God's kingdom. The parable of the sower is an important illustration of the word of God, which Jesus describes as seed.
Seed has to die first before it reproduces - something we too need to do. Die to our old nature & put on our brand new natures.

v20&24. The more I think about animals, birds & things that live in the sea, the more certain I am about creation. Only a creator can be behind the wonder of the animal kingdom.
I have tried a few times to see Ospreys but never successfully. But I am always amazed when you consider that they fly thousands of miles to Africa each year for winter but return each year to the same place to breed. Result of an accident? - I don't think so! Worship God for His creation!

v26. An indication of the Trinity. Notice the use of "us" and "our".

Gen 2

v3. God has set apart the Sabbath day - to be holy and for rest. Do you treat Sunday as holy (set aside for God) and do you take opportunity for rest?

v9. A key verse for the rest of the story of mankind! A tale of two trees. Tree of Life - associated with experiencing the life of God, including immortality.
The tree of knowledge of good and evil - represents self-rule & independence from God.

v17. The tree was the only one Adam was told not to eat from. Everything else in the garden was for him. The consequence of eating from it would be death. God's intention was for man to be immortal.

v24. At the very beginning, here God establishes marriage as His plan for a relationship between man and woman. This is in a covenant relationship made before any sexual intimacy takes place.
Because God finds marriage special & important (see Malachi 2) satan hates marriage & will do everything he can to destroy marriage & the very institution of marriage - between a man and a woman.

Psalm 1

v2 Learn to read God's word carefully, thoughtfully, prayerfully. Take one or two verses each day & think about them throughout the day. How can I apply this to my life?
v3 The benefits of a life rooted in scripture.

Matthew 1

The genealogy of Jesus. A seemingly long list of names. But as we read through the Bible we will see some of these characters.

v19 God chose well (as He always does). Joseph was a righteous man. He was in a right relationship with God & was therefore open to receiving a message from God. If we do not focus on getting our relationship right with God & developing holiness we will not always hear the voice of God.

v21 'because He will save the people from their sins' - the Greek word for 'save' is 'sozo'. This means ' to save, heal, cure, preserve, keep safe & sound, rescue from danger or destruction, deliver.'