January 19

Genesis 20; Matthew 19

Genesis 20

Ready:
Coming off of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah but the bugger picture Lord is that Abraham has assumed a role of mediating the covenant for your people and he is serving as intercessor.  Abraham foreshadows the role of Christ as prophet, priest, and king.  You display your righteous judgement and your loving mercy together here Lord and you drag Lot our of the City by the hand when he sinfully and apathetically lingers.  Lead me Lord by the hand and show me the lessons to take from your Word today.

Reading thoughts:
I see Abraham making the same error again and this time it is worse because his wife has been promised to bear his long awaited offspring within the year! She is supposed to have his baby within 12 months and pregnancy lasts 9 months.  How in the heck does Abraham figure to go ahead and let the King take his wife now?  This is not a high point in the life of Abraham but hopefully in his error he still held out the hope that God will keep his promise despite Abraham’s folly…and indeed he does.  I see God intervene in an amazing way in that he does so through the very will of this King Abimelech.  God protects the womb of Sarah, which may already be carrying young Isaac.  The story also includes Abraham praying for and God healing the family of Abimelech of their barrenness and the patriarch and his wife are sent to live wherever they would choose with gifts and provision from the king.

Key Verses:

“2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.” (Genesis 20:2, ESV)

“5 Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.” 6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her.” (Genesis 20:5–6, ESV)

“14 Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him.” (Genesis 20:14, ESV)

“17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. 18 For the Lord had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.” (Genesis 20:17–18, ESV)

I see the them as- God protects his promise and displays his sovereign power over the will of man.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1.  For some reason Abraham leaves the oaks of Mamre and decides to spend time in Gerar.
    v2.  Here Abraham blows it again and the timing is terrible.  He certainly knows that Sarah may be with child at this time and that if not she will be very soon and yet he is seemingly content to allow her to be taken off by the king.  Interesting that this even happens because there is no clear indication here that the king had more than one wife by practice and I also recall that Sarah is 90 years old.  Now it was said that she was very beautiful but yet she is well past child bearing age and yet this king, as Pharaoh did, sees something in her that is compelling.
    v3-7.  This is an interaction between God and Abimelech in a dream where he is confronted concerning his actions and we learn that Abimelech had intention to sleep with Sarah because he admits that his actions were in the integrity of his heart with a defense of his lacking the true information that she was married.  This can only mean that yes he intended to sleep with her but he was surely not aware of the great sin that this would have been toward Abraham (certainly his sin against his wife would remain).  We also learn that God agreed with this integrity but is silent regarding the king’s assertion of his innocent hands.  So God may agree here that he did not know she was married but he does not give him approval that this means he was innocent.  Certainly he would be guilty of adultery to begin with because he himself was married (there is no written law against adultery yet but God made it clear in Genesis…then repeated in Matthew 19 that his description of man and wife becoming one flesh establishes that adultery and is sin).  So God concedes to he king that this whole scenario exists without the king knowing the degree of sin involved, but then God announces something amazing.  He explains what has already occurred before this dream began.  Before God approaches Abimelech in the dream he had already moved his heart to cause him to refrain from touching Sarah.  SPOILER ALERT- (I am going to present what I believe the Bible teaches here but there is more than one take on this so take no offense is you disagree…but you shouldn’t- he he).  We see here God interrupting what was the intention and inclination of this man in taking Sarah and God seems to have given an alternative preference to Abimelech that the king takes to be his own will, indeed it was at that point.   Perhaps we see here what Jonathan Edwards (preacher in the 1700s) taught about the free will of man.  This being that man’s will is not autonomous (wholly independent and free from manipulation by external influence) but is actually influenced by many things and this includes the influence of God upon it to cause a previously impossible preference (such as a preference for God in a wholly corrupt and spiritually dead person who is a slave to sin).  This influence upon the preference of the will being accomplished by the Holy Spirit’s quickening of the heart in spiritual birth (regeneration or being “born again") that would overcome the enslavement of the will that had been corrupted and sold into sin since birth due to original sin in the garden (John 8:34, Rom 5:18-19, Rom 6:6 &17, Eph 2:1-3).  So perhaps the free will of man is not really so free until it is set free by the Spirit of God in new birth and now seeing for the first time the goodness of God and perceiving the knowledge of the promised offspring the heart is enlightened and freed (Eph 1:16-21, Eph 2:4-5, 2 Cor 4:5-6) to choose the previously imperceptible (1 Cor 2:14, 2 Cor 4:4) hope of the glorious riches of belonging to God.  Back to the story at hand…So God kept Abimelech from touching Sarah and this carries an implication that God can interrupt the evil intentions of man to protect his children.  The context here is protecting the specific performance of what he has declared in the birth of Isaac but there is clearly no censure in God against interrupting the will of man.  This is good news regarding how to interpret Rom 8:28!  So maybe I don’t need to carry a gun after-all!  Interesting here that God tells Abimelech that he will die and so will all his house if Sarah is not released and if Abraham does not pray for him.
    v8-13.  Here Abimelech believes God and takes action.  He advises his household of the dilemma and they follow the instructions of God.  Abimelech has a discussion with Abraham an expresses his displeasure that Abraham contributed to this scenario by lying about the identity of Sarah.  Abraham gives his logic and though he is in the wrong it does not appear to be challenged by Abimelech, who knows that he needs Abraham to pray for him yet.
    v14-16.  Here Abimelech shows his obedience to the Lord and he gives honor to the prophet of God and he declares the honor of Sarah being intact and he offers to allow the couple to dwell anywhere in his land as he gives them gifts and provision to take as well.
    v17-18.  This is interesting to consider.  Here Abraham prays for Abimelech and he is healed, along with the women of his house who had been made barren by God.  Two things are unclear.  What illness did Abimelech have and when did the women go barren?  Did all this illness and barrenness happen since the night with Sarah or did it begin before Abraham and Sarah arrived?  Maybe the king took Sarah because he sensed he was dying and had no heir and his wife and servants were barren?  Maybe he and his wife were destitute and they saw Sarah as a way to save his lineage?  But here Moses records that the barrenness was because of Sarah.  So in this version (sick and barren before Abraham arrives) then God worked the circumstances to bring Abimelech to the inclination of taking Sarah in order to teach us and Abraham about his sovereignty and his protection.  OR…maybe there was more time than is evident between the dream and the sending off of Abraham and Sarah that allowed for the King to perceive his illness by God and the barrenness of his household.  I dunno?

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    1.  God intends to deliver his promises and he will keep his covenant against all threats and in spite of the faithlessness of his people.  The implication for today is that I know God works right on through my sin and my bad choices and the actions of others to still deliver me to the intended destination.  The significance to my life is that I can have peace and I can trust God to work his mighty will in my life.  I can rejoice and rest in his promise.  Paul warns me in Romans 6 and in Titus, however, that God’s grace is not to give me license to sin but quite the contrary…the saving grace of God trains me in godliness.
    2.  God can and does influence the will of man.  The implication for today is that God does not limit his power to stop evil actions of men.  Though he may not at all times choose to restrain certain actions of men I can trust that he is able.  The significance for my life is that I can pray that he indeed intercede for me and that he would not only influence my will according to his mighty plan but that he guide others as well.  I can know that God is serious when he tells me in Romand 8:28 that he works all things together for my good!  So if I am in a car wreck there is a mystery no doubt but somewhere in the big picture this was what was needed for me that I did not and would have never known if it were not for the Spirit of God being at work (Rom 8:26-27 is the preface to verse 28!).  Another implication is that he may influence the will of men to turn to God.  The significance of this in my life is that there is a reason for me to pray for unbelievers.

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Matthew 19

Ready:
I pick up after Jesus taught about humility and sin and forgiveness.

Reading thoughts:
I see that there is a change of setting and that Jesus is entering into a different teaching now in a different area.  I see Jesus teaching on the permanence of marriage and on the type of person who is part of the kingdom and of what it takes for a rich man to inherit eternal life.

Key Verses:

“3 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?”” (Matthew 19:3, ESV)

“6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”” (Matthew 19:6, ESV)

“9 And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”” (Matthew 19:9, ESV)

“14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”” (Matthew 19:14, ESV)

“16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”” (Matthew 19:16, ESV)

“21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” (Matthew 19:21–22, ESV)

“23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:23, ESV)

“29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Matthew 19:29–30, ESV)

I take the theme as- Those who belong to the kingdom of heaven are those who follow Jesus with humility and dependance- those who remain a faithful bride to him over all the other offerings of the world and despite all challenges.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-2.  Jesus is now in Judea and he is performing miracles before a large crowd.  This attracts the attention of the Pharisees.
    v3-6.  Here they test Jesus and it is unclear if they are trying to trap him in some error or what but they pose a question to him about divorce.  They are wondering if it is lawful to divorce and Jesus takes the conversation back to the invocation of marriage in the Garden of Eden.  He essentially describes marriage and expects the answer to be plain.  I can almost hear the pause at the end of verse 5 where he finishes describing marriage.  A pregnant pause and then “…so they are no longer two but one flesh.” and maybe another pause…”What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate”.  Jesus tells it like it is.  Marriage involves a union between the man and woman that is made by God and it is through the consummation of their love and commitment to each other.  It is later explained (Eph 5:32) that this statement about being one flesh is speaking also of the church being one flesh with Christ.  There is a mystery in this union that represents how a believer becomes united to Christ.  So the permanence and the significance of the marital union is profound.  Jesus also started off his response by asking them if they have read their Bibles!  Clearly marriage, as our union with Christ, is meant to be permanent.
    v7-9.  He answers their next question about Moses approving of some divorces by issuing divorce certificates but Jesus clarifies that this is only for the case of adultery (let no man separate) and then is further allowed only because of the hard hearts.  This could be the hard heart of one spouse who runs off with another person abandoning the marriage or maybe the hard heart of the spouse who should yet remain with his husband or wife in spite of the adultery that occurred and was subsequently repented of.  This is what Jesus does…he remains.  See Ezekiel 16 and the book of Hosea.  God is faithful to his unilateral covenant.  In marriage God does not hold man to a unilateral covenant but he plainly desires that each husband would consider it such.  The nature of the union created by God is such that the covenant is not broken by a legal divorce but only when adultery occurs.  This mean that a divorce for something other than Biblically justifiable reasons leave the two as one flesh and this union is broken by adultery when either party remarries or otherwise is joined to another person.  So there is a teaching here about divorce and remarriage that is significant for the Christian.  Paul adds to the discussion in 1 Cor 7 with the topic of an unbeliever being married to a believer and the situations that can occur there.
    v10-12.  The discussion goes into a tangent with the disciples wondering if it is best to just not get married in the first place.  Jesus suggests that for some people this is indeed the case but that is only for the one who sees it that way and is able to live without intimacy with the opposite sex.
    v13-15.  Now out of nowhere is an encounter with little children that seems from left field.  Trying to consider the nature of scripture and the reasons that this is placed here I connect all of this passage (chapter) together and see this as the hinge point.  I see Jesus here describe the person who belongs to the kingdom of heaven…people that are like little children desiring to honor Jesus and who recognize their need for his intercession for them.  This is a picture of humility, surrender, and dependence.  This is what the husband should look like.  In the next passage, this is what the rich man should look like.
    v16.  Here Jesus is approached by a man asking how he might acquire eternal life.  Right off the bat I get the sense that he wants to acquire this eternal life as another possession to put in his coffer.  How do I get this thing that I hear is greater even than all my other possessions?
    v17.  Jesus begins straight off by going to the heart.  Let us remember that standing before Jesus is standing before the author of life and he knows the heart and mind and history and future and all that is the person who stands before him and it is the will of Jesus that holds this person in existence for the next moment…and the next (Col 1:16-17).  So Jesus knows that this man considers himself to be good (when he is not) and he knows that this man does not perceive Jesus correctly.  The man called Jesus a teacher (slight understatement).  Jesus goes after the man’s thought that there are deeds that are good that a man can do.  Jesus points out that there is only one who can do good…him.  He then gives him the terrible news that the only way for one to be “good”, as the man wrongly thinks that eternal life is to be earned by this goodness, is to keep the law of God.  This is terrible news because there is none righteous, no not one (Rom 3:10-19).  There is not one who keeps the law of God but Jesus.
    v18-20.  The man is delusional and believes that he keeps the law of God but to be sure he wants to know which commandments Jesus speaks of.  Jesus goes along with the man and he chooses to only cite from the second table of the 10 commandments.  However, Jesus leaves out the last commandment…thou shalt not covet.  The man hears this and is mistakenly encouraged because in his blindness he figures that he has kept each of the commandments that Jesus describes.  Maybe Jesus left out coveting because he was not giving an exhaustive listing or maybe it was on purpose here.  I take it that Jesus was reading this man’s heart and he knew the very thing that would keep this man from following him would be his coveting heart that wants and wants more and more of all that he sees.  So in absence of the most controlling sin in his life the man entertains the thought that he has indeed kept these commandments and says so now what?  What else am I missing here?
    v21-22.  Here Jesus blows up his world and he blows up mine and yours.  Jesus unties the shadow around this mans head that blinds him to his diseased heart.  Jesus opens up the man and exposes to him the very thing that enslaves him and that will keep him from following Jesus…which is the answer to his question.  What does one need to do to inherit eternal life?  Answer- Follow Jesus.  But this takes being like a child and being like a dishonored husband who stays with his rebellious bride and this takes putting God ahead of all else in my life.  This takes losing my life to gain it.  Following Jesus is not less than dying to the world and to selfishness and to pride and to rights and to independence and to lust and to greed.  Jesus diagnosed this man to be a covetous idolator who valued his riches too much to choose God over it.
    v23-30.  Now the lesson to the disciples.  He does not here tell them that this means that everyone must sell all they own and give it away.  What he tells them is that it is a very difficult thing for a rich person to make that decision to value God above all they own and to devote their lives no longer to the acquiring or more wealth and instead to the ministry of reconciliation (making others glad in God).  Are conversions maybe easier in third world countries than on the OC?  Yep.  Not impossible, though!  Jesus makes it plain that the thing that makes it possible is not the will of the man (thinking of our lesson in Genesis 19) but the will of God to show mercy (Rom 9:16).  What makes it possible for someone who is rich to become a follower of Jesus is the mercy of God changing their desires and their will.  Maybe this person does then sell all they own…or maybe they would be willing to if they sensed it to be the call.  Maybe they devote their riches to the cause of Christ and they keep shoveling in the money in order to give most of it away in missions or mercy upon the afflicted or evangelism or whatever.  Maybe they find contentment in little and devote the rest to the work of God.  I think I see Francis Chan and David Platt peeking in the window.

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    1.  Don’t divorce.  The implication for today is that marriage is seen by God as representing the covenant he has with his bride (the church) and marriage is intended to me permanent.  The significance for me is that I can model the heart of God in my marriage and I can model the heart of God to the world in how I am committed to my wife.
    2.  Be like a child and seek Jesus so you can honor him and receive from him.  The implication for today is that those in the Kingdom are humble, dependent people who seek Jesus.  The significance for me is that I will be living this way if I know Jesus…if Jesus knows me…if I am following him.  I can ask him for more of him and less of me.
    3.  Be prepared to give up all if you want to follow Jesus.  The implication for today is that Jesus could call me to give up something…anything…everything. The significance for my life is that I need to live with such a detachment to the things of this world (1 John 2:15) that to live is Christ and to die is gain (Phil 1:21).  My life needs to be so hidden in Christ that my eyes are on the things above (Col 3:2-3) and my hope so in the unseen (Rom 8:24-25) that this is not a problem whatsoever.  Let us be on mission in this world…not vacation (John 17:18).

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Soli Deo Gloria!

January 18

Genesis 19; Matthew 18

Genesis 19

Ready:
I left off with Abraham interceding on behalf of the righteous who may be at Sodom and I learn that God does not intend to condemn the righteous or to judge the righteous unjustly but he favored mercy upon the wicked even before injustice upon the righteous who fear him.  I saw that Abraham was to command the people of God to do righteousness and justice as a condition of the covenant.  Lord teach me and show me more of your amazing epic and let me see how the story weaves your Son into its fabric.

Reading thoughts:
I see God dealing mercifully with Lot in this chapter on behalf of Abraham’s request.  Lot seems to be halfhearted in his desire for rescue and though he protects the men (angels) who visited, he did so offering his poor daughters up like a deadbeat father.  The angels had to take him by near force and they led him and his wife and his daughters out by hand.  His son ins laws remained unconvinced of the urgency to leave Sodom and Gomorrah are utterly destroyed due to their wickedness and Lot’s wife is lost due to her looking back upon what must have been her love- she lacked the obedience of faith.  I see Lot’s daughters whom he was so willing to give up in the danger at Sodom trick their dad into laying with them and they both bear children that become peoples whom God uses against the Israelites years in the future.

Key Verses:

“3 But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.” (Genesis 19:3, ESV)

“4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. 5 And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.”” (Genesis 19:4–5, ESV)

“13 For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.”” (Genesis 19:13, ESV)

“16 But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. 17 And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.”” (Genesis 19:16–17, ESV)

“29 So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived.” (Genesis 19:29, ESV)

I see the theme as- God is righteous and just yet he deals mercifully with Lot whom deserves it not.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-3.  Here it is clear that Lot is not in a good way.  Lot fully understands the wickedness of this city and yet he is pleased to live there with his wife and family.  Lot knows the danger that face these visitors and he immediately intercedes to protect them.  There is no indication that Lot knew they came for him but it sounds like Lot simply noticed strangers entered the city and he knew this was a problem.  So at least it seems that he has a sense of mercy himself in not wanting the men to be abused.
    v4-5.  The complete wickedness of the city is made clear here when every male in the entire city comes to rape the men and demands that Lot release them for such.  I would imagine that this includes Lot’s son-in-laws who are betrothed to his daughters because they were not in the house that night.
    v6-9.  Lot tries to convince the men to leave but he offers his daughters to be raped by the whole town!  Lot is very ill and does not seem to have much backbone.
    v10-13.  Here the angels intercede to protect the daughters and to stop the confrontation by blinding the men of the City.  They inform Lot that they are about to destroy the City.  Here that make it clear that they are messengers of the Lord and that they have come to destroy the City.
    v14.  Lot seems to immediately believe them and he goes to bring out his son-in-laws with this warning but they don’t heed him.
    v15-16.  Lot seems to grow apathetic about the warning himself since the next morning he sleeps in and the angels have to wake him and urge him to get going.  He still wastes time and they literally force him and his family to leave taking them by the hand in the mercy of God.  I note that them overcoming his apathy and his unwillingness was the mercy of God here.  He seemed incapable to make this choice to leave the City even though he knew how wicked it was but it took the pulling of the Lord in mercy to save him.
    v17-22.  I don’t know what to do with Lot here but to know that I am probably a dummy in many of the same ways.  He can’t just listen and do as he is instructed but he has to meddle with the clear direction of the Lord.
    v23-29.  God indeed destroys Sodom and Gomorrah and this will be an event that is referenced throughout the Bible as a warning and as evidence of the judgement of God and of the wickedness of man.  Lot’s wife is lost perhaps due to her longing for the City still and she perishes due to her disobedience.  Abraham sees the evidence of the City being destroyed and knows that there were less than 10 righteous…it would seem that there were none.  Yet in mercy God saves Lot and his daughters.
    v30-38.  Here some enemies of the Israelites are born due to the sin of Lot’s daughters in wanting to extend the line of their father who has retreated to a place apart from others and where he would have no wife to give him any boys.  The prophet Zephaniah declares that the Moabites and the Ammonites will become like Sodom and Gomorrah…a plundered wasteland.

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    1.  I hear Moses teaching that the Lord is faithful to do as he says he will do and that he dealt with Lot and his family not according to his iniquity but according to the Lord’s mercy.  The implication is that God may give mercy to the stiff-necked because he does not do it for their sake but for his own glory in keeping a promise that Abraham will be a blessing.  The significance for me is that I can trust God to deliver me in spite of my sin and my messed up thinking because it is not something in me that merits his action.  

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Matthew 18

Ready:
Jesus has transfigured and revealed something amazing to three of the disciples.  The faith of the other nine has fallen into question in their absence and Jesus teaches them that trusting in him and his authority is necessary.  Jesus explained his coming suffering and he demonstrated his authority over the creation as well as a desire to not stumble anyone who may think he needs to pay the temple tax.

Reading thoughts:
I see Jesus teaching about humility and dependence and about our responsibility toward others in not causing them to sin and in forgiving them and our responsibility for ourselves to take extreme measures in caution to protect ourselves from becoming enslaved by sin.

Key Verses:

“3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3–4, ESV)

“7 “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!” (Matthew 18:7, ESV)

“8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.” (Matthew 18:8, ESV)

“21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21–22, ESV)

“32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’” (Matthew 18:32–33, ESV)

I see the theme here as- Humble yourself before the Lord and before man and give mercy to the measure you have received it.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-4.  Here Jesus comes against the vain chatter of the disciples who want to know who is to be greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  They may be recovering from the three being selected to go up the mountain with Jesus and now they want to settle this festering wound.  Jesus explains that the only way to even be in the kingdom is to come dependent and humble and so their question would seem to condemn them.  Knowing that some will become great men of God and accomplish much for the kingdom he adds that the one who humbles himself like a child will be great.  So our gifts and use in the kingdom may differ but we each have opportunity to humble ourselves and to rely not on ourselves but upon the Lord.
    v5-6.  There is great danger in leading people astray.  This is a strong warning for those who would be employed in industries that tempt and lure away would be disciples and that enslave people to the world and to the flesh.  There will likely be great payment made by those who operate the wicked system of this world that lusts after consumerism and sex and power.  This leads immediately into the next paragraph.
    v7-9.  Here Jesus makes clear that there is a purpose of God in temptations as seen by the Spirit leading Jesus into the desert to be tempted.  yet although God uses the evil of temptations and even sin itself to ultimately accomplish his will, he definitely holds those doing the tempting accountable for their wickedness.  He also holds accountable the sinner who falls to the temptation and he makes is clear here that we are to take great care and go to extremes in order to avoid sin.  Jesus speaks with exaggeration here to make this point and does not call us to mutilate our bodies since this will clearly not stop us from sinning anyhow.  The point is to get serious about sin.  The point is to kill sin where it stands and to avoid it like the plague.  We are to be like the righteous man in psalm 1.
    v10-14.  Perhaps here now before we go and despise the one who does fall to temptation and we get arrogant and begin to wish ill upon them then let me consider this passage.  Before I let myself despise the one who falls into sin I need to consider that the angels rally and fight for this one and the good shepherd will go for this one and if he indeed is one of his pasture then his voice will be heard and the sheep return.  Let me not despise but let me pray for the speedy return of the lost sheep.  Interesting the in this parable the shepherd rejoices more over the one who returns than the one who never fell.  It seems maybe that God is more glorified in our conquering of sin and death than that we would have still been in the garden backed and clueless to the depth of his mercy and grace.  Perhaps he is more glorified in mankind whom he rescues than in the angels who remain faithful from the beginning.  This also leads all into the next paragraph.
    v15-20.  Here the goal is not despising and disowning but restoration.  This description of church discipline is about restoring the lost sheep, not destroying him.  The church is given authority to discipline and to put a member out of fellowship as if an offending unbeliever but this is to allow opportunity for them to be guided back by the good shepherd since they are refusing the guidance of the earthly shepherd.  This is the alternative to simply accepting sinful behavior and rebellion within the body of Christ.  We are called to be holy.  Perhaps this excommunication is a statement to God and his angels that this sheep is lost O Lord and we loose him now unto the world that you would guide him back again by your mighty hand.
    v21-22.  Here is a teaching by Jesus that I take to be a reference back to Lamech (from the line of Cain) who boasted of his vengeance of seventy-seven times that he took into his hands in murderous rage.  Jesus responds to the question of how many times do I forgive my brother with this reference and I believe his point is to suggest that such a question is like the attitude of Lamech that would take vengeance into his own hands.  What is the opposite of forgiving?  What do you do if you don’t forgive?  I think Jesus is making the point that his children do not consider not forgiving- ever.  I thank God that his grace abounds!  This point is then expressed differently in a parable…
    v23-35.  Here Jesus teaches a parable that shows a master who is owed an incredible sum of money by someone he has full charge and authority over.  This servant owes more to this master than can ever possibly be earned in many lifetimes (about 200,000 years wages).  I think the point is that the servant owed an infinite and un-payable debt.  The master has pity on his servant who expresses submission and the entire debt is forgiven!  Then this servant who was just forgiven of his completely infinite and un-payable debt goes off and holds someone under him accountable for a ridiculously smaller debt with no mercy and he offers no forgiveness.  The master makes the point in verse 32-33 that the forgiveness given unto him should have translated into a heart that forgives the same of others.  Since this heart change was not present the master re-instituted the debt and the unforgiving servant was delivered to jail presumably for the rest of his life and beyond.  The message here is not very hidden and it is clear that if we have been transformed by the grace and mercy of God then we will be people that extend this kind of mercy to others.  We are commanded to forgive as God has forgiven us (Col 3:12-13. Matt 6:14-15).

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    1.  I hear the message of humble surrender and reliance upon God.  The implication today is that this same is required.  Significance for me is that I need to not seek self-exaltation but I must humble myself and know that it is by relying upon God that I have any standing with him.
    2.  I hear the message that it is grievous to lead people into sin.  The implication remains today and the significance for me is that I want nothing to do with tempting others by my actions or my associations or my statements or anything else.
    3.  I hear Jesus teach that we are to take drastic measures to guard against sin.  The implication is that sin should not be taken lightly and that steps to guard against temptation should be a regular part of a Christian’s life.  The significance is that I cannot ignore or disregard what I would put before my eyes on TV or a movie screen or on the computer.  I cannot disregard what I would expose myself to in where I spend time or in what I do for recreation.  If I know there is a place or an activity that leads me into heavy temptation then I am an idiot for continuing to do that without radically protecting myself in some manner.  I know of men who will unplug and carry the TV from their hotel room down to the front desk for safe keeping during their stay!
    4.  I hear the teaching that Christians are to love the lost sheep and pray for their return and they are to take effort to help this along through church discipline if needed and then the church may need to remove them from fellowship and loose them to the devil (1 Cor 5:4-5) for destruction that they may be saved.  The implication today is that unrepentant sin is not to be tolerated within the church and there is to be accountability and we are to remove the evil person from among us (1 Cor 5:11-13).  The significance for me is that I should not close my eyes but I should love enough to confront brothers who are unrepentant and who need some guidance.  I should be willing to build them up and to help them.  I should seek to restore them and if a couple brothers need to take the lost sheep before the church for more help then so be it.
    5.  I hear the teaching that forgiveness is not optional.  The implication remains and the significance for me is that I must seek the Lord and his strength and I must understand well how much I have been forgiven so that passing this mercy down the line comes quickly to me.  Regular reflection upon my sin and what the Lord has suffered on my account may help in this.  Seeing God and seeing myself properly and understanding the nature of mercy and forgiveness and the wrath and utter destruction I would face without the mercy of God upon this undeserving worm may help.

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Soli Deo Gloria!

January 17

Genesis 18; Matthew 17

Genesis 18

Ready:
Lord lead me through your story and let me see the beauty of the King as I search and consider what you are revealing here.  Cause me to hunger for your truth and may you revive my soul with it.  I pickup now after Abraham has circumcised his family, including the foreigners who belonged to the house by purchase.  Isaac has now been explicitly promised to Sarah within the year.

Reading thoughts:
I see Abraham meet with three men and one of them seems to be God.  This is likely a pre-incarnate manifestation of Jesus (theophany) since it does not indicate that it was the angel of the Lord.  Abraham extends a welcome of hospitality and he is allowed to prepare a meal and arrangements for the four of them.  This visit seems to be in follow-up to Abraham’s faithful circumcision that creates the distinct people of God and there is a simple reiteration of the promise to bear a son by Sarah and Sarah laughs here at the prospect since she is barren and quite old and no longer has any evidence of being able to conceive.  God does not seem overly bothered by her laughter but he does point it out and correct her by making sure that they know the truth that there is noting that is too hard for him to accomplish.   He next moves on to what must be the second reason for their coming by revealing to Abraham what was to come of Sodom.  A discussion among the three results in God sharing with Abraham his intention to investigate the spiritual state of Sodom with an implied intention to judge them.  No comes the quite infamous conversation where Abraham makes a case for mercy upon a city based upon some righteous remnant remaining there.  He goes back over and again and there is a reduction in the number of righteous needed for God to pass over the city and relent from its destruction.

Key Verses:

“14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”” (Genesis 18:14, ESV)

“19 For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”” (Genesis 18:19, ESV)

“32 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.”” (Genesis 18:32, ESV)

I see the theme here as- God dwells with the newly established people of God by eating with Abraham, sharing secrets with him regarding his dealings with mankind and teaching him that he may have a voice before the king because Abraham will be the commander of the people of God for the sake of righteousness and justice.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-2.  The Lord appears again here to Abraham but this time there are two angels with him (see Gen 19:1).  This is something different than the previous meeting between God and Abraham.
    v3-5.  Here Abraham offers to make arrangements for them to stay and eat and they give him approval to make preparations.  This is very different and it appears that there will be a meal shared with Abraham.  Abraham also appears to wash their feet in preparation for the meal.
    v6-8.  Here we see what is likely Jesus and a couple of angels having a meal with Abraham standing under an Oak tree.  Very interesting that they take a meal together and that it is standing under a tree.  It could be that Abraham served them and did not eat but either way he was excessively hospitable and treated his guests with the honor due to them.  The meal surely indicates a new degree of communion between God and Abraham that I would imagine is directly related to the circumcision.
    v9-15.  Here there is a reiteration of the promise to bear Isaac by Sarah and there is a clarification that Sarah no longer menstruates and the impossibility of the natural occurrence of bearing a child is clear- so clear that Sarah laughs at the prospect.  God points out that Sarah should not be laughing because there is nothing too hard for the Lord.  Abraham also laughed in chapter 17 when Isaac’s birth was promised but it appears Sarah’s laughter may have been a bit more in disbelief than Abraham’s laughter, which was likely in enjoyment of the impossibility of what God was about to do.  Sarah even lies to God in denying her laughter from fear.  Interesting that there is no dealing with her sin here and that it seems to be barely considered.  Zechariah was made mute due to his disbelief when an angel told him that his wife would give birth to John the Baptist, yet Sarah seems to skate with the exception of a stern acknowledgment of her sin.  Perhaps we see in Sarah a common reaction that God tolerates here to give us come comfort in the instances where we too behave like her?
    v16-21.  Now the story turns and there is a new focus.  The three are going to head to Sodom and it appears that God is investigating the state of corruption there to determine how it shall be judged.  This is quite the insider’s view of the inner working of God as he deals with mankind here!  The Lord makes it plain that the reason he is letting Abraham in on this and perhaps the whole purpose of their visit to him was to let him know that in fathering the nation of Israel and in becoming a blessing to the nations of the world (Rom 11:12) he is to command his children and all his household (foreigners who belong to him are included) to “keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice.  It is further stated that doing this is a condition of the covenant!  So Abraham is essentially advised here that he is expected to command that his family keep the way of the Lord if he will receive the blessings promised by God.  Recalling that the covenant will indeed by kept at the cost of God’s harm and recalling that God told him in chapter 17 that it was already a done deal, we know that Abraham will be successful at this endeavor…at least with the elect remnant (which are the true offspring of promise).
    v22-33.  Abraham here is making himself a mediator and intercessor for the people of earth here and his voice is heard by the Lord.  This is a priestly service that Abraham serves here.  We now see in this chapter a revelation that Abraham is carrying the offices of patriarch of the people of God (king) and commanding messenger of God (prophet) and mediator between God and man (priest).  These are three important offices of Christ that are foreshadowed here.  In this account there is no means to take away sins revealed and Abraham can only plead the merits of the very righteousness of the people of Sodom…which doesn’t exist, unfortunately.  Abraham is one of a very few people who bear the only true righteousness of God and this was by faith that God is true and that he is sending a promised offspring.  Abraham quite bodily intercedes and offers to God a request that he defends with the very character of God.  This is striking that Abraham seems to imply that God would be doing wrong to condemn the righteous for the wickedness of others.  This is not contested by God and it seems established that he would not and will not cause condemnation of judgement due to one person to fall on another (Ezekiel 18:20).  Abraham is most likely worried for Lot and he mediates and agreement that God will spare the entire city on behalf of 10 righteous, if they can be found.  Here is a principle also implied that God, while he will not punish the innocent, will indeed spare the wicked for the sake of the innocent…at least on the earth.  This is already a fulfilling of the promise that all families of the earth will be blessed (Gen 12:3) in Abraham and it is a common grace that brings rain upon the wicked as well as the righteous (Matt 5:45).  In Abraham’s negotiating with God he offers no appeasement for the wrath of God but merely looks for mercy, which we learn later is based upon the finished work of Christ (Rom 3:20-26).  

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    1.  I hear the message that God has a special relationship with his people that is intimate and where he reveals himself to them.  An implication is that even today God desires to be in communication with me and to share with me a view of his dealings with man.  The significance for me is that I should seek to commune with God and to know him and to seek out a right view of the world.
    2.  I hear the message that God allows human mediators to petition him and he gives attention to our pleas.  The implication is that today God will listen to our prayers and he will grant approval based upon the merit of our request and its alignment with his intentions and the upholding of his attributes.  The significance is that I should make intercession for my family and for others and I should keep in mind that he hears and desires to have this relationship where I intercede on the behalf of others with a compassionate heart.
    3.  I hear the message that a human mediator is flawed and does not make perfect intercession and does not know the mind of God.  The implication is that there is a better mediator who does know the mind of God and this is Jesus.  By extension this can also be said to be the Holy Spirit indwelling the believers (Rom 8:34, Heb 9, Rom 8:26-27).  The significance for me is that I do not rely on an earthly priest or intercessor but I rely of Jesus and on the Holy Spirit himself as I come before the Father with my petitions and even when I don't.

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Matthew 17

Ready:
I left off with Jesus informing his disciples, and me, that it takes death and forfeit of the world to follow Christ.  I can live unto the world and the things I see or I can live unto Christ and hope in the things unseen.  I am called to lose my life that I may save it and so I head into the next chapter.

Reading thoughts:
Jesus continues to reveal his identity as the divine/human Messiah by showing a glimpse of his glorified form to three apostles and by demonstrating power beyond what the disciples bear in dealing with demons and by demonstrating his power of the fish of the sea and the myriad of circumstances that it would take to put a shekel in the mouth of this fish.  Jesus describes his coming death in humble submission despite the fact that he actually has all authority and that all of creation owes him honor and praise.

Key Verses:

“1 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.” (Matthew 17:1–3, ESV)

“5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.” (Matthew 17:5–6, ESV)

“20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”” (Matthew 17:20, ESV)

“27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”” (Matthew 17:27, ESV)

I see the theme as- Jesus’ identity and authority is declared by God himself and this supreme power and authority is displayed to contrast with the humility that Jesus puts upon himself for the good of others.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-8.  Here Jesus selects his three closest disciples and they ascended a mountain together alone.  The nine others were left to themselves and it could be that like Aaron in the wilderness while Moses went up to meet with God that things got a little out of sorts in the absence of the leader.  Back to the description at hand- Matthew (who was down below at this point) tells us that these three saw Jesus “transfigured” before their eyes and it seems that Jesus gave them a glimpse of a glorified form of himself that clearly highlights his divinity nature.  Then Moses and Elijah show up!  What’s up with Moses and Elijah popping in?  Moses died and Elijah was caught up in the sky.  Moses is the primary prophet of God who delivers the law and Elijah was a mighty prophet who was declared to be a forerunner of the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 4:4-5).  So it appears that there is a display here of the ways in which God used to communicate to his people and the new way God communicates with his people through his incarnate Word, which is Jesus.  A voice that scares the three disciples comes from Heaven and announces as much to them.  I take the message from God to be 1. his declaration of the divine nature of Jesus, 2. his declaration that he is pleased with the perfectly righteous obedience of the human nature of Jesus and 3. he declares that Jesus is to be heeded henceforth as speaking with the authority of God in a more profound way than the law and the prophets (standing there to bear witness) ever could.  Here is the clearest illustration if the transition from the OT to the NT that I have seen in Matthew.  See Hebrews 1:1-2 for a clear statement regarding what is shown here at the transfiguration.  Also remember Jesus’ description in Matthew 11:12-19 about the law and the prophets concluding with John the Baptist.
    v9-13.  Recognizing the significance and wondering about the meaning of the prophesy by Malachi that Elijah must come Jesus explains that John the Baptist was the one Malachi was speaking of and he came fulfilling this prophecy that one would come in the spirit of Elijah.
    v14-21/21.  Here is a rather sad tale of Jesus and the three coming down the mountain to find that the nine left behind are failing at the task of maintaining their faith.  There are people seeking help with a demon possession and Jesus laments that lack of faith on the part of the nine disciples (including the narrator here).  It seems in his reference to the mustard seed that Jesus is telling them that a lack of complete reliance upon God to do a work with their faith as he raises up a strong tree from the simple planting of a seed.  Man is powerless to grow a seed but only God can do it and similarly only God can exorcise a demon but if these nine disciples were beginning to trust in themselves rather than rely solely on God in faith then this could explain their failure. Some suggest that they may have been distraught over being left behind when Jesus chose the three to go up the mountain and this is somewhat validated because soon after this the disciples end up in a discussion on who will be the greatest in the kingdom.
    v22-23.  Jesus here gives a straightforward statement of his coming death and resurrection but it distresses the disciples who do not yet understand that this is necessary.
    v24-27.  Here there is an irony that the creator is being asked to pay a temple tax and Jesus chooses to comply, although it is not required of him, because he does not want the issue to become a source of stumbling for others who question it.  This illustrates what Paul teaches in Romans 14.  However, the way Jesus goes about removing what would be the stumbling block exhibits for the disciples the very reason that he is not required to pay this temple tax.  This is because he is the very Son of God to whom this temple is devoted and it is all of creation that owes him honor and praise and devotion.  He demonstrates his divinity in the way he orchestrates the delivery of his temple tax payment by a fish carrying a coin.

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
No time!

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

January 16

Genesis 17; Matthew 16

Genesis 17

Ready:
I pickup after Abram and Sarai decide to tweak what they know to be right in order to help along what God has promised.  Hagar has given birth to Ishmael and not the women are not getting along.  Lord please teach me by your Spirit as I read and let me understand the implications for today and more specifically the significance for my own life.

Reading thoughts:
    I see Abram waiting 13 years after the birth of Ishmael to hear anything specific from God again.  Time must have been eating at him and maybe he was assuming that Ishmael was the offspring despite the trouble their sin brought.  God speaks again and he come this time with a strong assertion to his power and declares that Abram is to live in communion with God and to be blameless or totally obedient.  He follows this up by changing Abram’s name to Abraham (father of many nations) and he presents another element of the covenant to Abraham that is about being the God of Abraham and his offspring after him.  There seems to be an implication that this group of descendants who bear the sign of the covenant are a “people” since those that do not bear the sign are to be "cut off from his people”.
    I see God clarify his promised offspring to be from Sarai and he changes her name to Sarah and then God and Abraham have a dialogue about Ishmael and God makes clear his intentions to give him a specific child named Isaac through whom the covenant promise of God will extend.  Abraham then follows God’s instruction regarding circumcision that day and all of Israel is circumcised…and the separate people of God are established!

Key Verses:

“1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.”” (Genesis 17:1–2, ESV)

“3 Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 4 “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.” (Genesis 17:3–5, ESV)

“7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.” (Genesis 17:7, ESV)

“9 And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.” (Genesis 17:9–11, ESV)

“12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring,” (Genesis 17:12, ESV)

 “15 And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.”” (Genesis 17:15–16, ESV)

“18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” 19 God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.” (Genesis 17:18–19, ESV)

“21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.”” (Genesis 17:21, ESV)

“26 That very day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised. 27 And all the men of his house, those born in the house and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.” (Genesis 17:26–27, ESV)

I see the theme as- The people of God are born by taking the sign of the covenant of God to be true to his promise of 1. a particular offspring (Savior and conquerer of the serpent) and 2. nations to come (multitudes of burning lights attesting to the glory of God) and 3. a land (kingdom) and 4. ultimately that God himself would be their God (King).

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-3.  It has been 13 years and the story went silent until now.  Perhaps Abram was settled that Ishmael was the promised offspring and suddenly now God appears with a command that Abram “walk before him” and “be blameless”.  I take this to mean commune with God or live in humble relationship with God or rely on him or maybe have intimacy with God.  And the second part to be obey him and do not sin in your heart toward him.  This is the first thing Abram has heard since Ishmael was conceived and born 13 years earlier (so it seems by the silence of the text).  Abram’s response suggests that he is fully submissive to this command and perhaps there is a sudden realization that he may have done wrong.  Why is God suddenly telling him to do what he must have thought he was doing already?  And now God declares that Abram must do this as a condition for God to “make” the covenant between them and to multiply him…Wait a minute! What about the smoking fire pot passing through the carcasses and the unilateral covenant?  Perhaps now the nature of what God has done, and is doing, becomes a little more clear.  This is the way God progresses his revelation throughout the Bible.  So there is yet a condition to this unilateral covenant but we certainly know that the only one to bear the penalty of not keeping the covenant is God himself.  Therefore, Abram plays a role in keeping the covenant somehow but God bears the penalty.  Interesting.
    v4-5.  Here God give yet more detail to how this works because he declares that indeed his covenant is with him in the next breath that he speaks and he changes his name in acknowledgment of what he says next.  Which is a remarkable declaration that he has already accomplished the fulfillment of the covenant!  He tells “Abraham” that has has already made him the father of many nations!  Talk about a head spinner.  OK, so God makes a covenant that nay he bears the penalty for and it says some things I detailed above and he makes it clear that Abraham bears some responsibility to walk with God and to be blameless but God also declares that it is done or “it is finished” maybe.  Here we see the explicit introduction of what is know as the “already-not yet” theme of the Bible.  So I take this as an explanation of how it is that God is responsible for my salvation and how it is his work and yet I play a role and yet he is responsible and yet I can’t stop it from happening and yet I must walk blameless with him and yet its already a done deal…this is sounding like a beautiful and not fully comprehendible explanation for predestination and free will being married in the mind of God and expressed though the hearts of man.  Praise the Lord that he creates in me what he requires of me!
    v6-8.  Here God announces that he will be the God of this multitude of nations.  Interesting here how he will be God not just of the Jews but I take it to be of all the nations that come from Abraham..referring to the burning lights of all the saints of eternity past and future who have the obedience of faith.  This is a big verse where God establishes that he will be their God or “king” you might take it since he describes a kingdom with a realm or land and a people and a ruler.  He speaks of the land being an everlasting possession which can be seen ahead in revelation with the new Jerusalem (heaven).
    v9-14.  Here God speaks more of Abraham’s responsibility.  He tells Abraham that there will be a sign to mark this people to whom Almighty God will be their God.  Abraham is to circumcise all the men of his house and this is to include foreigners who are from outside his offspring but who are brought into his house by purchase…interesting.  Jesus purchased me from outside the people of God and I was adopted into the family of Abraham (1 Cor 6:19-20, Eph 2:11-14, Eph 1:5, Gal 3:7)!  I have a circumcised heart (Rom 2:28-29, Deut 30:6)!  Even this physical circumcision was only a sign of a spiritual circumcision of the heart that had to occur by the Spirit of God in order for any individual to actually be part of the remnant to be saved (Rom 2:28-29, Rom 11:5-8) and so we know that outward profession or belonging to a people group is not the matter but it is transformation of the heart by the Spirit of God that makes anyone a child of God (Rom 9:6-8).  Further there is some significance to the sign that God chose to separate his people from the world.  It is a sign given to the men only but that the women partake of in marriage through physical intimacy.  The sin nature is passed down by the man and yet it impacts the women. The part of a man that will procreate (give offspring though intimacy) and that will mark his devotion to his marriage covenant (blamelessness) or else his adultery and rebellion against this covenant will carry the mark of the covenant of God to accomplish what he has promised to accomplish through the very walking with God and blamelessness of the man of God.  This covenant will be kept to the hurt of the one bound to the promise and it shall be accomplished!
    v15-21.  Here God changes Sarai’s name to Sarah and declares with certainty that is will be her who bears the promised offspring who will be named Isaac.  He also refers to her here as his wife twice.  God does not acknowledge Hagar as a wife to Abraham in this text.  There is a teaching on marriage and divorce here that there is not time to get into.  God describes how Ishmael will receive some blessing of God due to his relation to Abraham and we see a picture of God keeping the promise to bless all the families of the earth through Abraham.  A picture of common grace perhaps.  Here in verse 21 is the promise that Sarah will bear a son this time next year!  This is the very promise that Paul refers to in Romans 9:9 and it seems to be related to the children of God coming by the promise of God and the keeping of that promise rather than by human actions like taken by Abram and Sarai with Hagar.  They are now the people of God and known as Abraham and Sarah and now Abraham will be intimate with his newly named wife bearing now for the first time the seal of the covenant of God upon himself (circumcision) and they will conceive miraculously the promised child!!!  We are children of promise and not children of the flesh!  God is good.
    v22-27.  Now Abraham here follows though and does as God has required in circumcision…and then probably hurried off to his tent with Sarah!  The chapter closes with the refreshing statement that Abraham circumcised the foreigners of his house.

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
No time!

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Matthew 16

Ready:
The previous chapter was about human traditions vs the purposes of God and about salvation reaching outside the Israelites and about the power of God.

Reading thoughts:
In this chapter I see Jesus explaining that there are signs already given and to come that have been specifically designed to reveal the promised offspring to the world and that we need to not request our own personal signs that simply announce our arrogance and ignoring of the intended signs.  I also see Jesus teach that the disciples are to be careful about to letting the teaching of the Pharisees to get mixed in with his message that they will carry.  I see a pivotal point where Peter confesses Jesus to be the Christ, or the promised offspring to save God’s people…the Messiah.  Things seem to change here because then Jesus starts telling them about the plan of his death and resurrection and he makes it clear that his purpose is to suffer and die in order that the many may live and escape the coming judgement.

Key Verses:

“1 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.” (Matthew 16:1, ESV)

“4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.” (Matthew 16:4, ESV)

“11 How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? 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 teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (Matthew 16:11–12, ESV)

“13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”” (Matthew 16:13, ESV)

“15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:15–17, ESV)

“21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” (Matthew 16:21, ESV)

“23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”” (Matthew 16:23, ESV)

“24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:24–25, ESV)

I see the them as- Those who look and listen will see him but indeed it will be God who convinces us of the truth and brings us into union with Christ in his suffering and death and resurrection unto life.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1.  Here the Pharisees do not come with sincerity to seek God but they come to challenge Jesus.
    v2-4.  Jesus responds by educating them that they already have signs that they are ignoring and that there will be one sign to come that is ultimate.  He refers of course to his resurrection from the dead after three days as Jonah came from the great fish after three days.  Jonah, of course felt that it was wrong for God to forgive the people of Nineveh because they were wicked and Jonah tried to avoid being the messenger of God to lead them to repentance.  Jonah wanted God’s justice to be manifested and he did not desire mercy.  Jesus, however, desired both.  He desired that the perfect justice of God be executed and that this be the very vessel to bring the mercy of God upon the world.  Jesus wants us to repent.  Jesus wants us to be forgiven and he died to make that happen.  Jonah was taken into the belly of the fish for three days against his will but Jesus went to he belly of death for three days in perfect obedience.  Jonah brought one message to Nineveh and it was a message of coming judgement.  This message was the message that John the Baptist prepared and Jesus continued.  The bridegroom is here and we are an unclean bride.  Judgement is upon us!  For the one who is looking to the signs of the scriptures and the promised Messiah the answer is clear…trust in the offspring and repent of your sins.  See the four chapters of the book of Jonah.
    v5-12.  Here Jesus warns of the teaching of the Pharisees which is an external righteousness based on outward appearances and what enters the body.  Jesus has been teaching that what matters is the heart and what comes out of us.  Jesus warns them to not mix the teaching of the pharisees or else it contaminates the entire message and makes it unclean and unworthy and powerless to save (Gal 1:6-9, 15-16).  Jesus also teaches that the feeding of the multitudes (both instances) was not about bread but about the teaching of God.  He helps us see that indeed he was teaching about the apostles delivering the message of God to the multitudes to feed their souls.
    v13-20.  Here is a specific location Jesus inquires of his disciples regarding their opinion of who he is.  Peter hits it on the head and pegs Jesus as the Messiah.  This is a more specific confession that was made by the group in chapter 14 where they said “truly you are the Son of God”.  What is better about this confession is that he is recognized as the promised offspring and therefore he has a specific purpose.  Sometimes the term “son of God” may be used to refer more generally to a believer or someone sent by God and although I have not studied that last confession at depth I can tell that this one is more absolute.  In this passage is also the controversial stamens about Peter and what the Catholic church takes to be the establishment of Peter as the first Pope.  However, Peter was not only corrected by Paul but also reported under James and was only one voice on the council and there is zero evidence of his total authority over the early church.  Perhaps it is on the rock of the confession of faith that the church will be built upon?  Perhaps it is on the witness of the apostles that the church will be built upon and Peter is the first to make this confession?  Options abound for exactly how to interpret this but the establishment of the Papency does not fit.  The phrase about binding on heaven and earth is used again shortly in the next chapter and it is speaking of church discipline which again is not such an easy thing to figure.  Not only Peter but other apostles as well were binding the enemy and loosing people from their sins and their bondage not by their own initiative or innate authority but only in following the lead of God as messengers.
    v21-23.  Here Jesus begins to give specific revelation to the disciples that they understand to mean that his is going to suffer and die.  Peter speaks up and his flesh immediately says no to this idea.  He does not want to loose Jesus and like Abram and Sarai warning to help accomplish the promise of the offspring now Peter, who just confessed Jesus to be the offspring, wants to protect him and help to bring about the promise of deliverance by this offspring.  Peter, like Abram and Sarai do not realize that God is in control and it is he who will do the work in his own way that will leave no glory to be had by man but only glory to God alone.  Man cannot fathom what God will do in the keeping of this covenant he made with Abram by passing through the carcasses alone.  The author of life will indeed be offered up on a cross for the sins of his people (people by promise, not by the flesh) and he will pay for their failure to keep the covenant with death and judgement and the full wrath of God to vindicate the justice of God and provide a righteous ground for his mercy.  Peter thinks it is right to stop this sacrifice…because he is looking at the situation from the flesh.  Jesus rebukes him and tells him essentially that the lie of the devil has contaminated his thinking.  He will not turn the rock into bread, he will not jump form the mountain top, he will not bow to the devil and he will not detour from his walk up the calvary road.  The Lion of the Tribe of Judah is the promised offspring and he is on mission and he will not be stopped.  The sky will darken, the earth will shake, the curtain will tear, hell will be raised and heaven opened before he fails to fulfill the mission given to him by his Father.
    v24-28.  Now Jesus re-orients Peter and the other disciples to the right view of the world and to suffering.  He explains to them that it is only the one who bears this cross and who follows Jesus into a death that will ever know life.  He explains that we can either life for this life in the world or we can die to his life in order to live for the sake of Christ.  Gain the world and death and judgment along with it or instead gain communion with God.  There will be a judgement where we are judged for our actions…and the context here is our actions regarding living for self or dying to self for the sake of the Christ.  He concludes with another hotly contested statement about some of these disciples not dying until they see the “Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”  I take this to be Jesus transfigured, crucified, resurrected, ascended, and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.  Judas for sure is dead before all of this transpires and these things surely mark the Kingdom of God being firmly established on the earth, as promised in the curse of the garden by the crushing of the head of the devil and the establishment of the church by the indwelling Spirit of God unifying his people in a way more powerful than circumcision of the flesh.

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
No time!

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Soli Deo Gloria!

January 15

Genesis 16; Matthew 15

Genesis 16

Ready:
The previous chapter is one of the most foundational in the whole Bible as I saw the unilateral covenant of God with Abram and the counting of faith as righteousness to Abram before he was circumcised and made to be the first Jew.  This chapter was a turning point in the history of salvation and a revelation of great significance.  Now moving on in the drama there is a shift to look at his wife.  This character shift marks a new message or thought.  Lord please give me eyes to see your story well and ears to receive the implications and a heart to value and apply your Word in my life.

Reading thoughts:
I see here Lord that Sarai is barren and that she doubts that indeed she will bear a child to Abram.  Although they recognized that a man and wife become one flesh (Gen 2:24) Sarai’s doubting brought Abram to the poor decision of taking a second wife and bearing a son by her.  Now Abram knows that the hinge pin is Sarai’s womb and then there is some friction between Hagar and Sarai that causes trouble in the marriage and in the community of Abram’s people.

Key Verses:

“1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.” (Genesis 16:1–2, ESV)

“5 And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the Lord judge between you and me!”” (Genesis 16:5, ESV)

“15 And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.” (Genesis 16:15–16, ESV)

I see the theme here as- Abram falls into error with Sarai and he bears a son outside of the clear intent of God for them.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-3.  Here Sarai and Abram blow it and think again that they will need to help God accomplish his will by doing something artificial and knowingly wrong.  Like Adam who listened to Eve when she was deceived by the serpent here Abram listens to Sarai and makes a poor decision.
    v4-14.  Here is the conflict building in the storyline and the introduction of a new character in Ishmael.  Hagar and Sarai are at odds and perhaps Hagar looks down on Sarai because of her barrenness.  Sarai realizes their error and blames Abram…as she should.  Abram failed to be the man he is called to be and he took ill advice from his bride.
    v15-16.  Here is a summary that points out the error of Abram.  He bears a son, but not the promised son.  Abram did not pass through the carcasses and this covenant rests on the faithfulness of the Lord so this event will not put the promise into question but it illustrates our tendency to try to manipulate what we think God is doing and to not simply rest in his promises.

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    1.  I hear Moses teaching that Abram and Sarai were wrong to take this into their own hands.  The implication here is that we must be patient and allow God to work in his timing and in his way.  I find the significance in my life to be that I must trust that God will bring about his purposes even through the struggles of life and that I need not be fearful that it relies on me figuring out how to accomplish what God has set forth to do.

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Matthew 15

Ready:
Picking up from the last cheater where John the Baptist died and the torch was officially passed to the NT times of Jesus carrying the message of God’s revelation to humanity.

Reading thoughts:
I see Jesus come against the traditions of men that would hinder obedience to God and love for others.  I see Jesus refer to a vain worship that does not come from the heart.  I see Jesus correct a false teaching of man with a truth very deep that establishes where defilement and guilt before God come from. I also see Jesus work right through his revealed focus on the lost sheep of Israel to heal a Caananite woman’s daughter due to an amazing faith that she displays that reminds me of the Roman Centurion.  Jesus again heals many and then again feeds a multitude.


Key Verses:

“3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?” (Matthew 15:3, ESV)

“7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: 8 “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”” (Matthew 15:7–9, ESV)

“10 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”” (Matthew 15:10–11, ESV)

“13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”” (Matthew 15:13–14, ESV) 

“18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.” (Matthew 15:18, ESV)

“27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.” (Matthew 15:27–28, ESV)

I see the theme as- Jesus announces that it is a heart that delights in God and therefore honors God above all selfish motives and pride.  This heart can be had be Jew or Gentile.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-6.  Here Jesus destroys the Pharisees who try to tell him they are doing wrong by not following a tradition invented by man in their worship.  Jesus goes straight to the heart and reverses this on them because he indicates that their hearts are far from God.  They prefer human tradition over serving the Lord according to his word because they benefit this way.  He cites the example that they withhold taking care of their parents because they devote their belongings to God so and then claim that they cannot sell or give these things to help their aging parents.  This is carnal and wrong and Jesus announces them to be hypocrites who would use supposed religious piety to serve themselves.  He tells them that they make void the word of God by their selfish use of it.  This is the same as not healing or helping another on the Sabbath.
    v7-9.  Here Jesus makes clear that there are many religious things we can do that would have an appearance of worship and spiritual service and goodness but if we do these good things with wrong motives or with hearts that are not sincere and lifted to God is submission, then we worship in vain and we are hypocrites.  There is a way to sing songs to the Lord and attend church and read my Bible and pray that dishonors God.  Worship is a matter of the heart and not a matter of my actions.
    v10-20.  So Jesus makes it plain here that following traditions of men will not keep me from being defiled because defilement comes from within.  There is not something I can do that will introduce defilement, but it is what I do that demonstrates the defilement within me.  Failing to have the obedience of faith defiles me but there is no obedience to man made traditions required of me.
    v21-28.  Next Jesus shows that a person who keeps no traditions or customs of the Jewish faith can have a heart that seeks God and a faith that saves.  Here Jesus breaks his announced purpose of seeking out the lost sheep of Israel for the sake of a woman demonstrating the obedience of faith.  He seems to have been “taking a break” or something by coming into this Gentile area where he encounters this woman.  He has purpose for all he does!  She knows that the blessing of God to Abraham is meant to bless more than just the physical family and she suggests that others can feed off of the blessings to Abraham.  Jesus gives a hearty approval to this faith and he grants her request with joy.  He clear tested her faith and her understanding here and shows us a reality in it.  The children of Abraham are those with the obedience of faith, not those who are direct descendants or “children of the flesh” but rather “children of the promise” (Rom 9:8).
    v29-39.  Jesus continues to heal and many glorify God as they see him at work and then he again feeds a multitude before leaving the region.

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    1.  Matthew records Jesus teaching the implication to never use supposed religious requirements to disguise evil intentions.  The significance to me is that I cannot leave my family in the lurch because God “requires” me to do such and such in humble service to him…while they feel left in the cold.  Hmmm…maybe there is a message in this text for me?
    2.  Jesus teaches that there is such a thing as vain worship and the implication is that true worship involves the heart that is devoted to God above all and that the actions are a response to this.  The significance for me is that I need to check my motives always and seek heart change more than change in my outward worship.
    3.  Jesus teaches that the Gentiles who trust in the God of the Jews for salvation may be healed.  The implication is that anyone who would trust in God may be saved (Rom 10:13).  Anyone may receive the blessings of Abraham (Rom 4:9-12).  When I say anyone I mean that God has planned for the multitudes and we know not all of his sheep until they come in (Rom 11:25).  All whom he calls recognize his voice and respond to his call (John 10:3, Rom 8:30) and he calls some sheep that are not from the same flock (John 10:16).

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Soli Deo Gloria!

January 14

Genesis 15; Matthew 14

Genesis 15

Ready:
The last chapter showed me Abram going after Lot when he was taken captive in the battle between the kings.  Abram was successful in rescuing him by the hand of the Lord and Abram then tithed and was blessed by the Melchizedek king of Salem.  Let me hear your message here Lord and may you grant me understanding and submission to the authority of your Word.

Reading thoughts:
I see in this chapter the amazing unilateral covenant of God with Abram.  I see Abram’s trust in God’s spoken Word counted to him as righteousness.

Key Verses:

“3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.”” (Genesis 15:3, ESV)

“5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:5–6, ESV)

“7 And he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.” 8 But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?”” (Genesis 15:7–8, ESV)

“12 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years.” (Genesis 15:12–13, ESV)

“17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,” (Genesis 15:17–18, ESV)

I see the theme as- God declares that it will be for his own sake that he will keep his promises and that he will be faithful and it will not rest on the faithfulness of Abram that he shall do this thing that he has declared first to Adam and Eve and then to Noah and now to Abram.  He will indeed deliver a people from sin and death by the offspring of Eve as he has spoken because he is the unstoppable God of all creation who has set his love upon us.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-3.  Here Abram asks the Lord to keep his promise.  Abram is told by God that his reward shall be great for his selfless actions of faith in rescuing Lot and Abram’s response is to see if God would consider the reward to be the offspring he is waiting for.  Abraham basically says that all he sees now is that a member of his “household” would be the closest thing to a descendant so far.
    v4-6.  Here God makes a double statement to Abram by asking him to look to the sky and count the stars.  He illustrates that just as he created the multitude of stars in the sky by the power of his Word so too can he give Abram an offspring with no more than the thought of his infinite and unstoppable mind.  He says “So shall your offspring be” and this refers to the quantity and the quality.  I hear God promising that it will be him that brings the offspring, not Abram’s manipulations (like with telling lies to Pharaoh about who Sarai is to him).  I also hear God promising Abram that his offspring will be numerous and as brilliant lights that declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1, Rev 7:9-12).  And I take this vast multitude of offspring to be the inheritance of Jesus (choir of burring lights) that he looks at from the cross and brings him joy in and satisfaction in the seeing (Eph 1:18, Isaiah 53:10-11, Heb 12:2).  These are promises that he will keep through many future actions of God and through many actions of men in the coming drama of the story of redemption that we are reading.  Here God counts Abram righteous and this means that it is not his own righteousness since it is “counted” to him.  Here God tells the world that anyone who trusts him can and will be declared righteous before God with God's own righteousness, which we will lean to be his Son (Rom 10:3-4, Rom 3:22) despite their sin and despite their not being part of some special family by birth (Rom 3:23-24, 4:11, 20-25, Rom 9:8, Gal 3:7).  Note that God declared Abram righteous before he changed his name and before he told him to circumcise himself…before Abram became the first Jew.  Yes salvation is from the Jews but is is for all who would become a Jew by faith (Rom 2:28-29, Gal 3:26-29)!
    v7-8.  God reminds Abram of what he has already done for him and Abram, trusting God- I believe, asks now how he can know that he will possess it.  I take this perhaps to be Abram questing himself and his ability to do what God is saying because God’s response is not one of curse like the angel had for Zechariah when he doubted the prophecy concerning his own son.  Instead God’s response is to declare to Abraham that it will be him alone who accomplishes this mighty thing that is never meant to be a celebration of the faith of the one loved but a celebration of the glory of the one who loves.  Salvation is about the glory of God and not the value of man.  If God’s choice to save is about my value then I am tore up and without hope when I consider my sin and my weakness and my heart that is inclined to evil. But when I understand God’s choice to save to be about the glory of God he lifts my head and he conquers my sin to the praise of his glorious name!
    v9-11.  Here God has Abram prepare a common covenant ritual where both parties would walk between the torn carcasses in agreement that each will keep their end or else they would be sawn in two like these animals.  This would be a binding covenant resulting in death to the party that did not perform.
    v12-16.  Here God interrupts as Abram waits for God to direct him now that the ritual has been set-up.  God puts a sleep upon Abram and gives him a vision with a declaration that there is certainty of the things to come.  He describes the future of the people of Israel and even indicates their captivity in Egypt (which will require unborn descendants to sin against their brother to bring about and then the sin of Pharaoh in holding the Israelites so that God judges Egypt).  So God declares that these things are certain even though they include the many choices and actions of people.
    v17-21.  Here God wakes Abram from the vision of the future to now see what God is doing for him in the present.  He wakes to see God, in the form of a smoking fire pot (foreshadowing how he will show his presence to the Israelites in a column of smoke or fire) passing between the carcasses without him!  God was supposed to bring Abram through with him so that both parties are bound to the agreement!  "I will be their God and they will be my people”…we are supposed to be bound to be his people!  Why does God leave Abram on the sidelines as he himself establishes this covenant alone?  Moses narrates for us and tells us that on this day God made a covenant with Abram to give his offspring this land.  This covenant does not rest in any sense upon Abram but solely upon God to keep.  This helps us know why God declares over and over as he deals with the unfaithful Israelites things like “for my own sake I will do it” (Isaiah 48:11).  How then does his promise rely on my decision to have faith?  (See Eph 2:8, Acts 11:18, 2 Tim 2:25, Rom 4:16-17).  God gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist!  What was the context of this statement there in Romans 4…search for it.  What is he talking about with this life to the dead and making things exist by a call (Rom 11:28-30, Acts 2:39, Rom 1:5-7)?  And then- Am I saved for my sake or for the glory of God in keeping his promise in order to show the sinfulness of the sin committed in the garden and the glory of his holy name to a multitude of nations and tongues who will live and be saved by his mighty hand?  Is this a story about me or about our amazing God?  Is the question “why does he let good people that he loves go to hell” or “why does he slay his Son to save some of the God haters who defile his name with every breath and thought until he would mercifully give some a new heart?”  Is hell an injustice and heaven fair and right?  Or is hell fair and right and heaven the glorious riches of the mercy of God upon those whom he freely chooses from the pagan idol worshipers in the plains of Haran?  This is the epic story of God’s revelation of himself to us!!

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    1.  I hear God declare that he puts his own truth on the line and his own name on the line and his own glory on the line with regard to keeping his promise to Abram.  The implication of this is that God intends to do a work and he will do it.  The significance is that I can trust that God will work in me to kill sin and to love others and to give me hope and to be my strength and that I can trust that he will complete the work he has begun in me.  I can trust that my faith is a gift and he will bring me across the finish line.  I, like Abram, can step forward in faith that the promise is a done deal and I can walk as one victorious.
    2.  I hear Moses teach that the righteousness of God is counted to him in the same manner that he declares me righteous by faith in the truthfulness of God in his promise of offspring.  The implication is that righteousness does not come from self accomplishment or religious duty but it comes by trusting God through the person and work of his Son.  The implication for me is that I do not need to work for my salvation but I need to trust God to have clothed me in the righteousness of his Son and trust that he will bring the fruit in my life as I walk in the obedience of faith.
    3.  I hear Moses teach that it is the people of faith that are sons of Abraham and therefore sons of God.  The implication is that Christ is available to save all who will trust in his name.  Will I trust?  Will I have faith?  Who is the one who trusts in God?  The significance for me is that I am in the family of God and I am part of his choir of burning lights to the glory of his name and not to the value of mine.  I rejoice that my salvation rests not upon me but upon the covenant of God to hold true to his Word.  This is not a weak Word that leaves me to muddle and toil in sin with some empty guarantee that my living and my desires and my thoughts and my actions do not matter…nope.  He gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.  He will make me like his Son and he will do much of that work here and now because that is what grace does (Titus 2:11-15, 1 Thess 5:23-24)!

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Matthew 14

Ready:
In this chapter we are coming from a series of parables by Jesus and now there is a shift in the setting and the characters to indicate something different being taught.

Reading thoughts:
I see the death of the last of the OT prophets and the striking symbolism given by Jesus to his disciples to teach that they will deliver his Word to mankind and they will indeed feed his sheep (John 21:17).  He further helps them to see that this word they deliver is the very Word of God.

Key Verses:

“9 And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given. 10 He sent and had John beheaded in the prison,” (Matthew 14:9–10, ESV)

“19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.” (Matthew 14:19, ESV)

I see the theme as -The new revelation from God has arrived and it will go forth at the hand of the apostles with the very power of God.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-12.  It looks like Herod the tetrarch believed that John was Elijah come from the dead (close but a little off) but because of an oath he took he sorrowfully orders the beheading of this prophet of God as a result of John calling all out of this sin and Herodias being offended.  The law of God offends those who want to justify themselves and the OT here comes to a full close with the death of the final prophet (Luke 11:49, Acts 7:52).  But John’s job is complete!
    v13-21.  Here I take this miracle to be the transition of how God spoke in the OT through prophets and angels but now through his Son and his Son is only here teaching for 3 years and then the Word will go through the apostles to the ends of the earth.  Here the Word or the “bread of life” is blessed by Jesus, handed to the apostles, and distributed to all who hunger.  There is a message there.
    v22-33.  Then Jesus shows them a miracle that results in their perception that he is the Son of God without question.  The Word that they are given comes not from a prophet but from God himself, come among us as a man.  Their power is not their own but it comes by the command of God and his call to step onto the water.  When they rely on self or believe the lie that God does not reign over their circumstances then they start to sink.  Jesus reaches out and is their rescue and the one who will keep them afloat.  He will not allow their faith to fail for it is his gift to them (Luke 22:31-32).
    v34-36.  I take the final paragraph here in closing this passage to be the display of the power of God extending beyond the flesh of Jesus.  His very clothing carries his power and so certainly his people can.  Only those who touched his garment were healed.  It took faith in action…obedience of faith for the sick to be healed.

Meaning, Implications, and Significance:
    1.  I hear Matthew teaching that the transition from the OT to the NT is complete.  The implications is that from here the proclamation of God relies on the God-man Jesus and his followers.  The significance is that I carry this message and it is up to me to be a proclaimer of the truth.  Jesus is in heaven and the prophets are all dead and the apostles are all dead…who is left?
    2.  I hear Matthew teach that Jesus has power over creation and over sin and illness and he gives this power to his apostles when they will trust him and put their focus on him.  The implication is that the power of God goes with the messengers of God.  The significance to me is that I can manifest the power of God here on earth when I trust Jesus and carry the message of the gospel.

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Soli Deo Gloria!