January 24th One Year Bible Readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Genesis 48:1-49:33 ~ Matthew 15:29-16:12
Psalm 20:1-9 ~ Proverbs 4:20-27

Old Testament - Today in Genesis Chapter 48 we read about Jacob blessing Ephraim and Manasseh!  One thing I thought about when reading this chapter and the next chapter was how interesting it is that blessings had so much importance and significance back in the days of the patriarchs.  And I wonder - do we have blessings today that are as significant?  Do fathers bless kids or grandkids these days?  Maybe so...  I guess I just haven't noticed it in my family...  :)  I do think there are still some "blessings" today that hold some incredible significance today.  Wedding vows come to mind and the blessings that come from the pastor/priest/minister during this time.  Church ceremonies or rituals come to mind - Communion, Baptism, Funerals, etc.  And then certainly above all else, there is the amazing and eternal blessing we receive from Jesus himself - the free blessing and free gift of salvation.  What else is there today that I'm missing?  Have you been "blessed" by others in some way, like we read about in today's 2 chapters?  Have you "blessed" others?  Please share in the Comments section below.  Below is a painting by the American artist Benjamin West from the early 19th century of Jacob blessing Ephraim and Manasseh - and with his arms appropriately crossed as per the text :) -

In Genesis chapter 49 we read about Jacob blessing his sons - and these are some very accurate blessings he gives as we will see as we continue through the Bible this year.  Perhaps Predictions or Prophecies might be the better term for Jacob's blessings in this chapter.   Verse 10 is awesome: "The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will obey."  This verse can apply to 2 descendants of Judah - King David and then ultimately and eternally to Jesus.  In verse 22 we read this about Joseph: "Joseph is a fruitful tree,"  And this is certainly true, as his descendants will include Joshua, Deborah & Gideon & Jephthah (3 judges of Israel), and Samuel the prophet.  Below is an image of Jacob blessing his 12 sons:

Below is a map that should be helpful to review based on today's blessing from Jacob of his sons.  Obviously we still need to get through the Exodus and a few other things before the twelve tribes have this land below :), but this is a nice overview for now of where things are going and correlate with Jacob's blessing in today's readings:

Bible.org's commentary on Genesis chapter 48 titled "The View from the Graveyard" is at this link and commentary on chapter 49 titled "The Purpose of Prophecy" is at this link. 

New Testament - In Matthew chapter 16 verses 11 & 12 stood out to me today: "So again I say, `Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.' " Then at last they understood that he wasn't speaking about yeast or bread but about the false teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees."  And I wonder today - are there false teachings that we should beware of today?   I believe there are...  and there have been times in my life where I have bought into false teaching's.  How can we know if a teacher is false?  That is a great question.  I would say that each of you are doing an amazing thing to help discern whether a teacher is false by reading the entire Bible.  I believe the Bible to be the ultimate Truthful teaching that we can read - and thus, if you come across teachers that differ radically or go against the teachings of the Bible, you need to be wary.  Don't get me wrong - every pastor / minister / priest is going to have some different takes or views or interpretations of the Bible.  By slight degrees...  If there are major differences, then you should be worried.  In addition to knowing the Bible relatively well, the key to discerning false teachers will be the Holy Spirit.  If you are getting bad "gut feelings" (hopefully coming from the Holy Spirit) over and over again about a teacher, there might be an issue.  Pray to God about this and ask for his guidance.  I realize this can be a sensitive issue!  I'd say don't freak out about this and start wondering if your pastor is a false teacher....  :)  But, be aware.  I do believe there are still false teachers out and about today unfortunately.  If you ever feel like you are being confused by someone today, keep your eye on the way out of confusion through God's Word!

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Matthew chapter 15 titled "A Lesson in Hermeneutics" is at this link.

Psalms - Psalm 20 is a prayer for a king as he goes out into battle - check out verses 1 through 5 again and you can imagine a group of people saying these words to the king.  Maybe another way to read this Psalm, personally, is as a prayer for yourself as you go out into battle against a sin or a struggle in your life.  And this verse 5 then is for you as you go into this battle: "May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory, flying banners to honor our God. May the LORD answer all your prayers."  Amen! Let the banners fly soon in your life!

Proverbs - Proverbs chapter 4 verse 23 holds so much truth... "Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do."  Check out yesterday's posting below for tons more reflections on why it is so critical for us to guard our hearts.  How are you doing on guarding your heart these days?

We would do well to obey the teaching of verse 24: "Avoid all perverse talk; stay far from corrupt speech." I have found it sometimes far too easy to be pulled into perverse talk - even if I didn't start it. (look at me - blaming others here! :) I do think we really need to be aware of situations where talk amongst our peers or friends is going in the wrong direction and to realize that we need to get ourselves out of these situations as quickly as possible.  Sure, try to do it gracefully.  Try to change the subject if you can.  But if not, just excuse yourself and get out of Dodge...

YouTube:  Not directly related to today's readings, but below is an amazing video from The Bible Experience.  I've been listening to The Bible Experience a lot recently, and it is fantastic!  I now some of our participants this year are actually going through the One Year Bible using The Bible Experience.  Also, fyi there is a new free daily podcast of The Bible Experience that you can subscribe to or listen to the MP3's at this link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/TBEPodcasts

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture this week: "I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:11 NIV

Comments from You and Questions of the Day:  Proverbs verses 25 & 26 are powerful and bring up a question I'd love feedback on: "Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; then stick to the path and stay safe."  One thing that stood out to me in these verses is the ideas of setting goals.  Are you a goal setter?  I honestly am not really.  I mean, I kind of set short-term goals - work projects, ministry projects, etc.  But I don't really sit down and write down any big lifetime type goals.  Part of my thinking on this is that I want to be as flexible as possible - if Jesus calls me to do something, I don't want to be hung up on some other goal...  :)   But, I'm not sure if this is the best thinking.  This Proverb verse kind of makes me wonder if setting goals helps us keep looking straight ahead?  If goals help us mark out a straight path for our feet?  And to stay on it?   So, let me know in the Comments section below if you are a goal-setter?  And to the extent you can share how you set goals?  How often?  In writing?  How often do you check back in on your goals?  Do they make a difference in your life?  In your spiritual life?  I am really curious on this one...  I am thinking I might need to be setting some goals here!  :)  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

Comments

[Stuart Farmer]

Oh! How I do try to live up to Prov. 4:20 - 27. As for the giving and receiving of blessings, 'tis certainly important to me. I have rarely consciously 'set goals'. But have always strived to complete that which I started.

[D]

You know, at my wedding, there were toasts given at the toasting time. But because of the people toasting us, they were very little to do with wise and pithy comments before slugging back champage, and more to do with the prophetic blessings we just read about.

One person wished us trouble so that we could grow. And we've certainly not lacked for trouble, but we have grown much more than I ever thought possible. One person bequeathed us one to another and all ofthe idiosyncracies involved there. One person blessed us with romance. I think we can imagine the blessings of those moments and how very seldom we actually get to bless a marriage and hold our hands over them.

[SissySue]

Israel blesses Ephraim over Manasseh (the firstborn).

Jacob stole the blessing of the firstborn from his brother, Esau. Later told that "God loved Jacob but Esau he hated."

"Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow.”

Is this in reference to Shechem, when Dinah's brothers took revenge? Shechem is modern day Palestinian Nablus.

[John]

Psalm 20

Psalm 20 is mostly ceremony before a battle in Israel. The psalm is addressed to the king, but the psalm is REALLY all about God.

- it is God's protection that is sought for the king
- God's support that will determine the success of the king,
- and God's receiving of the king's prayers that will bring the victory.

God is sovereign. God is in charge. God's Will will be done. When people trust in, rely on, and depend on God much happens:

- blessings in Israel in O.T.
- salvation
- an enhanced Christian walk.

APPLICATION VERSES:
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

8 They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.

You can trust in the things of the world or you can trust in the Lord's name. Our Lord is Jesus Christ. Jesus, "Yeshua" in Hebrew, means : Jehova is salvation.

No living human or dead human is salvation, no rituals, no offerings, nor suffering is salvation. Salvation is of God.

If you do not trust in and believe that, but believe in things of the world - you are lost, defeated, and will be brought to your knees.

If you trust in and believe in Jesus, then one can rise up and stand firm in the imputed righteousness given by God at salvation. You are then a child of God and a co-heir to heaven.

[Note: How firm you stand is a topic that will be mentioned throughout the year. Hint: Trusting in, relying on, and depending on God does not stop at Salvation.]

jmikeadams@msn.com
2008

[Susan]

First goals, then blessings..

Goals: I do write down goals following Luke 2:52. "Jesus grew in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God, and man." This was originally the 4-H scripture until the International 4-H program has decided to take any reference of God out of their clubwork.

Anyway, as a former 4Her...we talked about improving our head, heart, hands, and health.

This year, my goal to improve my "Head" or wisdom is to read 50 books. I have done this for several years. I think it is growing one of God's gift to me, my mind. To grow my "Heart" I am reading through the Bible for a fourth time. I try to read through different versions. I grew up in a legalistic background that emphasized the King James so, it is nice to get different perpectives. To grow my "Hands" or service to man kind..my husband and I are trying to open our home once a month and share fellowship. Our home is small, but it is a blessing to be used for God's glory. God, can even use small space to bless us and others. Finally, to grow in health, I'm trying to fit exercise into my busy schedule of keeping up with 3 kids under 3..just some simple stretching to keep my aging body lose and limber until my children grow up enough and I can get back into running again.

Some other goals, or projects on the horizon: leading a teenage girls Bible study and leading a Bible study at the pregnancy center.

A blessing: At our wedding, we had Numbers 6 "May the Lord bless you and keep you"...sung to the Irish blessing. I pray that we will pass that tradition down to our children. Later, I noticed in my husband's grandmother had those verses in Numbers 6 underlined in her Bible

My husband's father also read Esp. 3:15-19 at our wedding. " I pray that you may know how wide and how long and how high and how deep the love of God is."

[Vicki]

I had a wonderful experience last year. A friend's daughter was going off to college, so we had a luncheon for her (surprise) where everyone gave her a blessing as she left home. It was very moving and set her on her way as she started this new chapter in her life.

Also, I am "reading" the Bible this year by listening to The Bible Experience. It opens up the words with a new life that I find very uplifting. Thank you, Mike, for bringing this to my attention last year - I immediately went out and got the complete Bible and have enjoyed every minute of it.

[John]

Proverbs 4:20-27

As an exercise one might go back or in the future replace the word "wisdom" with "Jesus". Do not be distressed about the feminine pronouns associated with wisdom. Wisdom is an attribute and by necessity is feminine in the Hebrew.
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23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life. (NIV)

The heart is important in Scripture. God loved David (despite his flaws and sins) because David had a heart for God. The prophets mention turning back to God and circumcising one's heart - that is getting rid of the worldly, stony part and having the heart for God. When you come to salvation, you must have the right heart. God will know your heart - you cannot con him with a surface prayer or a half-hearted plea. God wants ALL of you.

When we are saved we are given a regenerated heart. A heart for God. What does Satan do when he loses someone to God. Does he just say - "Ahh, oh well God wins and leaves us alone"? No, it is a war between Satan and God, and Satan administers "damage control".

His damage control? Distraction, temptation, and lies whispered in our ear about the body of Christ are some that come to mind. Ever wonder why it is so hard as an early Christian to stay in God's word on a daily basis? How so often the temptations you get are perfectly tailored to hit your hot spots and trigger a sinful reaction? Ever wonder why so many Christians attending churches often seem to come up with complaints, griping, or gossip about the way things are done, how they are not included, how ungodly other Christians can sometimes be in life? I assure you it is no accident.

What can we do? (softer) What can we do?

Come back to this verse in proverbs. Guard your heart. Develop a submissive heart for God, and let God handle it, for you cannot do it on your own. Pray for God to give you the grace and strength to stay in his Word. Pray for God to provide the escape (from temptation) that he promised us in the bible. Have a heart for God and love God with all your heart, soul and mind. Love your fellow man - especially the body of Christ (other Christians). Let God handle the other Christians in your church and the world. You just go and worship God, joyfully give, and love the other members.

Guard your heart and give it to God always in every way and every day. Guard your heart for it is the wellspring (source) of life. for those saved that is not just life here, but eternal life - for that is what we are given at our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. God is sovereign, and we will do the things he has planned for us in this life on earth. But will we do them with a heart for God? If we do, then one will hear the words in heaven - 'Well done good and faithful servant."

jmikeadams@msn.com
2008

[John]

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand

This year I am going to concentrate on psalms and proverbs. Perhaps Mike would be kind enough to post any past New or Old Testament postings that he thinks are appropriate.
======================================================
Why repeat a story or miracle??????

The critics of the Bible may say - Oh that bible, just a mishmash of writings, nice platitudes, doesn't seem to be written very logically, etc.

Here a story of the feeding of a multitude is repeated. Big deal - seen it before. Been there and done that. So why include it in the writings of the Bible? What does the Holy Spirit and God have in mind? What is God saying to us?

Well, there are differences.

The first feeding was in Israel, and the audience was Jewish. The twelve baskets of leftover food may very well symbolize the twelve tribes of Israel.

This feeding in Matt15 was not in Israel. The audience was Gentile (anyone not Jewish). The seven baskets? Maybe they symbolize the seven continents (something only God would know about at this time), or maybe it was seven tribes that were driven by canaan to this part of the world?????

More importantly - what is God saying to us? I believe that the message is that Jesus came to provide salvation for both the Jew and Gentile. (This would run counter to what the Jewish faith of the time believed about God's plan.) Jesus came to show that God would provide (if a person believes) the sustenance one needs to live an eternal life. God would not only provide this, but he would provide it in abundance - in an overflowing way (hence the leftovers). God has compassion for not just the Jews but also the Gentiles, and He is providing a solution for all so that none may perish.

jmikeadams@msn.org
2008

[Jim]

#1 Christian myth: Reading the Bible is the same as good works.

Biblical knowledge is only a tool that helps us grow, but growth is not enough. For example, what was the sin of the tree that Jesus destroyed? The tree took from the earth and heaven but gave nothing back. Growth for growth’s sake was not enough – the fruit was the problem. The tree was growing but was not producing any fruit. Prayer can be a sin when worshiped as Gideon did in Judges (and becomes the only Old Testament Judge that failed to save his people) just as Biblical knowledge can only puff one up. And, reading the Bible and getting it right has helped slowly break up the church through reformational churches, Great Awakening denominations and non-denominational churches, and now home churches as people said, "I know the Bible better than my pastor/priest, why should I go there?". Reading the Bible is only a reasonable goal when used for the greater purpose of being fruitful. What fruit? Well, Paul referred to the first converts in Achaia as the “first fruit” (1 Cor. 16:15), identifying numerical growth of the church as being of foremost importance for being fruitful. Sincerity is NEVER enough.

An important real-life example is how most all political scientists agree the greatest reason why there is such great hunger and violence in Africa is specifically the support efforts by Christian relief funds trying to help (so great as to equal 10% of the continent’s GNP). When food shipments stop and doctors fighting disease go home even more children die as it is just like removing morphine injections from the body of an addict. African governments (less than three decades old) are far more violent and poorly organized specifically to the corrupting influence of removing the moral obligations for social services. Just as a parent must let a child fail and perform poorly to improve rather than doing a job themselves, we must support the existing social service systems no matter how corrupt they may seem if we really want the world to get better instead of just feeling special about ourselves. It’s always better to teach someone to fish than to give them a fish, but missionaries are just beginning to practice such wisdom. When asked what help we can give, most experienced foreigners plead, “Just don’t send money.” Sadly, the world would be a better place if rapture had only long ago wiped out Christians whose sincere, but ungodly, efforts have been plainly less than nothing. Moreover, marketing surveys show that people donate, in fact, generally not for a concern for those being helped but for the need to feeling good about doing the "right" thing.

Don't read the Bible because it fulfills some goal that will make you feel better about yourself after you're done. Knowledge is not power, application is power. When I ask people why they haven't converted and baptized, they most often respond with needing more Bible knowledge. Well, I know of 4,000 people with 3 weeks of additional Bible knowledge. How about some stories how people are putting this knowledge to godly purposes? Thanks.

Too often we build our self-worth only on the number of our goals we have succeeded rather than how closely we have stayed true to God's vision for our lives. Goals are important, but we don't want to be goal-driven but purpose-driven (thank you Rick W). Goals only tell us that we're moving, not whether it's in the right direction. This is the difference between a Mission statement (how to move) and a strong and legitimate vision (the only thing that gives us the path). A true vision is something we can never reach (when are we, for example, finished working for God?). Rick Warren states in the Purpose Driven Church that Jesus’ five New Testament life purposes (not goals) are to “Love the Lord with all your heart,” “Love your neighbor as I have loved you (which is infinitely greater than as you love yourself),” “Go and make disciples,” “Baptize them,” and “Teach them to obey.”

[Benny]

Quote from the commentary (http://bible.org/page.php?page_id=126), the 4th paragraph from below

"Isn’t it interesting that God chose Jacob to be Israel, the patriarch. Joseph, who by far, is the most pious of the group is passed over in that no tribe is named after him. He is not the forefather of Messiah, but Judah, who had failed with his sons and who was intending to have an illicit relationship with a Canaanite prostitute, is. Neither was Joseph to be the one through whom the priesthood would be named, but Levi, the brother who had deceived the men of Shechem and slaughtered the men of that city. That, my friend, is election. And that is precisely why we should be encouraged. For God may take material as unlikely and unpromising as you and I and do great and wonderful things through us."

Ruben: firstborn but stripped of his birthright because of the adultery

Simeon: secondborn but also stripped of his birthright because of the massacre

Levi: thirdborn but also stripped of his birthright because of the massacre, but he became the head of the priesthood line, with no inheritance (given to one of Joseph's son)

Judah: fourthborn, commited adultery, begot King David and Jesus Christ.

Joseph: the loved son, didn't receive inheritance, instead his two sons each get one (one is taken from his fater, one from Levi).

That is one complex blessing...