January 21st One Year Bible Readings

Genesis 42:18-43:34 ~ Matthew 13:47-14:12 ~ Psalm 18:16-36 ~ Proverbs 4:7-10
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Old Testament - Hi everyone - I'm a bit short on time today, so here is a brief OT post.  Bible.org's commentary on Genesis chapter 42 titled "The Proper Use of Power" is at this link and commentary on Genesis chapter 43 titled "The fears of Jacob and the tears of Joseph" is at this link.

New Testament - Today in Matthew chapter 13 verse 54 we read about Jesus going to his hometown of Nazareth where he was raised as a child.  Jesus was born in Bethlehem, as we know, but raised in Nazareth, where Mary & Joseph met and married and returned after their flight to Egypt after Jesus' birth.  Below is a NASA photo courtesy of ebibleteacher.com that shows where Nazareth is located in comparison to Bethlehem and Jerusalem:

In verse 57 we read this when Jesus was in Nazareth:  "Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor."" This verse remind me that sometimes when we really move forward in our faith, our friends (“hometown” from the verse above) and our relatives can sometimes not understand what is going on with us. I think there are phases of our walk with God where really it becomes very personal – between us and God – and through that process God will transform us. And our friends and relatives sometimes may not appreciate our change for various reasons – just as Jesus’ friends and relatives did not appreciate his ministry in this verse. I hope that this verse can be of comfort to you if by chance you are having challenges reconciling your faith and your changed heart with your friends & relatives expectations of who you were in the past. Know that you are on the right path. As long as you are staying focused on God and his will for your life, you may have to accept some loss of “honor” (per the verse above) in your status with your friends and relatives. You may not seem to be as “cool” or “fun” or whatever as you once were in your friends’ eyes. But – if in God’s eyes you are loving Him with all of your heart and you are loving your neighbors as yourself, then you are eternally cool and fun in the Kingdom of Heaven. And that’s where it really counts. Where are you seeking “honor” in your life today? In the eyes of your friends and relatives – or in God’s eyes?

Today we read about the beheading of John the Baptist.  I found this painting below by the Italian artist Caravaggio from the year 1610 titled "Salome with the Head of St. John the Baptist."  I almost hesitated to post this painting up, but I think it's worth us considering.  This is what happened to the man who proclaimed Jesus' ministry was coming.  This is what happened to the man who baptized Jesus in the Jordan.  And of course this brutality pales in comparison to what Jesus went through on the road to Golgotha.  This painting below and thinking about Jesus' passion, suffering, and death just made me think that sometimes following God does not lead strictly to "health and wealth."  But sometimes truly following God leads to suffering and poverty.  But - and here's the key but - it also leads to eternal life!  So, no, perhaps many/most/all of us will not go through what John went through in today's readings or in this painting below.  But you know what, if we are truly following God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, I think we need to realize that this type of thing can happen.  But if this type of thing happens while pursuing and loving Jesus with all that you are, then it's of course worth it because Jesus will raise you up on the other side!

Psalms - There are so many great verses today for us to meditate upon in Psalm 18!  I love verses 25 through 27: "To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity. To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the wicked you show yourself hostile. You rescue those who are humble, but you humiliate the proud."  Are you showing yourself to be faithful to God?  Are you living with integrity?  Are you showing yourself to be pure?  Is God showing you these things as well?

I really love verse 28: "LORD, you have brought light to my life; my God, you light up my darkness."   Has Jesus brought light into your life?  Does God light up your darkness?

Proverbs - I love Proverbs 4:7 today! "The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding."  How simple and yet profound is that first sentence?  The beginning of wisdom = get wisdom.  Can't argue with that!  :)  The question then becomes how do we get wisdom?  Or, where do we get wisdom.  I will say simply, The Bible is the best fount of Wisdom I know of.  So, reading and studying the Bible on a daily basis = wisdom.  Then the second sentence in the verse above is great too - though it cost all you have, get understanding.  Where does understanding come from?  Again, I'd say the Bible.  But I'll also say that I think understanding comes from investing in a community of people and being invested in by other people.  We can't really get understanding on our own, being a "lone ranger."  We need others in our life so that iron sharpens iron.  I hope and pray you are in a local church community?  And I hope and pray you are in a small group of some sort?  We need others to do life with and to gain understanding.  Will you find a church or a small group in this next month if you're not part of a church or small group yet? 

Worship God: Our readings today in Psalm 18 verse 28 remind me of the Charlie Hall song "Marvelous Light:"

Please join me in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding." Proverbs 4:7 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you would grow in Wisdom in 2010. Pray that God would lead you to the ways He would have you grow in Wisdom this year. Pray that you will pursue wisdom.

Comments from You and Questions of the Day:  Based on my comments above in Matthew, have you ever lost some "honor" with your friends or family as you've moved forward in your faith?  If you did lose honor with your friends did you gain honor with God?  Do you think you sometimes base your decisions more on what other people will think?  Or do you base your decisions on what God will think?  At times in your faith walk have you had to distance yourself from some old friends so that you can move forward in your faith walk?  Has this been hard?  Has it been worth it?  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

[Ramona]

Genesis 42:18-43:34

A particular verse has not jumped out at me today but what has caught my eye is a state of mind has guilt. Joseph’s brothers are totally filled with guilt and thus paranoid. They consistently second guess and put a “spin” on every misstep they make with this unknown ruler. Unknown to them but they are known to him.

They said to one other, "Surely we're being punished because of our brother, because we saw how distressed he was when he cried to us for mercy, but we refused to listen. That is why this distress has come on us!"
(Genesis 42:21 NET.)

Twenty plus years loaded with guilt times ten. This is a picture of man outside of Jesus Christ spinning the events of their lives trying to get a hold of their culpability by any means necessary. However, unless man deals in Truth, guilt, whether true guilt or false, guilt will remain burdening the carrier.

By mercy and love, truth and fidelity [to God and man--not by sacrificial offerings], iniquity is purged out of the heart, and by the reverent, worshipful fear of the Lord men depart from and avoid evil.
(Proverbs 16:6 AMP)

Jesus calls to everyone to exchange the yoke of guilt to His yoke.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. [Jer. 6:16.] For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good--not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.
(Matthew 11:28-30 AMP)

Grace and peace,
Ramona

[Frederick Y]

Re: Jesus's family & John A.

Matthew 13:55-56

Bible clearly named the 4 younger brothers of Jesus and her younger sisters. So, Jesus had his family of the world.

About Jesus's father Joseph. The last time bible mentioned Jesus's father Joseph was at the time Jesus was 12. Jesus went with Joseph and Mary to Jerusalem and Jesus stayed in the Temple and their parents discovered that Jesus was missing after one day. Since then, there was no mentioning of Joseph. Considering it with Jesus's entrustemnt of his mother Mary to John when Jesus was on the cross and he was about to die, it seemed that Mary had no husband to turn to and so Jesus entrusted Mary (his worldly mother) to his beloved disciple. I learned from one of my friends that at the time of Jesus' public ministry, his earthly father Joseph might have died.

Well, this is only a guessing. Any comments?

[John A.]

Frederick Y

You present all the facts, and all we can do is make a guess.

I happen to agree with your friend that Joseph had probably passed on before Jesus' the beginning of Jesus; ministry.

It is interesting to note that the beloved disciple John may very well have been Jesus' cousin.
http://www.keyway.ca/htm2004/20041022.htm

Since Jesus' brothers did not believe (how odd is that)while Jesus was alive. Jesus was entrusting Mary to a believing member of family?????

James became a believer after Jesus died and appeared to James in ressurected body.

[John A.]

Genesis 42:18-43:34

A few notes:

These brothers are to be the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel. They were a hard bunch who had deceived, murdered, and looted at Shecem. Reuben had slept with Jacob's concubine, Judah had married Canaanites, produced evil sons, and was with Tamara. All the brothers except Benjamin had participated in selling Joseph into slavery.

The brothers were a hard lot with nary a mention of God from their lips. They had 22 years to forget about what they did to Joseph.

God needed to prick their conscience and reawakeen their realization of who they were - much like Jacob wrestiling with God.
======================================================
The brothers received reciprocal treatment to what they did to Joseph: harsh treatment, did not listen to protests, unfounded accusation, and time in the "cistern/jail".

Memories were awakened.
======================================================
28 "My silver has been returned," he said to his brothers. "Here it is in my sack." Their hearts sank and they turned to each other trembling and said, "What is this that God has done to us?"

When Grace is given, the heart of a hardened person reacts strangely. The brothers were afraid (like Jacob after the dream), and thought it was a bad thing.

However, it is the first acknowledgment of God since we have been reading about the brothers.
======================================================
Jacob acts poorly

Jacob is unreasonable, fearful, scheming (making a gift to Egypt like he did with Esau - both were uneccesary), and accusatory.

Jacob should have learned after all these years to just trust in the Lord.

We will see. There is hope for Jacob coming around as he is called Israel (God prevails) in chapter 43.

[Karen]

NLT Proverbs 4:7 Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! and whatever else you do, develop good judgment.

MSG Proverbs 4:7 Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom! Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding!

NLT commentary: If you want wisdom, you must decide to go after it. This will take resolve--a determination not to abandon the search once you begin no matter how difficult the road may become. This is not a once-in-a-lifetime step but a daily process of choosing between two paths--the wicked (4:14-17, 19) and the righteous (4:18). Nothing is more important or more valuable.

James 1:5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

Every day, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!! God Bless!

[John A.]

Matthew readings are fairly straightforward today, or are dealt with in more detail in ohter Gospels. So, I do not really have anything to say about today's NT readings.

[DeeDee]

I believe this is true in response to Mikes commentary above reference from Matthew about "not receiving honor in your own hometown". I grew up in a Baptist church all my childhood and still, yet didn't grasp the true meaning of salvation and what Jesus had done for me and His redeeming grace, however I did get baptized at 17 in that church, I was beckoned or urged to move with my husband to the city(I was from the country) and moved 45 minutes away from my hometown, and granted that isn't but a hop, jump, skip from home but I learned true faith and the essence of Godly living as an adult and the light bulb came on and I truly moved in and towards my calling in life, as being a Godly teacher, whether it be in church, school, homelife with my kids, and that has made a worlds difference in my life. I did leave some friends behind in the process and it was hard and still those thoughts of them resurface at times, however, am I stronger in the process? Yes! Did I learn and gain wisdom? I believe so and in that, I am a better person. "He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world." 1John 4:4. God bless you guys, all of you! Rejoice, and again I say rejoice!

[John A.]

Wow! what bad proof reading in my repsonse to Frederick Y. I must be more tired than I thought. Here is the corrected sentence:

"I happen to agree with your friend that Joseph had probably passed on before the beginning of Jesus' ministry."

[John A.]

Out of Town for two days

Going away for two days to put a friend into Rehab, will be back posting late Saturday night. Keep up the good work and if you have any questions note them on Saturday's reading plan blog.

[Raeann]

I enjoyed todays Proverb reading. I think as a society we are more concerned about what others will think of us then of trying to please GOD.