JANUARY 13 READING…GENESIS 26-27 & MATTHEW 7
Today’s theme is a call to live rightly before God and each other. In Genesis we are given examples from the family of the patriarch’s of not living right before God and mankind. Yesterday we read of Esau who disdained his birthright so much that he haphazardly sold it to his brother Jacob for a bowl of soup. That is not living right before God, his father, or the world. Then we have Isaac who lies about his wife being his sister, potentially causing Abimelech to sin and cause great trouble. Isaac was not living right before God, his wife, Abimelech, or the world. Next, we have Rebekah deceiving Isaac about Jacob and Esau, in order for Jacob to receive Esau’s blessing. Rebekah was not living right before God, Jacob, Esau, or the world. Finally, we have Jacob joined with his mother in deceiving his father, and taking his brother’s blessing. Jacob did not live right before God, his father, his brother, or the world. It amazes me how God is greater than our sin, that He uses flawed people, and that regardless of our actions, ultimately He will always accomplish His purpose.
In Matthew 7 Jesus concludes His sermon from the mount. Calling each of us who His children to live right before God and the world. We are cautioned about hypocritically judging others by a standard that we don’t hold ourselves to. When we do this we are not living right before God and the world. Jesus reminds us that the way to salvation, and to living right before God and the world is a narrow way. Most will not take the narrow way, but seek their own broad and self serving way. We will know by the things our lives produce. Jesus tells us that what is crucial is not some religious statement claiming to know Him, but whether He knows us as His or not. Finally, we are instructed to build our lives upon the ”Rock”…the sure foundation that is only found in Jesus.
Please share your thoughts.
TOMORROW’S READING…GENESIS 28-29 & MATTHEW 8
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