January 13, 2013
Jacob, sleeping on a rock for a pillow, dreamt of a ladder that connected heaven and earth. He heard God promise that his offspring would fill the earth and that through them all peoples would be blessed. He awoke and named the place “Bethel” (“beth” house + “el” god). I’m sure he meditated on this vision for the rest of his life. I wonder, did he foresee that God’s Son would be born into the line of his son, Judah? Did he understand that God would send Jesus as the Ladder of Love to open the way to heaven for those who would believe?
January 12, 2013
The Hebrew verb “honor” (kabad) may also be translated “give glory to” or “to give weight to, weighty.” The idea is that we recognize the Lord as the Owner and Giver of all things. We give our “firstfruits” to the Lord to show that we put Him first. Many say that they honor God, but it is merely lip service. Do you give “honor” (priority, glory, weight) to the Lord?
January 11, 2013
Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of porridge. This is a picture of one prizing physical and temporal things over spiritual reward. Esau, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, was the rightful heir of the Abrahamic promises, but he had no desire for such things. Which do you prize more? Earthly treasure or eternal reward?
January 10, 2013
Rather than depending on your own wisdom, depend on God’s. Put your utmost confidence in Him and in His Word for your decision-making. And as you do, give Him the credit for everything, worshiping and thanking Him in all things. In so doing, we can stop worrying about tomorrow, entrusting the future into His hands.
January 9, 2013
Lip service or religious ritual are insufficient. The Lord requires a relationship. Thus, He says to the one who only played lip service, “I never knew you.” Do you “know” Him as your Lord and Savior?
January 8, 2013
David addresses this psalm to both the Transcendent Ruler of all the earth, as well as the Immanent Lover of his soul. “O LORD (יְהוָ֤ה Yahweh) meaning “I AM,” a name so holy that the scribes washed their hands before writing it. And “our Lord” (אֲדֹנֵ֗ינוּ Adonenu, from Adonai), the title the Hebrews used to call upon the One who had made them His chosen ones. Jesus follows this prayer formula in His model prayer, yet reverses the order, revealing an even more personal name (“Our Father” personal/close) in the first place and retaining the idea of transcendence (“which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name”) in the second. We learn much about God from both of these prayers, but Jesus alone gives us the right to pray to Him as “our Father.”
January 7, 2013
What we have called the Lord’s Prayer would better be called His model prayer, for this prayer was given to teach His disciples how to pray. They had heard prayers at home, in the synagogue and in the temple, but they had never heard anyone pray like Jesus, so they begged, “Lord, teach us how to pray.” And so, He did. Starting with the most radical idea of all, that we might pray to God, calling Him “Father.” Jesus makes it possible for us to have a relationship with God as Abba, Father. Have you prayed to Him today?
January 6, 2013
And he blessed him and said, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!’ And Abram gave him a tenth of everything” (Genesis 14:18-20).
“Melchizedek” (meaning “My king of righteousness”), was the king of “Salem” (Shalom – peace) and represents a Christological type. The book of Hebrews (ch.7) refers to him in such a way as to suggest that he is indeed the preincarnate Christ. Whatever his identity, Abram pays a tithe to him as God’s representative. This tithe was not given in response to law (the law hasn’t been given yet), nor request, but was given out of gratitude and recognition of God Most High that had given Abram success. Abram gave it willingly.
January 5, 2013
The Jews often referred to the whole of the Hebrew Bible as the Torah (the Law), even though it was the title to the first five Mosaic books only. Here, Jesus is saying that the Word of God is more permanent, lasting, and dependable than heaven and earth themselves. Jesus had such a high view of Scripture that He said even the smallest stroke of the pen would not only be preserved but fulfilled. If Jesus has such a view of Scripture, how should we regard God’s Word?
January 4, 2013
These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the people of the whole earth were dispersed” (Genesis 9:18-19).
Racism is without real basis. There is only one race, the human race. We are all related. It appears that Japheth’s tribe settled Europe, so there’s a strong possibility that the Combs clan (from Combe Manor, England) goes back to him. Regardless, we all go back to Noah, and Noah back to Adam and Adam… from God.