Reflections on the Word

In Genesis I've been reading about how God's continued to provide for Jacob, despite his rather selfish and ungodly behavior - Jacob forced his brother out of his birthright, tricked his father into blessing him instead of Esau, puts God to the test despite having directly heard from God (and God did not strike him down!), and now swindled Laben and then fled. Not exactly promising considering that he is the father of promised line of God! From this I learn that God meets us where we are, despite our shortcomings and disbelief. How amazing it is that we have a God that even "when we are faithless, he remains faithful, for He can't deny himself!" (2 Timothy 2:13 ESV). I'm very much looking forward to tomorrow's chapter: Jacob wrestling with God!

Ester is very encouraging: I will do the right thing, and if I perish, I perish! (Ester 4:16 ESV) What a great illustration of taking Godly risks! The circumstances that lead to Mordeci & Ester gaining favor in the eys of the King, and Haman's plot being foiled all scream: God is sovreign over all (even if the word 'God' is never mentioned in Ester!) - He will look after His people.

I just finished Matthew, and started the first few chapters of Mark and am continually amazed by the person of Jesus Christ. He has such power and authority, but also such humility and selflessness. He has such wisdom & understanding, but also doesn't shrink back from the 'sinners' and spiritually needy. That's my Lord! These are His last words to us: "18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20 ESV) Let us heed His words!

I'd gotten behind in my Acts reading, so I finished the last several chapters this morning, and was quite encouraged by the example of Paul. He loved Jesus Christ - it was not doctrinal correctness alone that drove him, nor was it his desire to 'make up' for his shortcomings, nor was it any pride or self-righteousness, but he was driven soley by the grace & mercy of Jesus Christ in his life. He endured torture & hardship like it was nothing, because he compared everything to the sufferings of Christ and the glory to be revealed in heaven - and in comparison with that, everything pales. And oh how God blessed Paul! He gave Paul countless audiences with those who I'd say are the LEAST likely to be reached by the Gospel message...but yet Paul was faithful and God used him to reach many!

I challenge you with this: Is being in His Word a near-daily occurance? If the answer is no, is it any wonder then why you don't feel close to God and why you continue to fall into the deceitfulness of sin? But just reading it for the sake of reading it is not enough, as I frequently am prone to do: we must place our hope and trust in it and all of God's promises to us. Be as David who wrote of God: "I have stored up your word in my heart,that I might not sin against you" (Psalm 119:11 ESV). Also in Pslam 1:1-3:

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits inthe seat of scoffers;

2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. In all that he does, he prospers.