Today's Readings are: Psalm 2, Genesis 3, 1 Chronicles 3, Luke 1:57-80
Have you ever had a time in your life where God felt absent? Maybe you are going through a season like that right now. Imagine what it must have felt like to be the Children of Israel. You are a proud nation. You have been called the Chosen People. Throughout your history, God has delivered you time and time again from the hand of oppressors, and then, due primarily to your sin and rebellion, God is silent.
Such was the case with the nation of Israel in the 400 year period of silence between the Old and New Testaments.
Public worship continued during those years. The people had been delivered from one group of oppressors, only to now feel the oppression of the Roman government. And, God's voice was sorely missed.
As you read the conclusion of Zechariah's story today in Luke 1, think about how the people must have felt when they saw God speak through Zechariah. They were cleary moved by what they saw. Pay close attention to Luke 1:65-66.
How do you respond when God is silent?
His silence doesn't mean that He loves you any less. Sometimes God's silence is there to draw us closer to Him. He will speak to us through His Word if we will let Him. He will speak to us through other Christians too. And, sometimes He speaks in a still, small voice; gently leading us as we pray. What is God speaking to you about today? Spending time with Him? Follwing Him closer? Taking that step that you should have made long ago? Take the step of faith and follow Him.
For Extra Thought: Today you read Genesis 3 and Luke 1:57-80. Both chapters speak about the coming Messiah. In the Genesis passage, man had just sinned and by the Luke passage the people had been waiting for thousands of years for Messiah. The effects of sin in those thousands of years were tragic. In the 2,000 years since Messiah has come, we have once again become a people who neglect God. The Bible tells us that Messiah is coming again. May His coming be soon, but until that time, may we be a people who fearlessly and courageously live for Him, no matter what the rest of the world does.
Pass the Salt Has Moved
14 years ago
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Genesis 3 is one of my favorite passages. Not only does it have the first proclamation of the gospel (3:15) where Satan's doom is also pronounced, but I also love how God's heart and mercy are shown in the last few verses. I find that people always think mankind was thrown out of the garden in punishment, but it was love! God says, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." So he banished us from the tree of life until sin was dealt with! We get it back when all is completed (Revelation 22:2). How cool is that? God protects us from an eternity in sin, makes a way for our redemption through the Son of the woman, and then lets us eat from the tree of life and live forever with him!
ReplyDeleteGreat thoughts, John. I am also touched that the Lord make them garments and clothed them. It shows such tenderness!
ReplyDeleteNancy P.
Great insights. I love Genesis 3 too. It is a beautiful picture of the grace of God. There is such tenderness shown in God's treatment of humanity in the making of garments. John, I love how you completed the picture by bringing in the Revelation account. What a day that will be!
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