Modern Christianity???

My journey through the Word - (Genesis 1-7; Matthew 1-3)

I love reading the Word of God. It seems like every time I open it's pages, it shows me something I haven't seen before. There is definitely a wealth of treasure found in the Word of God.

I'm starting something new that I would like to share. I have decided once again to make my way from Genesis to Revelation and take a journey through the Bible. This time, I will make it a point to write down what inspirational thoughts God gives me as I journey, and share them here on my blog. While I will not claim any great revelation, or scholarly insight, I do hope these nuggets of gold will bless someone and give you something to glean from. Who knows, maybe something said on this blog will inspire a sermon, give a word of wisdom, or simply cause someone to think about something in a way they haven't considered before.

In addition, I would also like to encourage YOU to make your own journey, and blog about what God shows you. Let's start a trend!

Imagine the repository of insight we could accumulate if people would make it a point to dig deep into the Word of God and share what nuggets of truth they unearth. If you do decide to start your own journey, please send me a notice, comment, or email. I'll link your blog to mine, and we can create a network of commentary that might prove even more beneficial to those that read them!

Now, for my thoughts from today.

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Genesis 1-7; Matthew 1-3

Genesis 3:22-23

Man had made the mistake of disobedience. He ate of the tree from which God commanded him not to eat. How typical of our human nature! Often times we find ourselves doing the exact opposite of what God commands. Truly Paul says it well. There is a war within us. Those things that I want to do, I do not. That which I don’t want to do, that is what I do. Such is the way of dirt. It is not easily contained, often makes a mess, and is easily carried away by every wind of doctrine.

God feared that Adam, in his fallen state, would reach out and also eat of the tree of life. This would have sealed his fate. Had he eaten of the tree of life, he would have been sentenced to his fallen condition for eternity. It was God’s mercy, not his judgment that drove man out of the Garden. If Adam would have eaten of the tree of life, and forever remained fallen, where would be the hope of redemption later? The wages of sin is death. If death wasn’t allowed in the world, how could Christ be offered as payment for our sins? God drove Adam out of the garden so that he might have hope of a future redemption.

Likewise, God’s mercy compels him to reach out to us in our fallen state. Sometimes God must drive us out of our place of comfort in order to open the door for his redemptive work. What may feel like God’s judgment could actually be his mercy. The Lord chastises those he loves. Like a parent disciplines their child so that the undesirable behavior will be corrected, God at times must correct us so that we might have a better outcome. The next time we feel like we are in judgment, let’s stop and examine our situation. We may find ourselves in the middle of God’s mercy.

Genesis 3:24

God drove out the man (ESV) God has a way of driving out our humanity if we let him. The person who humbles himself before God will find that he can transform our very nature.

The Bible says that God placed a flaming sword in the east of Eden, to guard the way to the tree of life. What fantastic imagery of the Word of God! The writer of Hebrews called it a sharpened two-edged sword. Jeremiah said it was fire shut up in his bones. Truly this flaming sword guards the way to life. When you read it, it breathes life into your soul. The very words on the page are life. The sword was in the East (qedem), literally the “front” of Eden. When you keep God’s word before you, it will give you answers when you have questions, and hope when you’re desperate. The Word of God is a lamp and a light when you sit in darkness. It brings joy to the joyless, and purity to those who need cleansing. The Word of God establishes, it corrects, it reproves, it teaches, and it makes wise the simple. This flaming sword guards life! Those who keep it before them, who always place it first, will find safety and life, and joy in its pages.

Matthew 1:5

The genealogy of Christ records that the harlot of Jericho later became a descendent of Jesus. What could take a harlot and make her a member of the family of Christ? Faith! Hebrews 11:31 says that by faith Rahab received the spies in peace. Likewise it is our faith that causes us to rise above our own past and take our place in the family of Christ. Three women are mentioned in the lineage of Jesus. Tamar, who was wronged by her father in law, Rahab who was a prostitute by trade, and Ruth who was abandoned without a family. What a beautiful redemptive story is found in the lineage of the one who died to bring redemption to ALL mankind. It doesn’t matter what past you have, whether you were abandoned, wronged, or drowning in sin, you have your place in the family of God!

You Can Be Everything God Wants You to Be - Max Lucado

Imagine yourself in a reality show. The plot? You and the other contestants must find a certain city, locate a certain neighborhood, and fill a certain role. No one tells you were to go. No one gives you direction on what city to choose. Your only clues are found in a bag of items given to you before the start of the contest. In this bag are all the clues you need to find your city, find your neighborhood, and find your place.

This is the basic premise of You Can Be Everything God Wants You to Be, by Max Lucado. In the book, Lucado asserts that God gives each individual a sweet spot in which we are made to dwell. By analyzing our natural abilities and skills, we can find this sweet spot and fulfill God’s plan for our lives.

As always, Lucado writes a superb book. Simple and practical, You Can Be Everything God Wants You to Be reminds us that each and every person is fearfully and wonderfully made. Each one of us was created for a purpose, and God has packed us with everything we need to find our way.

If you have a friend, or loved one, that is searching for their place in this world, then I would recommend giving them a copy of You Can Be Everything God Wants You to Be. It also makes a great gift for graduates and college students.

It can be hard wandering through life, filling a role that you weren’t meant to fill. Max Lucado gives us the steps to re-evaluate our world, unpack the bag of skills and abilities God has placed within us, and use these clues to find our sweet spot.

After all, life is much sweeter when you find your spot.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”