One Year Bible, January 18

GENESIS 37:1-38:43
The Bible is our link to Heaven and to Eternity.  It has the power to reproduce itself in us, so that we are a reflexion of what it says.  The Word of God cuts through appearances and all our self-delusions and helps the change process, conforming us to Jesus.  The Bible provides us with clues as to the paths God takes us down for transformation.  We are examining Joseph now.

Joseph's name means "He shall add" for he is going to increase gradually and progressively.  He will go through a growth process and be tested as he goes.  As a 17-year-old, Joseph was a tattle-tale and was unwise in what he shared with his brothers.  He told them that he dreamed he ruled over them.  Joseph was one of Rachel's two children, and so was a favorite of Jacob's.  That just added fire to the brother-situation.  Out along the highway tending sheep one day, the brothers sold Joseph to some Ishmaelites who took him to Egypt and re-sold him to Potiphar.  In the meantime, the brothers soaked Joseph's Famous Coat in goat's blood and let their father, Jacob, assume he was dead. 

Thus, began Joseph's 13-year test before his dream was fulfilled.  Interestingly, David the shepherd boy began his testing when he was 17 years old, and ran from cave-to-cave from King Saul for 13 years before ascending the throne.  Do we see a pattern here?  Actually the number 13 in the Bible has something to do with the FLESH. Jesus died on Friday, the 13th. Pharoah and his armies died in the Red Sea on a Friday the 13th, when Israel fled from Egypt with Moses. Self-preservation and bitterness and revenge were gone from Joseph and David when they each began their rule. Their hearts stayed sweet toward God. That's what I want. No wonder the devil hates Friday the 13th. It's HIS "unlucky day"!

Talk about "warts and all" - the next story in Genesis 38 is quite a doozy!  Just a reminder: Judah is the progenitor of Jesus.  But he wasn't perfect.  Read the story, it will amaze you.

RESPONSE:  Thank God, you don't have to be perfect to serve Him.  But you DO have to be tested.  Help me stay sweet, Jesus.  I really want to build "spiritual muscle".  I don't want to be a spiritual wimp.  I will cling to You and to Your Promises when I am tested and proven.  Help me to stay focused.

MATTHEW 12:22-45
Probably the most significant evidence of the authority of Jesus was His authority over demonic forces.  The Pharisees accused Him of casting out devils by the power of the devil!  Jesus argued that Satan would never be party to destroying his own kingdom. 

Then Jesus speaks about what some call "the unforgiveable sin".  It is stated as "blasphemy against the Holy Ghost." and the next verse: "speaking against the Holy Ghost."  Specifically: they had accused the Holy Spirit of being in league with the DEVIL!  Mark 3:29 says it this way: "But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:"  This is not because of inadequacy of the Atonement.  No!  No!  NOR is it because the Holy Spirit is somehow holier than Jesus and "off-limits" to criticism.  BUT the Holy Spirit is the One Who brings conviction and repentance to us.  He is the Power Who raises us from our deadness in sin.  It is the Blessed Holy Spirit that makes us receptive to Jesus' invitation in the first place.  He is the midwife in the new birth.  We CAN'T be forgiven without His ministry.  But how can we receive His ministry when we've equated it with the devil? 

RESPONSE:  I am grateful for the Holy Spirit.  I heard Billy Graham say one time that we must be careful never to grieve the Holy Spirit away.  I think about that whenever I speak too sharply or critically.  I want to repent quickly because I don't want to "run off" the Presence of the Spirit.  He is about much MORE than "power".  He is mostly in us to bring about our transformation.  He is the Antidote to what was killing us before we got "saved".  When David sinned, part of his plea was "Cast me not away from Thy Presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me."  (Psa 51:11)  Me either.

PSALM 16:1-11 
This is a declaration of our trust in God for safety, as the only thing that satisfies us (our portion), as our goodness, our wise Counsel, our defender and deliverer, and our true happiness and joy. Oh, not partial joy, nor joy mingled with sorry, but real joy that satisfies the soul, full joy, that will never diminish or fade.

Verse 10 is quoted in Acts 2:27-31 and 13:35-37 as prophetically referring to Jesus, as David is still in his tomb, but Jesus is not. 

PROVERBS 3:27-32
Pay your bills, people; pay what you owe when you have the money.  That seems simple enough, but I have known people who bought what they wanted on payday, then paid bills with whatever was left!  That is a SIN because the Bible says not to do that!

Don't envy the success or power of a "violent man" (oppressor) because the true nature of his success is an "abomination" to God.  The privilege of the righteous is familiar intimacy with God.  The prosperity of the godless has its reverse side.

RESPONSE:  Why are we so indiscriminate about who we admire?  So much of what we consider glamorous is actually hollow, if not outright evil.  We value opinions of people whose only recommendation is some movie they made!  Deliver me from that, God.  For You are truly the Source of everything good in my life.  You are the only One Who satisfies fully.  "Fullness of joy" is found in Your Presence.