One Year Bible, January 3

GENESIS 5:1-7:24
Aha!  Adam lived to be 930 years old, yet God told him that the day he ate of the forbidden fruit, he would die.  So we know that the death God was talking about had nothing to do with the physical body.  The death of Adam when he sinned was the initiation of death in our universe.  Things have a temporal end.  But what is this "death" God spoke of?  Job defined "death" in Job 10:21-22,  "Therefore I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death; A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness."  It sounds like the earth before the Holy Spirit hovered over it to warm it up and bring life and order to it.  Romans 8:6 says, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."  Can we define "death" to be confined to the "carnal" or anti-God state?  A place or state of mind without the Holy Spirit.

Some interesting sidelights: Adam would have been alive when Enoch was alive - and may have taught him about walking with God and pleasing God.  Methuselah was 243 years old when Adam died and was still alive with Shem was alive.  He died the year of the flood.  Methuselah was the oldest man to ever live.  His name means "when he is dead, it will come".  When he died, the flood would come - and so his life was extended because God is not willing that any should perish.

Noah's name means "rest" and his entry into the ark gave him rest.  His story is another visual picture that illustrates Hebrews 4 concerning entering into God's rest.  "Rest" in the Bible is speaking of the rest of faith.  To be undisturbed.  Free of fear and doubt and the "evil heart of unbelief" (Heb 3:12).  And, according to Hebrews, this takes work and energy.  This energy is for pressing into the rest.  I do this by connecting with God.  But first I must settle my heart down from fretting by meditating (out loud) on the goodness of God, the faithfulness of God, the might and strength of God, the love and mercy of God, the power and sufficiency of God, the satisfying Presence of God.  And I don't stop until my heart rests in faith.

RESPONSE:  When my mind gets caught up in worry or negative thinking, I choose to take it captive with my mouth.  I am grateful for salvation, for peace and for joy.  I rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS.  I instruct my heart to rest because God is in charge.  Jesus is Lord NOW.  "I will not fear what man can do to me" (Heb 13:6). 

MATTHEW 3:7-4:11
This passage finds John the Baptist baptizing followers in the Jordan River.  It is significant that John 1:28 says he was specifically at Bethabara, which means "house of the crossover" - which identifies it as the site where Israel crossed into the Land with Joshua about 1400 years before.  "These stones" may have referred to the stones of Remembrance Joshua used to build two altars, one in the riverbed, and another in the Land, beside the Jordan River, representing their death and resurrection into newness of life in Christ Jesus.  How interesting that Jesus came to that place to be baptized by John.  Because His baptism represents that same figure.  And He fulfilled that Scripture too!

Then the awful temptation in the wilderness.  Some say Jesus was tempted for all 40 days!  Satan may have been referring to the same stones as above to be made bread.  We know that the "first Adam" ate.  Jesus did not.  The fact that Satan offered Jesus "the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them...and all these things" does not imply that Satan owned the world - just the machinery and the systems that run them.  The earth and the people belong to God (1 Cor 10:26,28; Jer 32:27, etc) always have and always will.  In fact, "all these things" are added to us as we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. 

The fact remains that Jesus was tempted and tested to please Himself, to take short-cuts to power and glory, to bypass self-sacrifice as being unnecessary.  His motives and values were tested.  We, too, are tested and undergo the baptism of fire alluded to, to purge out self-preservation and uncleanness.  Jesus had no need to be purged.  He is truly faithful. 

RESPONSE:  Jesus, I want Your attitude.  Let me be a living sacrifice, not using the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit to point to myself.  I want to be centered in You - and live by Your life that's in me.  Give me an opportunity today to be self-sacrificial.

PSALM 3:1-8:
This Psalm has been called "A Sure Foundation in a Time of Seeming Defeat".  David declares that apart from God, there is no help for him.  Imagine your own son driving you out of your home and wanting to kill you!!  (2 Sam 15-16 tells the story)  David is 56 years old, helpless as all his friends turned out to be betrayers, has left Jerusalem in the dark, crossing Kidron brook (taking him to Gethsamane).  Then as he climbs Mt Olivet weeping, barefoot and head covered with dust, his soul is ripped as he hears of another betrayal.  When he could stand no more, it says in 2 Sam 15:32 that David worshipped God.  Perhaps here is where he prayed Psalm 3: "O Lord, how many are my foes!  How many rise up against me!  Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him." But you are a shield around me, O LORD; You bestow glory on me and lift up my head."  It is hard not to quote the whole thing.  Read it out loud - and rejoice with David and with Jesus, who also prayed on Mt. Olivet and in Gethsamane.

PROVERBS 1:10-19
Here God warns us about spending time or "throwing in our lot" with those who go after ill-gotten gain.  He says, "they waylay only themselves".  The original language says, "And they lie in wait for their own blood, They lay snares for their own lives. Such is the lot of all who indulge in covetousness;It takes away the life of its owner."  They ruin themselves.  Coveteous leads to murder.

RESPONSE:  Jesus, You are more than enough.  I have all I need because I have You.  You are the lifter of my head.  You are my joy, my rest, my peace, my strength, my deliverer, my healer.  I have "tasted You" and You are more than good, you are DELICIOUS! (Psa 34;8)