One Year Bible, January 4

GENESIS 8:1-10:32
If you add it up, Noah was in the ark one year and 17 days; 5-1/2 months afloat and 7 months resting on the mountaintop.  Do you know why the raven didn't come back on the first toss out the window?  He couldn't fly forever!  Where did he land?  On dead, floating flesh, that's where!  He represents the spirit of the world or our own flesh (SELF).  The dove, represents the spirit of Christ.  Both spirits get released at the time of pressure.  The only way the raven can land on you is if there is dead flesh there.  The dove won't sit on dead flesh.  It flew in the fullness of time and brought back peace with God (olive branch).  When the dove didn't return after its last release, it is a picture of the spirit of Christ come to earth to stay. 

Noah is now 601 years old and God told him to be fruitful and multiply!  The first thing he did was to build an altar and sacrifice to God.  The result of coming THROUGH something should be worship.  Is the odor sweet or is it just dead flesh burning?  Give youself to God while you are still in the ark going through something - while you are still in the test - then the smoke will be sweet.

Beginning in Gen 9:20 there is an incident that needs explaining.  Noah had become a farmer with a vineyard.  He got drunk - the first note of anyone being drunk in the Bible.  Noah is NOT held guilty by God here, by the way.  (I am NOT condoning drunkenness either.)  His son Ham saw him and blabbed to the others who had not seen it.  Ham was disrespectful and dishonored Noah how and when he told the others.  There is a great interval between verses 24 and 25, in fact, it may have been 350 years year until the curse was spoken out, on Noah's deathbed.  The curse fell, not on Ham, not on Canaan, but on Canaanites.  Joshua fulfilled that curse when he defeated the Canaanites years later.  That curse is already fulfilled - there is no longer a cursed tribe in the earth. 

RESPONSE:  I want to be a sweet-smelling savor, God (Phil 4:18) an acceptable sacrifice.  I want to give You pleasure, God.  Be glorified in what I do.  Enjoy my life as I enjoy Yours.  In fact, let's dance!  I know You are able to deliver me.  I know You are able to comfort and strengthen me.  I am happier than I deserve because of You.  I won't complain about being "too old" to do what You ask because I know you strengthen me through Your joy in me.  At least I'm not 601 years old being commanded to be fruitful and multiply! 

MATTHEW 4:12-25
Jesus began His public ministry after He was tested.  The devil found no selfishness, no self-interest, no self-serving, no self-preservation, only self-sacrifice.  Jesus' first sermon is remarkable, "Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."  A paradigm shift was coming and would demand repentance (a change of mind, from independence to dependence on God)  for participation. 

And note, the Gospel was of the kingdom,  (vs 23)  a condition or place characterized by abundance and the interactive Presence of God.  The word "kingdom" is used 56 times in Matthew. In John 18:36 Jesus said His Kingdom is not of this world.  Unbelieving religious people of Jesus' day proclaimed that Kingdom to be subversive because it has its own King (Jesus), it's own law (love God and one another), it's own value system (self-sacrifice, which includes love, forgiveness, mercy).  We are always Christians first, patriots second (if at all in the disciples' case). 

God's kingdom is the invisible, alternate culture to which we as Believers in Jesus belong.  It is entered through being born again, and is within us collectively.  It is God's pleasure to give it to us but we must enter through tribulation (pressure on our flesh) (Acts 14:22).  "The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost."  (Rom 14:17)

Perhaps I should define Biblical "abundance" (Jn 10:10) in referrance to the Kingdom of heaven/God.  Abundance is being in covenant with the King, having His sufficiency at our disposal.  Ephesians 1:3 calls it "all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" and 1 Peter 1:3 calls it "all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue".  One more:  Phil 4:19, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

RESPONSE:  Lord, I anticipate with great joy, hearing You speak about Your kingdom, the place where You dwell and rule.  My hiding place, where I am safe.  Where your peace and your joy are in abundance.  No one else can give me the peace and the joy I have with You.  And nobody has even offered me Your righteousness except You.  What a fabulous God You are! 

PSALM 4:1-8
I love the Psalms because they express real emotions of real people who went through stuff.  Psalm 4 is no exception.  It was written during a time of great opposition.  I love v.3, even in opposition,  "The Lord has set apart him that is godly for Himself."  Would it help if I defined "godly", because I don't know if you are like me:  I have never seen myself as particularly pious.  The OT word for "godly" means "one who has received grace".  That helps!  Now I qualify.  He did the choosing and He chose me! (John 15:16)  No wonder David could say in v. 7 "You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound (harvesttime)."  1 Peter 1:8 calls it "joy unspeakable and full of glory"! 

PROVERBS 1:20-23
Wisdom has a voice - sometimes I think it's a frustrated voice that says, "if you would just listen to me, you wouldn't make so many mistakes and look so foolish to those around you." 

RESPONSE:  God help me to remember to consult You about everything.  Since I belong to You, I know you care about the decisions I make.  Thank you for taking such a personal interest in me and in my day.  Go with me to Wal-Mart and point out someone to mention Your Name to.  Help me as I help my mother so she knows how much we love her.  I even cook supper "in the Name of Jesus"!  Let me do it wisely!  You, Who have made me happier than I deserve, are my life!