One Year Bible, January 8

GENESIS 18:20-19:38
This section begins with the daring prayer-life of Abraham.  Look how confident he was as he "stood before the Lord."  And he wasn't even praying for himself!  He bargained with God for his kinsmen, who actually lived in Sodom.  Ezekiel 16:49-50 has God's comment on destroying Sodom and Gomorrah:  "Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.  They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen."  In fact, Sodom is permanently known as a place of perversion. Obviously Lot and his wife (and 2 daughters) had been seduced by worldliness,  because they had to be dragged out by the hand before God destroyed the cities and the plain they sat on.  

Lot's wife looked back in regret and loss as the city was being destroyed.  And the Bible says that she turned into a pillar of salt.  Have you ever wondered, "why salt?"  Jesus said we are to be salt in our community.  We are to live a life that preserves God's peace and righteousness, that keeps the culture from decay and rottenness (that's what salt does).  Because she did not preserve Sodom, she became what she should have been spiritually. 

Jesus commented on this event in Luke 17:32, "Remember Lot's wife".   In its context, what Jesus wants us to remember about her is that (Luk 17:33) "Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it."  It sounds to me like God is saying, "You can come easy, or you can come hard."  It's His way or no way.  Either sacrifice your life, or waste it.  He doesn't offer any other alternatives.  We must never alow our natural appetites to determine where our treasure is.  If my treasure is Jesus, I will never look back in the sense that Lot's wife did --- with regret.  I have no real regrets.   "Treasures" are hooks that motivate us to betray God at the point of pressure. 

Here's another jewel in this portion of Scripture.  Gen 19:16 and 19 are the first useage of "mercy" in the Bible!  This means that mercy is an ACTION God takes, not just a feeling.  His mercy saves me from self-destructing.  Vs. 19 says His mercy was shown to me "in saving my life."  So when I hesitate because I'm not sure about where my treasure, there are times when God takes me by force because of His great mercy.

RESPONSE:  Help me to remember Lot's wife, whenever I am tempted to do what I want to do instead of sacrificing my agenda to do what God put in front of me.  Thank you for taking my hand and yanking me out of where I was, to bring me to where I am today.  I didn't even know I was miserable there until I got here and felt Your pleasure again.  Keep me salty where I am.  Or is that my job? 

MATTHEW 6:25-7:14
Remember, this whole section is about our motives and values.  Our primary value is self-sacrifice, so it stands to reason that Jesus would say, "Take no thought for your life,...." when it comes to externals.  God is more concerned with our character.  He puts the kabosh on "worry" - which is really an unresolved issue with God and whether or not you trust Him.  He says that is "pagan" behavior.  Ouch! 

Chapter 7 is alluded to by people who think they know their Bible but really don't.  Most people who don't want to be judged have a moral problem, not an intellectual one.  Note: The Bible does not say we cannot judge. It does say that we must judge ourselves first. If our vision is darkened by the log in our eye, we no longer see life as it really is and cannot judge anyone. Judgement without mercy is just criticism and brings confusion and bruising and creates rejection.  Real judgement is to render a correct decision, and it brings clarity because it is specific.  This Truth is important in light of what follows.  Because we will reap what we sow.  If we are critical and do not show mercy over people's flaws, people will tend to criticize everything we do. 

Dogs and hogs are motivated by natural appetites and have no respect for holy things. We don't have to trample at the trough because we can simply ask, seek (do some study for understanding) and knock (takes some time and persistance against barriers).

Vs 13-14 are scary.  Our road is narrow because of reduced interests in what is taking place off the path on the shoulder.  It feels "narrow" because of the pressure on our flesh/SELF.  We go off the narrow road because we want to escape that pressure - give in to the appetite.  But when my lifestyle is "narrow",  it leaves me with the resources to live for God.  It disappoints our flesh not to gossip, not to lose our tempers, not to want our own way, to eat the extra piece of pie, etc.  My flesh will pressure me to give in, but I have chosen the narrow road because NOTHING feels as good as pleasing God feels.  And this road leads to LIFE, which is characterized by being connected to God.

RESPONSE:  My mother used to say, "If you can't say anything nice about someone, don't say anything at all."  I chose to be grateful and appreciative, especially of those who are close to me.  Well, actually, also the greeter at Wal-Mart, the person parked next to me at the mall (who parked too close), the UPS delivery guy, the neighbor whose dog barked all night again.  I will find something nice to say to all of them, even if I just admire their smile.  I know this will cure me of being so critical as I "overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21.

PSALM 8:1-9
Okay, this is my second-favorite Psalm.  Verse 2 is quoted by Jesus with a twist in Matthew 21:16, "Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?"  First of all, Psalm 8:2 says "thou ordained strength", not praise.  The word used for "strength" here is used of a vehement lion who overcomes or prevails over his enemies because of hardness, boldness, security.  The word Jesus used, "praise", refers to glorifying God because of His character and His deeds - that He is praiseworthy.  His praiseworthyness is what makes us prevail and makes the "voices" (the devil's, my own, whoever's) shut up.  Jesus didn't change the word, He quoted the Greek version (Septuagint) that had substituted that word as being the closest to what it meant - a shout of victory and strength.  As small as man is, even babies can praise God!

Have you ever looked at the heavens at night and thought about how small we are in comparison?  Yet, it says here that "God crowns us with glory and honor and gave us dominion over the works of His hands."  Hebrews 2:6-18 quotes this in support of his argument that man, not angels, is in charge of the earth.  And that even though man is fallen, in Christ we are risen in newness of life as God's sons, "brethren" of Jesus.

PROVERBS 2:6-15
So far Proverbs has spoken about knowledge, understanding, wisdom,  fear of God. This doesn't sound much like the "leave-your-brain-at-the-door" that some people accuse Believers of doing, does it?  Actually, the knowledge that is spoken of in Proverbs is NOT "the knowledge of good and evil" , because we were specifically admonished by God to stay away from that.  That kind of "knowledge" is not based on reality, and to seek it makes us independent from God. 

The knowledge spoken of in Proverbs is (9:10) the "knowledge of holy things"  the things that proceed from God's throne, where Ultimate Reality is.  In the light of eternity, we really must focus our minds on knowing God and the spiritual realities that accompany that.  My mom used to say, "if it won't matter in 100 years, it doesn't matter."  The condition of our hearts matters.  Whether or not we please God matters.  Whether or not we obey God matteries.  Let's not stay ignorant and act like a "bull in a china shop" when it comes to navigating the heavenlies. 

It we listen and watch to see God at work, THEN "we will understand what is right and just and fair."  James 3:17 says, "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere."

RESPONSE:  Did I ask You to put your hand over my mouth when I am about to blurt something out again?  Thank You.  I don't want to make Jesus look like a jerk.  I remind myself not to defend myself, not to demand my own way, and not to complain when I do the first two!  It's not hard if I am focused.  Your joy sustains me and gives me strength.  Even babies can praise You!  You are worthy.