So how are you doing? Behind already? Remember: Just pick up where you left off! Don't get hung up on reading everything. Rather, read consistently! I found I liked reading all of the OT (Old Testament) readings at once, the NT (New Testament) readings on another day and one Psalm a day. I could follow the story better this way.
The blog questions are to help your motivation so you read with purpose and not to simply "get it done." Conversation on the blog is optional.
As you begin to read each day remember to ask these two questions: What truths is God revealing to me? How do I apply these truths?
As you think over last week's readings, what truth was prevalent to you?
For me: Genesis 12:1 "The Lord had said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.'"
I have been called out of everything I expected life to bring me. I must go where God shows me to go. And then as Psalm 5:3 says.."wait in expectation." I build my life on His word and promises. Therefore my house will not collapse (Luke 6:49).
God is good....all the time.
What truth was prevalent to me as I read? I think I felt like God speaking to me in the Old Testament a little differently then the New.
ReplyDeleteIn the Old Testament I felt God show me the contrast between those who obey and follow God (Abel, Noah, Abraham) versus those who did not (Adam, Eve, Cain). He challenged me to choose to be an obedient follower of him.
As a sidenote, I was struck by Gensis 7:15 when it states that "Pairs of all creatures that have the breath of life in them came to Noah and entered the Ark". The wording "breath of life" appears again in 7:22. That is using the same language as Genesis 2:7, "..the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the man became a living being". At the seminary I attend the theological professor I had told us that animals did not have "souls" because God did not give them the "breath of life", which the prof took as God giving man a "soul", but in these verses in chapter 7, it speaks as though animals do have "breath of life" in them. Does that mean they have souls? That is something I have been pondering.
In the New Testament I have felt God really challenge me to follow Him by obeying what His Word says. Luke 6:46 states, "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord' and do not do what I say?" That is powerful to me. It reminds me of Matthew 7:15-23 which talks about recognizing a tree by its fruit, and then Jesus saying that many who say "Lord, Lord" to him will not enter heaven. It seems to me that Jesus places a great emphasis on obedience. The Matthew verse seems to attach obedience with salvation (verse 21 appears to do so).