January 6, 2015

GENESIS 15-17

Abram begins to think about his legacy and the fact that he has no children.  He inquires of God stating that he fears that all that he has accumulated will just go to one of his servants.  God tenderly tells him that his descendants will be more numerous than the stars.  God also gives him the prophecy of the Egyptian bondage, however he assures Abram that he will rest in peace.  

Sarai becomes impatient and gives her Egyptian servant Hagar to Abram for him to sleep with and therefore produce an heir.  She conceives and Sarai begins to hate Hagar.  She blames Abram. God comforts Hagar and gives her strength to stay as a servant.  So Hagar gives birth to a son and names him Ishmael.  

When Abram is ninety nine years old and Ishmael is 13, God has him circumcise all males as a way to distinguish future generations.  He then confirms that Sarai will conceive and her name from now on is to be Sarah.  God also changes Abram's name to Abraham.

MATTHEW 5:27-44

Jesus continues teaching and begins to address every law in the old testament and give an explanation of it's true meaning in obedience to God.

• But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
• But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress
• Do not swear...Simply let your Yes be Yes and your No, No: anything beyond this comes from the evil one. 
• Do not resist an evil person.  If someone strikes you on the right cheek turn to him the other also.  If someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
• Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven...If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?...And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?  Be perfect therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

JOURNAL

These words had to be completely overwhelming to his disciples.  They are overwhelming to me.  No  person can escape being convicted of sin.  The commands start extreme and then accelerate to a point of being impossible..."be perfect".  We are all doomed.  We have all sinned.  No man can boast, no man is righteous.

God confounds and rattles all my preconceived notions of righteousness.  He does it with Abraham and Jesus does it in his teachings.  It again goes to the heart of my selfishness and pride. On my own I will always fail.  On my own I will never be perfect.  On my own I will cave to my flesh and my stuff. I will be fearful, angry and manipulative.

And God knows this, he has always known and he is not surprised.  He knows my efforts are futile, my promises meaningless, my intentions sinful, my days numbered and yet he loves me and died to prove it.  He gives me a gift that is beyond a gift...it is salvation to a wretched sinner.

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:24-25)