Today’s Bible Reading: Genesis 3:1-4:26; Matthew 2:13-3:6 Psalm 2; Proverbs 1:7-9
“Fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” These words from my reading in Proverbs today are a great reminder of where I should always start…with the LORD, with the Maker of heaven and earth, with the One who created me in the image of God. In this particular case fear can also be translated as reverence, a profound respect and love for God. This year as I read once again through the Bible, I have decided to underline all of the references to God that I come across, whether it be God the Father, God the Son, or the Holy Spirit. My goal in reading my Bible is simply to know God more and so I want to slow down this year and really consider what I learn about Him as I read.
So what did I learn today? (And these things don’t have to be new things, just what the text reveals)
God made everything, including the serpent who tempted Eve.
God walked in the Garden of Eden and He talked with the people He created. He was present with them in a way that I long for and wait for. What a thought! To walk and talk with God in person!
God as the Creator, made the rules that were to be followed and He also chose the punishment for disobedience-punishments unique to the individuals involved. The serpent, Adam, and Eve did not all get the exact same result for their disobedience and lack of reverence for God. But all resulted in hardships that would forever impact them.
God knows everything, both good and evil.
Today’s reading also brought my focus on my obedience to God. He speaks to me very clearly through His word and the question for me is, how do I respond. Do I serve Him with a reverent fear? Do I submit to His Son as I should? (Psalm 2:11) Cain and Abel’s story is a perfect example of this kind of heart for God. Abel had it and brought his best as a sacrifice to God. It was actually a sacrifice on his part because it cost him something of value. Cain on the other hand brought God less than his best, his offering was not a sacrifice that cost him anything. It is after God corrected Cain that his troubles really began, he did not respond well to the correction. Instead of returning with an offering that truly reverenced God he became angry and dejected. Even after God warned him that he was heading down a dangerous path with his response. God tells him very pointedly that if he responds correctly God will accept him, but if not that sin is waiting to attack and destroy Cain. I can’t help but think of the different ways I have responded to God when He has needed to correct me-and that is pretty much on a daily basis by the way. Sometimes I still choose sin, even after all that has been done for me by the blood of Jesus whom I call my Lord. I do not reverence Him enough even now. And while I know that I have been saved from the result of sin in my life, it still has daily impacts when I let sin rule over me instead of submitting to God. Psalm 2 paints a picture for us of those very choices. By choosing to serve the Lord with reverent fear and rejoice with trembling, by submitting to God’s royal Son we will find our joy in Him as our protector, our Savior, but there is a dire warning within the Psalm for those who make a different choice.
May grace, peace, and mercy from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ be upon you dear reader.
Debra
So what did I learn today? (And these things don’t have to be new things, just what the text reveals)
God made everything, including the serpent who tempted Eve.
God walked in the Garden of Eden and He talked with the people He created. He was present with them in a way that I long for and wait for. What a thought! To walk and talk with God in person!
God as the Creator, made the rules that were to be followed and He also chose the punishment for disobedience-punishments unique to the individuals involved. The serpent, Adam, and Eve did not all get the exact same result for their disobedience and lack of reverence for God. But all resulted in hardships that would forever impact them.
God knows everything, both good and evil.
Today’s reading also brought my focus on my obedience to God. He speaks to me very clearly through His word and the question for me is, how do I respond. Do I serve Him with a reverent fear? Do I submit to His Son as I should? (Psalm 2:11) Cain and Abel’s story is a perfect example of this kind of heart for God. Abel had it and brought his best as a sacrifice to God. It was actually a sacrifice on his part because it cost him something of value. Cain on the other hand brought God less than his best, his offering was not a sacrifice that cost him anything. It is after God corrected Cain that his troubles really began, he did not respond well to the correction. Instead of returning with an offering that truly reverenced God he became angry and dejected. Even after God warned him that he was heading down a dangerous path with his response. God tells him very pointedly that if he responds correctly God will accept him, but if not that sin is waiting to attack and destroy Cain. I can’t help but think of the different ways I have responded to God when He has needed to correct me-and that is pretty much on a daily basis by the way. Sometimes I still choose sin, even after all that has been done for me by the blood of Jesus whom I call my Lord. I do not reverence Him enough even now. And while I know that I have been saved from the result of sin in my life, it still has daily impacts when I let sin rule over me instead of submitting to God. Psalm 2 paints a picture for us of those very choices. By choosing to serve the Lord with reverent fear and rejoice with trembling, by submitting to God’s royal Son we will find our joy in Him as our protector, our Savior, but there is a dire warning within the Psalm for those who make a different choice.
May grace, peace, and mercy from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ be upon you dear reader.
Debra
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