Today´s reading:
OT: Genesis 24:52-67, Genesis 25, Genesis 26:1-16
NT: Matthew 8:18-34
Ps: Psalm 10:1-15
Pr: Proverbs 3:7-8
Gospel Thread - OT:
The LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger."
Genesis 25:23 (NIV)
Separation: the result of the gospel. As a result of salvation through the gospel, not only are we separated from the slavery and wages of sin but we are also set apart from those still under sin's curse. God desires for a people who emulate His Holiness, and thanks to the Gospel we are free to pursue that holiness. God demonstrates this separation in the Genesis story of Abraham and his descendants: first, calling Abraham to leave the land of his fathers, then choosing the line of Isaac rather than the line of Ishmael, and in today's reading choosing the line of Jacob-Israel rather than the line of Esau. Just as these lines of descendency are set apart from their bretheren, so also are we set apart when we are grafted into the line of Abraham through Christ.
Gospel Thread - NT:
"What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?"
Matthew 8:29 (NIV)
Those who exist in the spiritual realm - even the rebellious ones - know that the day will come when Jesus Christ reclaims His rightful position of authority over all creation, and on that day those judged to be unrighteous will face eternal suffering. Perhaps it is to this day of ultimate judgement to which the demons refer here? While it is not wise to dwell upon hell being the just reward for those judged to be unrighteous, it is equally unwise not to recognize that the righteous and unrighteous will come to opposite ends at the day of judgement.
Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.Proverbs 3:7-8 (NIV)
We are created in God's image, meaning that we are spiritual beings; we are spiritual beings living (to borrow Paul's analogy from II Corinthians 5:1-10) in tents of flesh (see also I Corinthians 15:42-48). Our flesh is sustained by our spirit. When we are reborn in Christ, we have a new spirit - the Holy Spirit living within - that literally sustains our flesh.
OYB Photo of the Day:
Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. (Matthew 8:26)
Photo © Chip Bennett. All rights reserved.
The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.
