Today´s reading:
Genesis 11:1-13:4 ◊ Matthew 5:1-26 ◊ Psalm 5:1-12 ◊ Proverbs 1:24-28
God's Promises - OT:
2 "I will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you."Genesis 12:2-3 (NIV)
Next to God's promise of a Messiah in Genesis 3:15, this promise to Abraham is perhaps the second most important in all of Scripture. Here God promises to propogate a great nation - Israel - through Abram; but more importantly, God promises that not just His chosen people, but all the peoples of the world, would be blessed through Abram. The Messiah came through the line of Abram, and came first to redeem Israel; however, even from the beginning, it was God's plan that the Messiah would come to save the whole world.
God's Promises - NT:
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Matthew 5:3-10 (NIV)
The Beatitudes offer great hope to anyone, in any circumstance, that God will meet our needs so long as our hearts are turned toward him.
One Year Bible Blog
The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today, which asks:
Based on our Psalm 5 reading today, what do you do in the morning to set your mind and heart on God? Is it prayer, reading the Bible, reading other devotions?
Well, as I am trying to re-establish as a habit, my intent is that my OYB reading and study will provide that morning time with God. With a newborn still not sleeping through the night, and having to leave early in the morning for work, it is difficult - but very much worth the effort.
