Today´s reading:
OT: Genesis 46-47
NT: Matthew 15:1-28
Ps: Psalm 19
Pr: Proverbs 4:14-19
Gospel Thread - OT:
29 When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called for his son Joseph and said to him, "If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise that you will show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt, 30 but when I rest with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are buried." "I will do as you say," he 31 "Swear to me," he said. Then Joseph swore to him, and Israel worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
Genesis 47:29-31 (NIV)
Here Jacob exemplifies the kind of faith to which we are called (see Hebrews 11:21-22), believing even on his death bed that God would fulfill His promise to give Israel the land of Caanan.
Gospel Thread - NT:
What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.
Matthew 15:11 (NIV)
Here Jesus gives an example of how He is the fulfillment of the Law - how He calls us to the higher standard to which the Law pointed, yet of which it was only a shadow. The Law taught the principle of uncleanliness using the external (washing hands before eating) - yet God is concerned with the internal (the uncleanliness of the heart).
Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:
Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.
Psalm 19:13 (NIV)
This verse reminds me of the words of Christ in the Lord's Prayer: Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil (see Matthew 6:12-13).
[of evil men] They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
Proverbs 4:17 (NIV)
I like how this verse juxtaposes with the communion of Christ. Where the evil eat the bread of wickedness, we eat the bread of righteousness - the body of Christ. Where the wicked drink the wine of violence, we drink the wine of peace - the blood of Christ.
OYB Photo of the Day:
The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.