Author: Chip Bennett

Today´s reading:
OT: Genesis 16, Genesis 17, Genesis 18:1-19
NT: Matthew 6:1-24
Ps: Psalm 7
Pr: Proverbs 2:1-5

Today´s notable verse:

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:21 (NIV)

The One Year Bible Blog notes:

I think when we give anonymously or pray for others quietly or fast privately, we are really worshipping God. We are in essence saying, “God I am doing these things because of who you are, how great you are, and to let you know how much I love you. I don’t need to let anyone know about this act of worship between me and you. You knowing is more than enough.” Now, I do think there are times for communal giving, praying and fasting – but I love that Jesus challenges us to make sure we find private ways to worship God and God only – and not to bring glory to ourselves through public praise.

You found the key: bringing glory to God, rather than ourselves, through our “acts of righteousness.” When we do something with the intent to receive the praise of men, then we are stealing the praise and glory that rightly belong to God. The very purpose of our lives is to live in relationship with God and to bring Him glory. If our motive in doing something is to bring glory to ourselves, then we are placing ourselves before God, in violation of the First Commmandment. We may receivce our earthly glory, but what a pathetic substitue for hearing, “Well done, my good and faithful servant!”

Based on our Matthew 6 readings today about the Lord’s Prayer, let me ask you this: How do you pray? Or, in how many different ways do you pray? Do you pray specific prayers regularly, like the Lord’s Prayer? Do you keep a list of people by your bedside to pray for regularly? Do you pray through writing in a journal?

I pray in many ways, depending on the situation, my mood, and the leading of the Spirit. I pray out loud; I pray in silence; I pray in song; I pray in the written word; I pray alone; I pray with a friend or a small group of friends; I pray corporately, in worship services. I generally pray with words according to the leading of my heart, or of the Spirit. I rarely pray “rote” prayers – though, I’m beginning to see some of the beauty and simplicity in such prayers as the Lord’s Prayer, or other liturgical prayers to which I have been introduced through attending denominational services. I have some situations in which I keep a list of people and prayer requests. I have used a prayer journal in the past, and would like to regain the habit. My most meaningful prayer time seems to be the silent, meditative prayers in which I simply wait on the Lord. These prayers require me to “shut down my mind” or “separate” myself from my thoughts – something generally very difficult for someone of my personality! But, I think that is why this type of prayer is so meaningful; it is a sacrifice for the purpose of honoring God and an act of “dying to self” in order to hear from Him.

Today’s reading:

OT: Genesis 13:5-18, Genesis 14, Genesis 15

NT: Matthew 5:27-48

Ps: Psalm 6

Pr: Proverbs 1:29-33

Today’s notable verse:

Bit I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain onthe righteous and the unrighteous.

Matthew 5:44-45 (NIV)

The One Year Bible Blog notes:

In verses 17 through 20 in chapter 14 we read about Melchizedek. And I definitely would like to get others opinions on this – Who was Melchizedek? The reason I ask this question is due to Hebrews Chapter 7…I guess my thinking currently is that Melchizedek was a very great priest – but I’m not sure he was Jesus Christ preincarnate? But, again, I’m willing to listen to others on your thoughts on this. My thoughts on this is that Hebrews 7 seems to be saying that Jesus is “like” or “in the order” of Melchizedek – but not quite saying Jesus is Melchizedek. I read there are 4 basic theories on who Melchizedek is – 1. simply a king of Salem and Abram was showing him respect, 2. Melchizedek was a standard title for the kings of Salem. 3. He was a “type of Christ” and he illustrates a lesson about Christ. or 4. He was Jesus preincarnate in a temporary body form. So – whaddya think?

“in the order of Melchizedek” (Heb. 6:20 NIV) – or more literally, “according to the order of Melchizedek” (Heb. 6:20 NASB). The Hebrew word translated as “in” or “according to” is kata, which means, “down, against, according to.” The Hebrew word translated as “order” is taxis, which means “an arranging, order” and derivates from the root tasso which means “to draw up in order, arrange.” Thus, the Scripture is not referring to “order” as a group (religious order, or group) but as an arranging (order of events) or type (similarity). Hebrews indicates that Melchizedek symbolized and foreshadowed several things about the Christ, including (regurgitating liberally from my BSF homework of a few weeks ago):

• Both are King of Salem (Jerusalem) – which means “king of peace”
• Both are a priest of God Most High
• Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”
• Both are without beginning of days or end of life
• Both remain a priest forever
• Both blessed Abraham
• Abraham tithed (gave 10 percent to) Melchizedek, establishing the tithe to Christ

Clearly, Mehchizedek was both King of Salem and a Prist of God Most High (Scripture tells us this much). The Bible tells us little of Salem at this time. Perhaps Salem was ruled by Priests; perhaps Melchizedek was extraordinary in that he was a Priest King. Perhaps “Melchizedek” was the title for “King of Salem”, but I don’t consider this point consequential, since this passage clearly refers to a specific person, and Hebrews 7 refers to this same passage and person. I don’t, however, think that Scripture supports the theory that Melchizedek was a pre-incarnate Christ. Would a pre-incarnate Christ offer blessings to Himself?

and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most Hight, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.”

Genesis 14:19-20 (NIV)

Certainly, part of the role of the Levitical (Old Testament) priesthood was to offer blessings to God; however, New Testament priesthood is completely different from Old Testament priesthood (this point being the entire reason for this particular passage in Hebrews). The work of the Old Testament High Priest was imperfect, incomplete, and continual. The work of Christ, the New Testament High Priest, was once, for all – perfect and complete. Old Testament priests offered praise to God through the High Priest. We the New Testament priesthood offer praise to God the Son, our High Priest, seated at the right hand of the Father. The Old Testament priests ministered on behalf of the people, temporarily and symbolically purified through religious rite. The New Testament priesthood consists of all believers, sanctified forever through Christ (I Peter 2:9).

OYBB points out that today’s reading from Matthew consists of “hard teachings” about the condition of our heart:

Matthew 5:27-30 are Jesus’ teachings about adultery. And really I think these teachings, along with many others in the Sermon on the Mount, are even more so about what is going on inside our hearts. Jesus discusses how the law says clearly how we are “not to do” something – it’s very apparent and very “exterior” if we commit a sin like adultery. Jesus says that the exterior/apparent/obvious sin is wrong for sure – but Jesus is equally as concerned with what’s going on in the “interior” – inside our hearts. Jesus proposes that if we have looked at someone lustfully with our “interior”, we have committed the same sin as if we had actually committed adultery on the “exterior”. Do you see how Jesus’ teachings in today’s readings are really focusing on the condition of our hearts? How is the condition of your heart today when it comes to these teachings? …I know these can be seen as “hard teachings.”

True enough, but I think the real message of this passage is much deeper. Jesus here gives several examples of the imperfect nature of the Old Testament Law, and what the perfect standard is for each example. Jesus turns our thinking upside-down: from “what TO DO and what NOT TO DO in order to avoid sinning” to “what TO DO in order to become holy”, which Jesus summarizes thus: “be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Another point Jesus makes here – and one about which I hope to write at some length in the near future – is that Love is only considered virtuous when it is difficult.

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than the others? Do not even the pagans do that?

Matthew 5:46-47 (NIV)

Love is an action, a conscious decision of the will. This choice is easy to make when we act in love toward those who reciprocate; but to love our enemies, or those who hate us? That love is truly Christ-like.

Today’s reading:
OT: Genesis 11, Genesis 12, Genesis 13:1-4
NT: Matthew 5:1-26
Ps: Psalm 5
Pr: Proverbs 1:24-28

Today’s notable verse:

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

The One Year Bible Blog notes:

I know verses 17 & 18 probably are interpreted in different ways – but a friend of mine has encouraged me when in doubt, just stick to the text, which is wise. So, let’s look at the Jesus’ words here in this text – “”Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them. I assure you, until heaven and earth disappear, even the smallest detail of God’s law will remain until its purpose is achieved.” What does the reading of this text say to you?

Jesus summarized the Old Testament Law – in all its forms: the Ten Commandments, Mosaic Law, Prophets, etc. – as “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind, and all your strength” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” In fact, I would go so far as to say that Christ perfected the Law in these two commands. After all, what was Old Testament Law, but an imperfect and imcomplete code by which to fulfill these two commands? As Christ points out in the Sermon on the Mount, fulfillment of His Ultimate Command – Love – goes much beyond the Law than any human could ever possibly fulfill on his own, as Jesus implied when He said, “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” The Pharisees followed the Law in the utmost legalistic sense; yet Jesus indicates here that without faith in the One to whom the Law pointed, true righteousness could not be attained.

So, in answer to the question, I believe that Jesus meant that the Ultimate Law of God – Love, through faith – would not pass away until its purpose is achieved: to glorify God and to reconcile man to Him. At the same time, the purpose of the Old Testament Law – to point to the coming Messiah who would become the Ultimate, atoning sacrifice for all sin – was fulfilled in Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection. The imperfect Law has been fulfilled and perfected in the Ultimate Law of God: to love.

The Old Testament Law also defined sin by establishing a standard for right living. I do not say “a standard for righteousness” for even under Old Testament Law, righteousness came only through faith in the Messiah who was to come. Just as the Law itself was imperfect, the standard it set was likewise imperfect. When Christ fulfilled Old Testament Law, He also established the Ultimate Standard: “anything that is not of faith is sin,” and again: “anyone then who knows the good he ought to do, and doesn’t do it, sins.” In other words, we are now called to the standard of perfection – again, through faith. This standard is the source of our humility as Christians, since it is only through grace that can can ever hope to be counted as having met such a standard. We fail it every day! Yet, we are identified with Christ, and are counted as righteous – as having met the standard of perfection – through Him.

Today’s reading:
OT: Genesis 8, Genesis 9, Genesis 10
NT: Matthew 4:12-25
Ps: Psalm 4
Pr: Proverbs 1:20-23

Today’s notable verse:

As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.

Genesis 8:22 (NIV)

The One Year Bible Blog notes:

In the remainder of chapter 9 we read about Noah’s son’s Shem, Ham and Japheth. Initially I asked myself, why is Noah so upset with Ham? The answer lies in verse 22 – “Ham, the father of Canaan, saw that his father was naked and went outside and told his brothers.” The last 3 words of this sentence were the issue – Ham told his brothers his father was naked. Instead of discreetly just covering up his father on his own, he broadcast the issue to his brothers. Are there times in our life where we could discreetly take care of problems of others, or could confront the individual directly about the problem, but instead we broadcast what someone else’s problems are? Is this right? Is this godly?

Actually, I think the implication here is that Ham did more than just see his father’s nakedness. Genesis states that Noah’s anger resulting from finding out “what his youngest sone had done to him.” Noah cursed Ham because of what he had done, and Ham’s descendants became some of the most sexually depraved pagan cultures ever to exist – quite possibly because Ham’s curse was for his own sexual perversion.

Regardless, that Ham “told his brothers”, and Japheth’s and Shem’s response, led directly to Noah’s blessing just as the original act led to Noah’s curse. We are presented each day with such choices, and each is an opportunity to respond to temptation by choosing holiness. We, too, are blessed when we choose holiness.

OYBB is right, however, that we are called not to emulate Ham’s “broadcasting” of the issue to his brothers. When we have a problem with another, we are to go first to that person alone and attempt to settle the matter. We are also not to condescend to others concerning their own sins (the “speck” in their eyes) while we have unresolved sin in our own lives (the “plank” in our own eye). We are not to consider ourselves more highly than we ought, but in humility consider others better than ourselves. If we take a right attitude toward our own sin, then we won’t have time to make hay over anyone else’s. If we are humble with respect toward our own sin, then we can serve others in love as they deal with their sin as well.

EDIT (Wednesday, January 4, 2005, 18:15):

One thing I intended to comment on, but forgot:

The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart, “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.

Genesis 8:21

What’s interesting to note here is that the only humans on the earth at this time were Noah and his family – the very humans saved from the flood because of their righteousness. Yet these same humans constitute the entirety of those to whom God referred when he said, “every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood.” This passage is one of the earliest examples of righteousness through faith, and not works. (Abel’s acceptable sacrifice would be the first, as recorded in Genesis, and reiterated in Hebrews 11.) Even Noah, earlier commended for his righteousness, is included as one whose every inclination of the heart is evil from childhood. What does that mean? First, we have the ability – the responsibility – to choose to act contrary to the evil inclination of our fallen nature. Second, we are counted as righteousness because of our identification in Christ, through faith, no matter how often nor how badly we fall when we give in to those inclinations. Third, we have been given a very precious gift – the Holy Spirit living in us – to guide us and transform us into the image of Christ, who can overcome our sinful inclinations as we allow Him to work in our lives. Praise be to God!

Today’s reading:
OT: Genesis 5, Genesis 6, Genesis 7
NT: Matthew 3, Matthew 4:1-11
Ps: Psalm 3
Pr: Proverbs 1:10-19

Today’s notable verse:

But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.

Psalm 3:3 (NIV)

The One Year Bible Blog notes:

One other important point to make in Matthew 4:4 and the 2 other temptations in this chapter. We see the devil tempting Jesus with things that may look enticing to Jesus or to us. But they are lies. And note – this is important – how Jesus fends off the devil’s temptations and lies – by quoting scripture! Jesus knew scripture (well, yes, technically he is scripture…:) But, the point is this. I do believe that we need to do more than just read the Bible. We need to memorize many portions of the Bible to protect us when the devil is attacking. If we have scripture memorized, when we are tempted, we can quickly call to mind a verse or two that will bring us back into right state of mind – focusing back on God, Jesus, and their love and strength available through the Holy Spirit. If we don’t have scripture memorized, as Jesus clearly did in this chapter, we are at risk of falling prey to the deception and lies of the temptation. So – I am mostly preaching this to myself! 🙂 But, I really want to do more memorization of scripture in 2006. I have several verses down – but not enough. Proverbs 3:5-6 certainly comes to mind for me often when I am worried or stressed and it transforms my state of mind immediately! Actually – if anyone else out there memorizes scripture, please post up in the Comments section below? I would love to know which verses you have found useful in your life? And – if anyone has advice on how to best go about memorizing scripture, please post that up too! Are you memorizing scripture on a regular basis? Are you bringing scripture to mind when faced with temptation or sadness or whatever ails you? Will you join me in my plan to memorize more scripture verses in 2006?

It is written… What an amazing testament to power of the Word! Jesus – the author and perfecter of our faith – resisted Satan with these three, simple words. How important is knowing the Word? This passage should answer this question definitively. Satan tempted Jesus’ physical cravings, tempted Jesus to “put God to the test,” and tempted Jesus’ obedience to God’s will for his life. In each case, Jesus resisted and refuted Satan with the Word. God will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear, but when we are tempted, He will provide a way out, so that we can stand up from under it – but what is that way He provides? His Word! But to be useful, Scripture must be memorized, internalized – lived.

I started memorizing Scripture practically as far back as I have memory. My church, and especially Sunday school classes, encouraged it. My parents reinforced it. The short-term youth mission organization I worked with required daily Scripture memorization on all mission projects. By the time I was in high school, I was memorizing entire books of the Bible for Bible Bowl competitions. (My freshman year, I memorized Matthew; Sophomore year, I memorized I Kings; Junior year, I/II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians; Senior year, Exodus.) Now, I can’t still quote all those books; to do that requires daily recitation. But, it’s amazing how the Spirit will bring back something from a part of the Bible I’ve memorized at just the right time, to answer a question, provide a word of wisdom, or otherwise help in a given situation. Several of my favorite scriptures will show up in the daily verse (CB.Word) script in the left-hand sidebar.

I’m sure others have myriad means of memorization, but I have always just used rote memorization and repetition. In high school, I could memorize a chapter or two a week, just memorizing one line at a time. I think, though, there would be great benefit in choosing a verse each day from the daily reading, and memorize it. Today, I have chosen Psalm 3:3.