1 Peter 1:3
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”
Jesus is our "living hope," an imperishable, pure inheritance, causing us to indeed be "born again," now and forever. "Heaven," is outside of anything we know, a place not subject to the physical laws of this universe or the limitations of human minds. It is there, safe in the hand of God, that our eternal inheritance will be revealed.
The Truth
“Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-22)
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Joseph Died
Genesis 50:26 “Joseph Died”
“So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put into a coffin in Egypt.”
Joseph, the most Christ-like man in the Bible, died and was placed in a coffin. Although Satan said otherwise (Genesis 3:4), God said, “In the day you eat of the forbidden fruit, you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:17).
Joseph, just like all men, sinned (Romans 3:23) and if the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), is there a way out? Is there any hope? Yes! No matter what you’ve done, what pit you have dug, or what brother you’ve sold out, Jesus has washed away your sin with His blood. Therefore, there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1)
The Truth
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
“So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put into a coffin in Egypt.”
Joseph, the most Christ-like man in the Bible, died and was placed in a coffin. Although Satan said otherwise (Genesis 3:4), God said, “In the day you eat of the forbidden fruit, you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:17).
Joseph, just like all men, sinned (Romans 3:23) and if the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), is there a way out? Is there any hope? Yes! No matter what you’ve done, what pit you have dug, or what brother you’ve sold out, Jesus has washed away your sin with His blood. Therefore, there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1)
The Truth
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
Monday, June 29, 2015
Judah, The Deliverer
Genesis 49:8-12
“Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise: your hand shall be in the neck of your enemies; your father's children shall bow down before you.”
Here Jacob is prophetically testifying that Judah would be the tribe to deliver Israel from its enemies - and that future generations would be governed by Judah. From the tribe of Judah would come the Messiah, the Prince, the Deliverer, who would become Israel’s invincible Leader.
He is seen in verse 9 as unstoppable lion, in verse 10 as the unvanquished Lord and finally in verses 11,12 as the uncontested landowner, as He purchases property with His own blood.
The Truth
“Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” (Revelation 5:5)
“Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise: your hand shall be in the neck of your enemies; your father's children shall bow down before you.”
Here Jacob is prophetically testifying that Judah would be the tribe to deliver Israel from its enemies - and that future generations would be governed by Judah. From the tribe of Judah would come the Messiah, the Prince, the Deliverer, who would become Israel’s invincible Leader.
He is seen in verse 9 as unstoppable lion, in verse 10 as the unvanquished Lord and finally in verses 11,12 as the uncontested landowner, as He purchases property with His own blood.
The Truth
“Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” (Revelation 5:5)
Monday, June 22, 2015
Joseph Is Alive
Genesis 45:26
"They told him, saying, 'Joseph is still alive, and indeed he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.' But he was stunned, for he did not believe them.”
Jacob had been numb emotionally for many years in relation to the loss of his beloved son, Joseph. And now as he listened to the words of his sons upon their return from Egypt, he was "stunned, for he did not believe them."
The wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, persuaded Jacob (who had closed his heart) that he could believe once more. His spirit "revived" as it is recorded in Verse 27, and Jacob was now able to throw off his shell of depression and find hope again. As he states in verse 28, “It is enough; my son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”
Even when it seems we have lost everything, we have our faith, our Lord, our hope. For Jesus is alive.
The Truth
“Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.” (1 Peter 1:21)
"They told him, saying, 'Joseph is still alive, and indeed he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.' But he was stunned, for he did not believe them.”
Jacob had been numb emotionally for many years in relation to the loss of his beloved son, Joseph. And now as he listened to the words of his sons upon their return from Egypt, he was "stunned, for he did not believe them."
The wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, persuaded Jacob (who had closed his heart) that he could believe once more. His spirit "revived" as it is recorded in Verse 27, and Jacob was now able to throw off his shell of depression and find hope again. As he states in verse 28, “It is enough; my son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”
Even when it seems we have lost everything, we have our faith, our Lord, our hope. For Jesus is alive.
The Truth
“Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.” (1 Peter 1:21)
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Let Me Remain
Genesis 44:33 “Let Me Remain”
“Now therefore, I pray you, let your servant abide instead of the lad a slave to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brothers.”
Here Judah is saying, "let me bear the blame (and) ... let (me) remain instead of the lad a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers." No wonder it would be prophesied of him, "The scepter shall not depart from Judah..." (Genesis 49:10).
Here was a man willing to give up his own life for someone else – sound familiar?
The Truth
"God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
“Now therefore, I pray you, let your servant abide instead of the lad a slave to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brothers.”
Here Judah is saying, "let me bear the blame (and) ... let (me) remain instead of the lad a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers." No wonder it would be prophesied of him, "The scepter shall not depart from Judah..." (Genesis 49:10).
Here was a man willing to give up his own life for someone else – sound familiar?
The Truth
"God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Treasure In Their Sacks
Genesis 43:23
“And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out to them.”
You can’t out give God. This is an excellent picture of how our Lord relates to money. This hidden treasure (as the word signifies) found in their sacks; was there by the providence of God, so disposing the heart of Joseph to order it to be put there. Whatever you give to God will come back to you much greater. He will never be in your debt.
The Truth
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38)
“And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out to them.”
You can’t out give God. This is an excellent picture of how our Lord relates to money. This hidden treasure (as the word signifies) found in their sacks; was there by the providence of God, so disposing the heart of Joseph to order it to be put there. Whatever you give to God will come back to you much greater. He will never be in your debt.
The Truth
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38)
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
The Reckoning
Genesis 42:22
"Reuben answered them, saying, 'Did I not tell you, ‘Do not sin against the boy;' and you would not listen? Now comes the reckoning for his blood.'"
Reuben used this opportunity to remind his brothers that he was the one who argued to save Joseph's life, as reflected in Genesis 37:21. But it was also a kind of "I told you so" statement and the minds of his brothers were unlikely to be changed by his words.
Ruben included himself in their thinking however, as he concluded: "Now comes 'the reckoning' for his blood." Sin has consequences. Here in this chapter, the recognition that they had brought this trouble upon themselves becomes clear and the consequences were about to occur.
As it is true for so many liars, the trumped-up lie they had told Jacob about Joseph's "death" had become real to them as well. Jacob believed the story and so did they. They could not imagine in their wildest dreams that Joseph was alive after all those years.
The Truth
“If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.” (1 John 1:6)
"Reuben answered them, saying, 'Did I not tell you, ‘Do not sin against the boy;' and you would not listen? Now comes the reckoning for his blood.'"
Reuben used this opportunity to remind his brothers that he was the one who argued to save Joseph's life, as reflected in Genesis 37:21. But it was also a kind of "I told you so" statement and the minds of his brothers were unlikely to be changed by his words.
Ruben included himself in their thinking however, as he concluded: "Now comes 'the reckoning' for his blood." Sin has consequences. Here in this chapter, the recognition that they had brought this trouble upon themselves becomes clear and the consequences were about to occur.
As it is true for so many liars, the trumped-up lie they had told Jacob about Joseph's "death" had become real to them as well. Jacob believed the story and so did they. They could not imagine in their wildest dreams that Joseph was alive after all those years.
The Truth
“If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.” (1 John 1:6)
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
God's Plan Revealed By Joseph
Genesis 41:39
“And Pharaoh said to Joseph, For as much as God has showed you all this, there is none so discreet and wise as you are.”
God's plans and solutions are higher and better than ours.
The Truth
“Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding? “To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his." (Job 12:12-13)
“And Pharaoh said to Joseph, For as much as God has showed you all this, there is none so discreet and wise as you are.”
God's plans and solutions are higher and better than ours.
The Truth
“Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding? “To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his." (Job 12:12-13)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)