Saturday, September 5, 2015

Saturday, September 5th: Psalm 146-147, John 1:1-28 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Psalms 146-147; John 1:1-28

Psalm 146 reminds us to turn to God instead of man for our help.  We don't have princes to turn to, but so often we are tempted to turn to people around us for help, sometimes even to place our happiness on their shoulders.  The phrase "you complete me" comes to mind when it comes to romantic relationships.  This is an incredibly dangerous attitude to have.  No one, other than Jesus, can complete us.  No one, other than Jesus, can give us the identity we need. No one, other than Jesus, is enough.  Of course human relationships are important - God created Eve so that Adam would not be alone.  But we cannot look to any human relationship to do what only Jesus can do.  He alone is our salvation, and if we only had Him it would be enough.  The irony is, when we put our human relationships into their proper place, priority, and perspective, that is when we will be most fulfilled by them.

I'm looking forward to our John passages coming up over the next few days as I memorized John 1-3 with our oldest daughter last summer.

These verses spoke to me today...
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own,[b] and his own people[c] did not receive him.12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the rightto become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
There is a lot packed into these few verses.

It is tragic indeed that the world does not recognize Jesus for who He is - Creator, Saviour, Redeemer.  So many choose to reject Him.

Thankfully, He stands ready to adopt everyone who receives Him.  And these verses show both the doctrine of election and the reality of free will, somehow, beyond our understanding, working hand in hand.  Verse 12 deals will free will, and verse 13 speaks clearly of election.  One of the many mysteries we wrestle with with our finite minds.


 Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Psalms 148-150; John 1:29-51

3 comments:

Nathan said...

Psalm 146:
3 Put not your trust in princes,
in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
4 When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;
on that very day his plans perish.

Just underlining what was shared in the blog, these verses stood out me. I can't place my trust in humans, or look to humans for my provisions. We are all not reliable enough.

Conrad said...

Verse 4 stood out to me too. Why would I want to follow someone's plan that will one day die and not see completion?

Pamela said...

The exact verse that Nathan quoted stood out for me for the same reason. Whether it be princes, or celebrities, or anyone...we all face the same fate.

and this connecting verse from John:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life,[a] and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

We should put our trust not in man but in the One who always was, always is, and always will be.