Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Tuesday, January 3rd: Genesis 7-9, Matthew 3 ~ Jody

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Genesis 7-9, Matthew 3

God gave Noah 7 days to get all of the animals and his family into the Ark. Being a farm girl, I've had to sort animals before, trying to get them all into the same pen, in a barn that was designed for animal flow. I can't even imagine what kind of holding system had to be in place in the "loading zone" to get all of those animals into the ark (and keep them from eating each other). That must have been exhausting and seemingly impossible! The best things happen when it's impossible for us and God's Holy Power is the only thing that can fulfill what God is asking us to do!

In Matthew, I always love how God describes John the Baptist. He sounds like a wild, passionate man who is so clear of his calling that nothing else matters. His un-orthodox ways of that time must have been shocking!! Calling out the Pharisees so overtly and announcing the coming Messiah must have caused such a stir.

Matthew 3: 9-10 "Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. 10 Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire."

A reminder for this Mennonite girl that has grown up in Sunday School and church to never sit back on my ancestry of believers, but to always press further into my walk to produce good fruit.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year PassageGenesis 10-12, Matthew 4

3 comments:

Nathan said...

Another amazing thing was God only gave Noah seven days (with His help) to gather all the animals, this would take years for humans to do this alone, if even possible then.

Tammy said...

Organizing that zoo would've been crazy indeed!

Great reminder from our Matthew passage, particularly for those of us who grew up in Christian families.

The verse that stood out to me was v8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

kjad said...

I can't imagine the patience Noah must have had! He had to build this massive ark, fill it with every animal, then go in it for a super long time and wait for God to tell him when it was time to come out of the ark. Noah must have really trusted in God's perfect timing!