Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Tuesday, January 7th: Genesis 18:16-19:38, Matthew 6:25-7:14, Psalm 8:1-9, Proverbs 2:6-15 ~ Jeannine

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is, Genesis 18:16-19:38, Matthew 6:25-7:14, Psalm 8:1-9, Proverbs 2:6-15 

I always find this story of Abram pleading with God very fascinating over the city of Sodom. I wonder at God's patience with Abram. God knows that there aren't even 10 men in that city that are righteous and yet he patiently waits while Abram pleads his case each time. I think of myself in a position like that when one of my kids tries to barter his/her way out of or into something and I know that my patience would be tested. But there is no indication that God was annoyed at all with Abram. I sometimes find myself thinking that God must be tired of hearing my same questions or prayers over and over again. But he will patiently wait for me to understand or to see the truth of the situation just like Abram finally saw the truth in the city of Sodom.

I thought this really fit well with the passage from Matthew 6:7-11

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Another thing that really stuck out from today's passage is how Lot and his family continued to live in the city and eventually, Lot was even willing to give his daughters to these evil men. What a warning for us to not be desensitized and accepting of the sin and evil around us. It is not up to us to judge the evil and sin around us but we cannot let it seep into our lives.

Again, this fits well with Matthew 6: 13-14

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

I pray that we can stay on that narrow path and when things get difficult we petition God to intercede just as Abram did.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Genesis 20:1-22:24, Matthew 7:15-29, Psalm 9:1-12, Proverbs 2:16-22

1 comment:

Tammy said...

The story of Lot and his daughters always makes me a bit sick. Yet God's grace and mercy is enough to cover even that. No matter what I do, He always offers a way back into restored relationship. I pray that we would not become complacent or drawn into the evil around us, but rather focus on God and living for Him despite the culture surrounding us.