Bible Reading Commitment, Encouragement, and Challenge
January 31 – Genesis 25, Judges 10-11, Psalm 32-33, Matthew 21:23-46
Observe with some (Interpretation in Parentheses)
- Focusing on Genesis 25
- The first part of chapter 25 can be easily missed
- Abraham dies, and fairly quickly afterward, God keeps His promise to Abraham by blessing Isaac with sons
- Yet, God chooses to include verses 12-18
- God reveals to us the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s foreign son
- While all throughout Scripture, God is clear that Isaac is the son through whom all His promises will be fulfilled, God still chose to abundantly bless Ishmael and his descendants
- As I reflected on this seemingly minor addition, my heart was freshly affected by the abundant goodness of God
- (If God shows this much goodness and kindness to those outside His promise, how much more those inside!)
- (It is very similar to chapter 36 as well, when God lists Esau’s descendants, who are many)
- In the NT, in Romans 9, God says, Jacob I loved, Esau I hated.
- (If God shows so much goodness and kindness toward Esau, how much more those descended from Jacob!)
- (God’s common grace toward all people is amazing)
How Points to Christ
- All of God’s common grace and special grace toward His people of promise are because of His Son Jesus Christ
- No one deserves God’s grace
- It is only because Jesus Christ came and bore what sinners deserved by dying on the cross, bearing God’s wrath, that sinners can receive undeserved grace from God
Apply
- God’s kindness and goodness is shown to all
- Please pray that I would grow in kindness and goodness to all
- It is much easier to love those who are “lovable” or who are like me
- Please pray that I would grow in love for all, ultimately seeking to share Jesus Christ with them as the ultimate expression of love
- And please pray that many more sinners would not only experience God’s common grace, but His special grace in the Gospel of Jesus Christ