Jan 2nd

The reading for Jan. 2nd was Matthew 1:18-25, Acts 1:12-26, Psalm 2, and Genesis 3&4.

The passage from Matthew covers the birth of Jesus. The great thing about this passage to me is that the angel instills so much confidence in Joseph about whose child Mary is carrying and what he will do. The angel says to him, "...you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." There is no doubt about what Jesus would do, therefore there is no doubt about what he has done. He has saved his people from their sins!

The passage from Acts covers the days leading up to Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The most notable thing that happened in that time was the choosing of Matthias to replace Judas, but perhaps the most overlooked thing was what they were doing before they chose him. Verse 14 says, "All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers." What would we see today if we found a church that was devoting themselves to prayer?

Psalm 2 speaks of the reign of God's anointed which is obviously a prophecy about Jesus. The most interesting part of this Psalm to me is the last 3 verses. They say, "Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him." I think that we can see this demonstrated in the fall of all of the great empires since Jesus' time. Think of Hitler's Germany. Who was more powerful than they? Yet they were brought low, and when they were defeated the country was absolutely destitute. Kiss the Son...

The passage in Genesis makes me wonder what it must have been like to walk with God in the garden. Apparently, even after the fall, men still had regular conversation with God face to face (see verses 13 and 14 of chapter 4). I've always thought of Cain as the ultimate sinner. Who could have been worse? Yet, even after he murders his brother, God gives him His protection. Why do you suppose that is?