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Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Gen 11:4 and Matt 4:16 "A Name For Ourselves" (January 4)

The people of Babel said:
"Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower.
Let us make a name for ourselves"... Gen 11:4
Isn't that what our celebrity society values? 
City lights. Big names.
What about those of us who have no place in the sun.
God never intended that our identity would come from
lights and names and strength and games.

God says, you truly live and make a name
by every word that comes out of His Mouth... Matt 4:4
"Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand."  Matt 4:17


Those who dwell in darkness
have seen a Great Light... Matt 4:16
Dark places still seep through for all of us
and we indeed want to make a name for ourselves.
Repent.

God is making us fishers of men not self promoters.
Not names.  Not gain.  Not games.  Not pain.
Not for us but for Your Glory, oh God,


3 comments:

  1. “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. –Matthew 4:19b-20

    1.Immediately. When Jesus calls, why do I delay, drag my feet, and in so doing, often miss the blessing associated with quick obedience.

    2.They left. What is it that I need to stop doing to choose the better way?


    3.They followed. This sounds so basic, but disciples follow a leader, not lead and look back to see if what they are doing is okay. They always knew enough of the plan to take the next step in faith. Can I let go of the reins long enough to see where He would have me go? Teach me to respond, not re-route.

    4.They heard the call in the first place when Jesus compelled them to join Him. I need to listen better. Even when I am still, I am so distracted. Center me again, in Your Word, in Your Will, Lord.

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  2. The Lord confused their language. Thankfully, He understands and helps me to make sense of my confusion.

    Too often I drag me feet when He tells me to go, I want confirmation, want to learn the logistics before I go. There is blessing there!

    Thank you for the power that is in Your Word.

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  3. I went back a few chapters to try and get a better sense of the generations accounted for in today's reading.

    Abram's line traced back through Shem, the son of Noah.

    Noah's line traced back to Seth, the son of Adam.

    Not much is recorded about the wives of Noah and his sons.

    I just wonder if it's safe to believe that Cain's line was destroyed by the flood?

    There also was a lineage of giants before the flood that was linked to the union of the sons of God coming down to the daughters of man. Wondering if that line was destroyed in the flood...

    In my heart, I believe they were.

    Basically, we can all trace back to Noah and his three sons and their wives. That's an long line of lineages that have produced almost 7 billion people in today's world!

    And Jesus began His ministry in today's reading with this sermon:

    Matthew 4:17

    From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

    Noah warned.
    Jesus warned.
    The message is still the same today.

    Don't you think that people today are oblivious to how close we are to Christ's return?

    We should all be ready. The best way to live is as if His return could be today. And it could be.

    Sober thoughts on this day, but Noah and Jesus both had firsthand knowledge of the results of taking God seriously.

    ReplyDelete