Saturday, February 7, 2015

Luke 24:25-27

²⁵ He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” ²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

Reflection

It may be hard at times to see the new life we have in Christ, but our scripture today reminds us of the marks of that new life. The marks of that new life are the fruit of the Spirit. Too many times we make the mistake to think that there are fruits of the Spirit, but the word here is singular fruit of the Spirit. This mistake can lead us to think we can pick and choose but the fruit of the Spirit grows together. When we see fruit in our lives, we can see the marks of the new birth in Jesus Christ. Where do you see fruit in your life? Where do you see fruit in the church? 

Friday, February 6, 2015

2 Peter 1:19-21

¹⁹ We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. ²⁰ Above all, you must

understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. ²¹ For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Reflection

The other place that God reveal’s God’s self to us is through scripture. This is God speaking to us through the power of the Holy Spirit helping prophets to reveal God to us. The key to this is that the scriptures are not a dead sealed document written thousands of years ago it is alive and active. Because it is alive and active scriptures role in our life should be more than as source material that we memorize for inspiration. It is the beginning of a never-ending tale of God’s love that calls us to be God’s followers and share that message with the world. Why do you think we do not have an appreciation for the word of God that has been revealed to us in scripture?

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Romans 1:18-20

¹⁸ The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their

wickedness, ¹⁹ since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Reflection

There are many places we can see God revealing God’s self to us. The greatest is through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but our scripture today reminds us that we can see the revelation of God in other ways as well. One way that God is generally revealed to us is through God’s creation and God’s work in our world. This makes sense. If God created the world, then creation would bear the marks of its creator. How have you seen God’s revelation in your world? 

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

1 Corinthians 4:6-7

 ⁶ Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other. ⁷ For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

Reflection

We many times throw the word “blessing” around without much of an afterthought. The truth is that our greatest blessing is that God revealed God’s self in Jesus Christ. Why do you think our greatest blessing is that God has revealed God’s self in Jesus Christ? 

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Genesis 1:27-30

²⁷ So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. ²⁸ God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” ²⁹ Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. ³⁰ And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.

Reflection

Our scripture today reminds us that our God speaks but is specific that the good news is that God speaks to us. Why do you think it is good news that God speaks to us? 

Monday, February 2, 2015

Genesis 1:1-3

¹ At one In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ² Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. ³ And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Reflection

Our scripture today reminds us that our God speaks and that God’s words have power. And when God speaks it carries power to create the world through God’s Word. Our God is not silent God’s words pierce the darkness and set planets spinning and creates our very existence. Have you ever thought of the truth that our God speaks creation into existence? What does this mean for you that God speaks and the world is created? 

Weekly Theme February 1 through 7

Unchanging Message

 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  The earth was empty, a formless mass cloaked in darkness.  And the Spirit of God was hovering over its surface.  Then God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” 

Genesis 1:1-3 (NLT)

From the beginning of time God has chosen to speak and be involved with his creation.  There is nothing more Important in life than hearing from God and obeying his voice.

The first chapter of Genesis, the very first book in the Bible, focuses on God speaking creation into existence.  “Then God said, ‘Let there be light.’”  Every single element of creation comes into existence through the word of God.  This emphasis that God has placed on speaking and on communication should underscore our need to hear from God.  Without God choosing to reveal himself to us, we would be deaf and blind to the reality of the world in which we live.  Without God’s revelation, we would be unaware of his expectations for us and of his provision for salvation.