JOURNEY THRU THE BIBLE — DAY 6
January 6, 2020
Genesis 6 / Matthew 6 / Ezra 6 / Acts 6
GENESIS 6 — SIN AND GRACE
The slide of humanity into total depravity continues as “every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart” become dominated by evil. What God sees when He looks at His creation breaks His heart so much so that “the Lord regretted that He had made human beings…[and]…His heart was deeply troubled.”
The Hebrew word for “regretted” is a word that sometimes gets translated, “repent” or “feel sorrow or be grieved.” It’s a word that means to “draw breath forcibly.” In other words, it’s a sigh of painful sorrow.When God saw our slide into depravity, immorality, sin and rebellion, he sighed in regret.
Sin does more than break God’s law, it literally breaks His heart.
We seldom pause to think about that: sin breaks the heart of God. Our sin breaks His heart. My sin breaks His heart.
Want a glimpse of how God feels about our sin? Check out the book of Jeremiah. In Jeremiah God is speaking through His prophet about His grief over the sin and brokenness of His people and He describes Himself like this:
18 “My grief is beyond healing; my heart is broken…” —Jer 18:8 NLT
21 “I hurt with the hurt of my people. I mourn and am overcome with grief.” —Jer 18:21 NLT
9:1 “If only my head were a pool of water and my eyes a fountain of tears, I would weep day and night for all my people who have been slaughtered.” —Jer 9:1 NLT
In Genesis 6 God looked at the mess we had made and wept. He still weeps today.
But then… But then…when hope was all but gone, we read these astonishing words:
“But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord…” —Gen 6:8
The KJV and NKJ read, “But Noah found GRACE in the eyes of the LORD.”
The Blue Letter Bible says the word for “favor” or “grace” means “favor, grace or acceptance.”
Grace and acceptance are more than a NT concepts. They represent the heart and character of God.
And, grace is more than undeserved favor and kindness. Grace is God’s reckless, relentless and unconditional love that meets us where we are and refuses to leave us where it found us! It is God’s love working through His power to bring about our freedom and transformation.
“Noah found GRACE in the eyes of the LORD,” and that GRACE produced in Him a desire to live right, do right and be right! In a world that was completely wrong, “Noah was a righteous man.” He wasn’t righteous because He was so good. He was righteous because God is so GRACEFUL. In fact, God’s GRACE so radically changed Him that like Enoch, Noah “walked faithfully with God” (Gen 6:9b).
A PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for grace. Thank You for grace that meets us where we are but refuses to leave us there. Help me to realize and recognize the sins that I tolerate that break Your heart. May I repent of those sins and receive grace, and may Your grace radically change and totally transform my life until like Enoch and Noah, I “walk faithfully with YOU.” It is in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
MATTHEW 6 — WHEN YOU GIVE. WHEN YOU PRAY. WHEN YOU FAST.
In Matthew 6, Jesus makes it plan that giving, prayer and fasting aren’t options to the Christian life. They are essential.
In Matthew 6:2, Jesus said, “When you give…”
In Matthew 6:5, Jesus said, “When you pray…”
And, in Matthew 6:14, Jesus said, “When you fast…”
Giving, prayer and fasting were viewed by Jesus as the basic equipment for life in the kingdom.
Giving flows out of a heart of generosity, not a desire for recognition (6:2-4).
Prayer flows out of a heart that is authentic, not a desire to impress others with our supposed spirituality (6:5-13).
Prayer is simply communicating and connecting with Your Heavenly Father who cares about what is going on in your life.
And, fasting isn’t a spiritual practice for the spiritual elites, it’s a simple means of denying your own appetite for the express purpose of pursuing the heart of God. It isn’t meant to get the attention of people. It’s meant to get the attention of God.
Giving, prayer and fasting are essential to the growth and development of citizens of the kingdom.
A PRAYER: Father, help me to grow in generosity, to persist in prayer and to follow You by denying myself so that I can make more room for all You are…
I commit to honor You by pursuing your heart thru giving, prayer and fasting during the upcoming 21 Days of Prayer at A2 Church. Amen.
EZRA 6 — CHANGING MINDS and ATTITUDES IS GOD’S SPECIALITY
God Intervenes for His people (6:1-12).
King Darius issues a new decree (6:3-12).
Work on the Temple starts again (6:13-15).
Hagai and Zechariah inspire the people by preaching (6:14).
Rebuilding on the Temple is complete (6:15).
The people rejoice as God changes the attitude of the King of Assyria (6:19-22).
A PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You and You alone can change hearts and minds. If You can change the attitude of a pagan leader so that He finances the rebuilding project of Your temple, pays for the worship supplies of Your people and silences their critics, You can change the attitudes, hearts and minds of anyone… I trust You with my relationships — family, friends and even critics. I will not attempt to control or manipulate the outcome that I would prefer, but instead I will choose to trust You with my future, with my reputation, with my character, with my family, friends, team and church… I choose to the God who is able to change attitudes… Amen and amen.
ACTS 6 — KEEP THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING — STAY FOCUSED ON PRAYER and the MINISTRY of the WORD
Church problems, challenges and conflict have and will always exist (6:1).
Solutions and resolution are always available if we will seek them (6:2-4).
Ministry needs to be delegated (6:3-5).
The apostles are determined to stay focused on prayer and the ministry of the Word of God (6:2-6)…
The Word of God spreads and the number of disciples increase rapidly (6:7)…
A PRAYER: Help me to always keep main thing the main thing… There are so many “good” things that can distract me from the main thing. Help me stay focused on what really matters and give my mind and attention to that… Trusting that You will fill in every gap… In Jesus’ good name I pray. Amen.