Today’s reading: Gen 14:1–15:21, Matt 11:1–30, Eccles 3:9–15
Today’s theme: Bold faith
An important lesson learned from Abram’s life is that we should have bold faith in God, in His Word and act on that faith in Jesus name. We have been chosen to receive the revelation of God’s truth so that we will take on the yoke of discipleship and live our lives with an eternal perspective, in bold faith, to the glory of God.
Genesis 14:1–15:21
Move with bold faith
And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. Genesis 14:15 (ESV)
This is quite amazing, Abram moved in active and confident faith in God. He was bold in pursuing this army which had recently defeated many peoples including slaying giants.
God, our defence and treasure
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” Genesis 15:1 (ESV)
God is our defence, our great treasure and our reward. We should trust and rejoice in Him as such.
Trust God’s Word
And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:6 (ESV)
Like Abram we must put our trust in God’s Word
God’s promises are sure
And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half. Genesis 15:10 (ESV)
This was a common covenant made between men as partners in some business or enterprise at the time. God was saying here that He was very serious about keeping His promise to Abram, this should have filled Abram with assurance and strengthened his faith.
Matthew 11:1–30
Jesus, the Messiah
And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: Matthew 11:4 (ESV)
What Jesus did and said authenticated Him as the promised Messiah
Pray for the persecuted church
From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. Matthew 11:12 (ESV)
Since the days of John the Baptist, God’s Kingdom has suffered oppression and resistance by violent men. This should serve as a reminder for us to pray for those imprisoned for the Gospel. We should pray that they would not lose faith.
Chosen to receive revelation
All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Matthew 11:27 (ESV)
It is God’s gracious will for us as His elect to know the truth and it is only through Jesus choosing us that the Father is revealed to us so that we may know him. We should thank God that we have been elected by His grace.
The yoke of discipleship
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29 (ESV)
We should joyfully take on the yoke of discipleship under Jesus. In this we will find rest for our souls. All other efforts are futile and too heavy to bear (the weight of legalism or the slavery of open sin). Jesus is our gentle teacher.
Ecclesiastes 3:9–15
Eternity is real
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV)
God has given all men an inner knowing that life continues after death.
Life should be enjoyed, in God
also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man. Ecclesiastes 3:13 (ESV)
God has given us this life to enjoy with Him.
Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014