Today’s reading: Gen 5:1–32, Matt 5:1–48, Eccles 1:12–18

Today’s Theme: An appetite for God

Today’s theme is about us having a desire and appetite to walk closely with God through feeding on His Word, communion with Him in prayer and living in a way that brings glory to His name.

Genesis 5:1–32

Have a close relationship with God

Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. Genesis 5:24 (ESV)

Enoch stands out from the crowd in this genealogy because of one thing, he had a close relationship with God. We should learn from his example and walk closely with God.

Matthew 5:1–48

Have an appetite for God

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Matthew 5:6 (ESV)

We should have an appetite for God, His Righteousness and for His Word. If we don’t have an appetite for God then we really need to ask God to revive our hearts or to change our appetite.

Do good, to God’s glory

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (ESV)

We make our light shine by doing good works to the glory of God and in God’s name.

True righteousness

For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20 (ESV)

Our righteousness must come from the heart, it must be genuine and true not just external observance. This is only possible through the imputed righteousness of Christ through the Holy Spirit.

The heart of the law

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:28 (ESV)

Jesus takes us to the heart of the law and reveals the true intent of it. This is that we live lives of genuine righteousness from our hearts and not just externally. Our hearts are an open book before God, we must walk in honesty, purity and with joy.

Don’t retaliate

But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. Matthew 5:39 (ESV)

Personal retaliation is forbidden.

Love your enemies

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 5:44 (ESV)

This is not possible without God’s help. Jesus is asking us to do something unnatural for our flesh here, so we need the help of the Holy Spirit.

This is already taught in the Old Testament but traditions had built up over the years saying that enemies should simply be hated which was never God’s intention for his people.

Ecclesiastes 1:12–18

Don’t chase the wind

And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind. Ecclesiastes 1:17 (ESV)

This is a fruitless and futile task, we need to pray that we are not running after the wind but that our lives find their true purpose in God.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014

Additional resources

Desiring God on Matthew 5

Spurgeon on Enoch

Today’s Reading: Gen 3:1–4:26, Matt 3:1–4:25, Eccles 1:6–11

Today’s Theme: The Old Lie

Important lessons today include the fact that the Devil has always lied to man through false religion and through our minds in thinking that we can in someway be on the same level as God, be a god ourselves or live above God. This is the oldest and ultimate lie which leads to the bondage of sin that Jesus calls us to repent from and find true satisfaction in Him.

Genesis 3:1–4:26

The old lie

For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:5 (ESV)

The devil is still using this same lie in many world religions and the new age movement and even in some so called Christian teachings where the lie is that man can become god through attaining secret knowledge… the old lie of Gnosticism.

The promise

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:15 (ESV)

This is the first promise of the Messiah (Jesus)

Cain’s wife

Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. Genesis 4:17 (ESV)

A question often asked is where did Cain get his wife? In this early period of creation and human history, brothers and sisters would be married. This was before the commands against incest were instituted through Moses.

Scientific data backs this up and even points to the fact that as the human gene pool developed, marriage between close relations would cause genetic problems that it would not have caused in the earlier stage.

Matthew 3:1–4:25

The Trinity

And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”Matthew 3:16–17 (ESV)

All three members of the trinity are present at the baptism of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is like a dove, The Father’s voice and Jesus the Son.

The Bible is a weapon

And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Matthew 4:9 (ESV)

Jesus used God’s written word in all three encounters with the enemy. Today God’s written word is found in the bible, we should use it as a defense and as a weapon against the lies and schemes of the enemy.

The importance of repentance

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17 (ESV)

Repent is the first word Jesus is recorded as saying in his public ministry, this shows how important and central repentance is to the Gospel.

Ecclesiastes 1:6–11

Lasting satisfaction

All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. Ecclesiastes 1:8 (ESV)

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. We can only find lasting satisfaction in God.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014

Additional Resources

The Fall of Satan and the Victory of Christ

Cain’s Wife—Who Was She?

Today’s Reading: Gen 1:1–2:25, Matt 1:1–2:23, Eccles 1:1–5

Today’s Theme: God, The Creator

Today’s theme is clear, God is the one who created everything a few thousand years ago.

Genesis 1:1–2:25

God, The Creator

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”Genesis 1:26 (ESV)

Despite the theories of evolution and the errors of those who say Jesus and the Holy Spirit are not God the evidence and record of scripture is quite clear. God is a Triune being and he created man not random or guided acts of evolution

Marriage defined

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:24 (ESV)

Marriage between one man and one woman (not polygamy or other sexual relationships) was instituted by God and the first man Adam in the garden of Eden at the very beginning of creation.

Matthew 1:1–2:23

The Virgin birth of the God-Man

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:18 (ESV)

Jesus was born to Mary who was a virgin, this miracle of incarnation was made possible by the power and work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was not the physical son of Joseph or any other man. Jesus was the unique God-Man.

Ecclesiastes 1:1–5

It is all vain without Jesus

Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. Ecclesiastes 1:2 (ESV)

Without Jesus everything is worth nothing. Jesus brings value and purpose to our lives. Our lives (now and eternity) would be lived in vain without him.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014

Additional Resources

• Answers in Genesis: https://answersingenesis.org
• Institute for Creation Research: http://www.icr.org/