Today’s reading: Gen 6:1–7:24, Matt 6:1–7:11, Eccles 2:1–11

Today’s Theme: Reward from God

Today’s theme is the great rewards we receive from God, we should focus on serving God and desiring the rewards He promises rather than the wages, false promises and rewards of sin. As we invest in God and His kingdom, the promises of future grace will help us to live well before God and encourage us to endure.

Genesis 6:1–7:24

God’s covenant to save us

But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. Genesis 6:18 (ESV)

We can be grateful that God has made a covenant with us through Jesus to save us from the wrath to come. In the same way God made a covenant with Noah to save him from the flood.

Obedient faith

And Noah did all that the LORD had commanded him. Genesis 7:5 (ESV)

One of Noah’s distinctive virtues was that he was obedient to God’s commands. We too should be obedient to God.

A global flood

The waters prevailed above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep. Genesis 7:20 (ESV)

This was not a local but a global flood.

Matthew 6:1–7:11

Rewards from God

so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:4 (ESV)

There is nothing wrong with seeking reward, it is perfectly natural, the issue comes with where and who we seek to receive the reward from. We should seek to be rewarded by God in His time and His way. We do not deserve the reward but we gladly receive it as a benefit of God’s great grace. God’s reward can be a good motivation for all we do in the way we live our lives as believers.

Where is your investment?

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21 (ESV)

You will care about whatever you invest in.

Choose to serve God

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Matthew 6:24 (ESV)

In our capitalist and consumer driven culture we must consciously choose to serve God and not our own temporary pleasures through the pursuit of more money.

Human worth

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Matthew 6:26 (ESV)

Humans are worth more than animals in God’s eyes, another blow to the theory of evolution.

Seek God first

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33 (ESV)

We should seek God first, this was the word our Pastor Dennis preached at our new years eve / new years day service as we crossed into 2014.

Boldly ask

For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:8 (ESV)

We must not be cowardly and quiet but boldly ask God for what we need in accordance with His will.

Ask for good things

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Matthew 7:11 (ESV)

Boldly ask God for good things!

Ecclesiastes 2:1–11

Seek Godly reward

And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Ecclesiastes 2:10 (ESV)

Solomon’s attitude here was really wrong, he felt his hard work entitled him to any pleasure he desired. This only leads to hedonism and is why Jesus taught us in today’s reading to seek reward from God and store our treasures in Heaven.

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

Additional resources

The Flood from Answers in Genesis

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/

 

Today’s Reading: Lam 4:1–5:22, Rom 16:1–27, Prov 31:10–31

Today’s Theme: Doxology

Today, with every passage commented on, we give a closing praise (doxology, just like the end of Romans) to God, for the year that has passed and we look forward to 2016. We learn small but important lessons along the way which will position us well, to be used to the glory of God in the New Year.

I want to take a moment now to thank God for the privilege of serving Him, by commenting each day of 2015 on the word of God according to our daily bible reading plan, which takes us through the entire bible each year.

I want to especially thank Michael Hosannah and Aimee Grippman who have both worked faithfully on alternate weeks to proof read, edit and enhance the daily notes, to improve this resource for everyone.

I also want to thank Pastor Dennis for asking us to do this. We hope that through these notes you have been encouraged, strengthened, enlightened and empowered.

This is the final daily reading notes in the current series and in this format. Every word has been written to the glory of God and for the joy and building up of the Church. May you continue to grow in Jesus as you read, think about, study and apply the word of God in the new year.

Live for Him, with everything!

Lamentations 4:1–5:22

The Lord reigns

But you, O Lord, reign forever; your throne endures to all generations.(Lamentations 5:19, ESV)

As this year ends, we say yes Lord, You are both sovereign and good, reign in our lives, we bless Your name now and forever.

Restore us o Lord

Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old—(Lamentations 5:21, ESV)

Jeremiah appeals to God for restoration. Let us consider this prayer for our own lives as we contemplate the close of this year and entering a brand new year tomorrow.

Romans 16:1–27

Work together

Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,(Romans 16:3, ESV)

This is a husband and wife team (Aquila was a common Roman name for a man). As we enter the new year, let us consider how we can work together and support one another like this great example of a husband and wife working together to the glory of God.

Avoid some people

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.(Romans 16:17, ESV)

We should avoid those seeking to cause division and those seeking to go contrary to the teaching of the Gospel. Let us remain in unity around the truth of the gospel of God, which is what we have read about during this month, in the letter to the Romans.

Don’t serve yourself

For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.(Romans 16:18, ESV)

Lord, keep us from the trap of serving ourselves as we enter the new year, help us to serve and honour each other to the glory of Your name.

Crush Satan

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.(Romans 16:20, ESV)

It is not us, but God who crushes Satan under our feet. So be filled with God in the new year, the one who crushes Satan by the great victory He has won in Christ.

We look forward to the final crushing of Satan under the feet of God’s people, which will be accomplished at the second coming of Christ, where Satan will be finished off, to the glory of God and the joy of all peoples.

God is able

Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages(Romans 16:25, ESV)

Thank you Lord that You are able to strengthen us. Stand on this truth as we enter the new year, you do not cross over in your own strength, but with Our God who is able to strengthen you according to the great promises of the gospel of God.

Obedient faith

but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—(Romans 16:26, ESV)

Lord, thank you for the revelation of the Gospel so that we can come to not just faith, but obedient faith.

May 2016 be marked by our obedience to the Gospel’s call.

Proverbs 31:10–31

Be productive

She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.(Proverbs 31:24, ESV)

The wife can certainly help bring in money for the household. Again, like we see earlier with the husband and wife team, the bible was teaching godly equality, while the surrounding cultures and religions saw women as lower class citizens.

As the bride of Christ we can take a lesson from this, that we should be productive and fruitful. May this be the case for each of us, individually and collectively in 2016.

Build up the home

She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.(Proverbs 31:27, ESV)

Just because a woman can help to bring in money, it does not change the fact that the home is her domain and responsibility in God’s design for the family and society.

Again as believers, we learn from this that we must not be idle but look well to the ways of the Bridegroom’s house, the church. Let us work together in ministry, with care, love, vigour and joy, to the glory of God, throughout 2016.

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

Additional resources

Desiring God on Romans 16