Bible Pathways Daily Bible Reading Devotional

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Bible Pathways 01/02/2002


January 02

Read Genesis 4 -- 6

In Today's Reading:

As the Lord continues to disclose the lineage, He reveals the universal corruption as He contrasts the ungodly line of Cain with the godly line of Seth. It begins with the sacrifices of Cain and Abel and culminates with the destruction of the wicked while He extends grace to Noah through the Ark because he walked with God (6:8-9).

Verses for Today:

The Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man. . . . God saw that the wickedness of man was great . . . and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually (Genesis 6:3).

Highlights:

Sacrifices of Cain and Abel; Cain murders Abel; genealogy from Adam to Noah; universal corruption because of sin; Noah builds the ark and does all that God commanded him (Genesis 6:22).

After Adam's sin, God showed His mercy and grace by providing a temporary covering for sin by the sacrificial deaths of innocent animals until Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, would die for the sins of the world. He also told of the coming Savior Who would defeat Satan, the source of sin (Genesis 3:15; Hebrews 10:12-14).

As time passed, mankind became more and more evil. Although the rebellion of mankind grieved Him in His heart (Genesis 6:6), God did not leave them to their own destruction. He gave many warnings to turn them back from their downward path to Hell.

God raised up great men of faith, such as Enoch, and preachers of righteousness, such as Noah (Hebrews 11:5). Added to this, the Holy Spirit spoke to the consciences of men (Genesis 6:3). But the people willfully continued to ignore His message.

The Spirit of God moves in the heart of every person, convicting him of sin and seeking to turn him to God. The allotted time for each of us who has heard His Word is sufficient to accept God's message of love and to receive Christ as Savior and Lord of our lives. The voice of the Holy Spirit eventually comes to an end -- not because God is no longer willing to help, but because of the hardheartedness of those who refuse to yield their wills to His will.

Take heed . . . lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God (Hebrews 3:12).

A Thought from Proverbs: Whoever harkens to Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil (1:33).

Christ Revealed:

Through Abel's blood sacrifice (Genesis 4:4-7). Christ is the Lamb of God, sacrificed for man's sin (John 1:29; Hebrews 9:22; 11:4). Man's best achievements can never take the place of the atonement of Christ, made through His own sinless blood.

Word Studies:

4:4 had respect = approved; 4:5 wroth = angry; 4:22 artificer = craftsman; 5:24 was not = disappeared; 6:2 sons of God; daughters of men = true worshipers versus unbelievers; 6:6 repented the Lord = was grieved; 6:9 perfect = blameless.

Prayer Needs:

Government Officials: Rep. Henry Bonilla (TX), Rep. Dennis Hastert (IL), and Rep. Robert Wexler (FL) · Pray for your Sunday School teacher · Country: Moldova (4 million) southeastern Europe · Major languages: Rumanian and Russian · Limited religious freedom · 66% Romanian/Russian/Bulgarian Orthodox; 3% Roman Catholic; 2% Protestant; 2% Jewish · Prayer Suggestion: Pray aloud with your voice -- God hears (Psalms 3:4).

Optional Reading: Matthew 2

Memory Verse for the Week: Matthew 1:23



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