Bible Pathway - Jan. 1, 2010
Highlights In Today's Reading:
You will be thrilled as you read these three inspiring chapters today, discovering: God said. . . . God saw. . . . God made, describing creation. Read what God did in six days (chap. 1). Seventh day blessed and sanctified (2:1-3)? A help meet. Adam and Eve chose to believe Satan and forfeit the Garden of Eden. Sin, punishment.
Verses for Today:
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. . . . And the serpent said unto the woman (Eve), Ye shall not surely die (Gen. 2:16-17; 3:4).Creation, as recorded in Genesis, is the testimony of the Creator, who created man in His own image (1:27). Man was made distinctly different from animals in that God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (2:7).
God created Adam and Eve to enjoy fellowship with Him. But He gave them the right to choose either to be their own "god" — that is, to do what they wanted to do — or, by simple faith, to obey God and His Word. By choosing the tree of knowledge (2:9,17), they decided to "think for themselves." They foolishly relied upon their own human reasoning instead of depending on God.
Just as Adam's and Eve's fellowship with God was dependent upon their obedience, our fellowship with Him is also dependent upon our obedience to His Word. We must choose the way of God if we are to know the will of God and gain the best in our brief stay on earth. We can learn of His ways through reading the Bible, which leads to a knowledge of Christ — the Source of all life: For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth . . . all things were created by Him, and for Him (Col. 1:16). This is a vital point that distinguishes worshippers of the only True God from all non-Christian religions/cults. Jesus said: I am The Way, The Truth, and The Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me (John 14:6).
All who accept Christ as their personal Savior and Lord of their lives receive spiritual life — the nature of God. Then the indwelling Holy Spirit can guide them into all truth as they read the Bible — the Source of all eternal Truth. (See John 1:12-13; 16:13.)
Thought for Today:
Desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby (I Pet. 2:2).
Christ Revealed:
As Creator (Gen. 1:1; compare John 1:1-4,14; Col. 1:13-17; Heb. 11:3). As the Seed (Descendant) of the woman (Gen. 3:15; Is. 7:14; 9:6-7). God sent forth His Son, made of a woman (Gal. 4:4).
Word Studies:
1:2 face =surface; 1:6 firmament =the open expanse of the heavens; 1:29 meat =food; 2:3 sanctified =made holy for God to use; 2:10 heads =rivers; 2:11 compasseth =surrounds; 2:14 Hiddekel =the Tigris; 2:15 dress =take care of; 2:24 cleave =be joined; 3:1 subtile =cunning; 3:13 beguiled =deceived; 3:17 hearkened =yielded to suggestion to disobey God; sorrow =toil, labor; 3:24 keep =guard.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for our Military worldwide • International Broadcasts sponsored by Mary Hoffmeyer • Staff: Barbara Jean Loyd (retired) • Government Officials: Sen. Michael Bennet (CO), Gov. Jon Corzine (NJ), Sen. Robert Menendez (NJ), and Rep. John Sullivan (OK) • Country: Senegal (10 million) in western Africa • Major language: French • Religious freedom • 92% Muslim; 4% animism and ancestor worship; 3% Roman Catholic; ..1% Protestant • Prayer Suggestion: Pray persistently (Is. 62:6).
Optional Reading: Matthew 1
NOTE: Bible Pathway covers the Old Testament with devotional and commentary insights over a nine-month period, January through September. Each day during these months, an optional reading of one chapter a day from the New Testament will also be listed. The October, November, and December issues will provide a daily commentary on the New Testament readings. Thus, the reader goes through the New Testament twice each year using the Bible Pathway plan.
Memory Verse for the Week: Psalms 23
