Blogger’s Note: Today is my last day of daily study in the Old Testament; … tomorrow it’s off into the New. And it reminds me of the promise in a paraphrase of 2nd Cor. 5: 17 … the old has gone, … the new is coming!
Study from God’s Word… 1st Chronicles, Chapter 4 - 9 … Passage for Reflection: 1st Chronicles 5: 1 2 … NIV 1 The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father's marriage bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel; so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright, 2 and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph) - …
My Journal for Today: Today is my last day of study in the Old Testament from The Daily Bible in Chronological Order, with my devotionals being led by Dr. F. LaGard Smith, the Author of The Daily Bible Devotional. Tomorrow we will turn to devotionals from the New Testament; and I’m excited about that. Thus far this year, it has been a rewarding and discipline-building exercise to go through the Old Testament – in chronological order; and I’m looking forward with expectation to branching off into the New Testament for the remainder of 2010.
And this last highlight verse from the Old Testament today is a most interesting reference, imbedded in the chronicles listed in God’s Old Covenant where all of God’s people were so carefully listed. In today’s verse we read this parenthetical reference to REUBEN, the firstborn of “Israel” (i.e., Jacob), whose birthright was altered and given to the sons of Joseph rather than Reuben, who had wickedly squandered the birthright due to his unworthiness in the way he treated Joseph. But Reuben’s loss was our gain as Gentiles; because what we read in that little parenthetical description above, pictures how God would give His birthright and glory from His kingdom from His “firstborn” to any/all who are willing, as was Joseph, to receive this birthright from another – later – “Joseph,” who would come in the form of the Son of God, The Messiah, to save, not only those who were promised the birthright (i.e., the Jews) but also those who would believe in and receive God’s glorious grace-gift of salvation.
Pardon me, while I intervene here with what my heart is feeling in this moment, by saying, a resounding, “HALLELUJAH!!!”
But Dr. Smith’s sobering question to close his devotional entry for today, rings like a clarion bell of truth, when he asks: ”Am I living worthily of the glorious inheritance I have been promised (in Christ)?” And immediately God’s Spirit, from my past disciplines of Scripture memory, bubbles up in my consciousness that exhortation from Paul to the Christians at Ephesus, these challenging words: (see Eph. 4: 1 – 2) … As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. And this returns me to Smith’s poignant question, … “am I worthy” of the calling of what I call myself – i.e., “CHRISTIAN?!”
I pray – and I do so pray today – that I am being true to my inheritance of one who has given my life – as much as I’m aware (see Romans 12: 1-2) as a living sacrifice to my Lord and Savior, Jesus, … the One who came and died, as I’m about to study onward into the New Testament for the rest of this year.
For those who’re reading and meditating along with me, I hope you’re as expectant as I as we move into the study of the life and times of the One Who came to us as God’s Lamb, to live, to die, and to be re-glorified to sit at the Right Hand of the Father, interceding for those of us who’ve come to know Him as Lord and Savior.
My Prayer for Today: Oh, LORD, My God, how Glorious is Your Name!!! Again … I shout out … HALLELUJAH!!! Amen
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4 comments:
Even though I am so imperfect my old indeed has gone and my new through Christ Jesus has come!
God Bless!
Amen to that, for sure, Lon. But though this process called "sanctification" can be challenging at times, I'd rather be on that side of the eternal ledger than the other, ... wouldn't you? ... Bill
That's a good word, Bill.. I'm not sure when you gave your life to Christ.. Seems like it was in the mid 80's.. But - can you take yourself back to say - 1982 - pre-Salvation - and say to that Bill Berry - that this is a journal entry that Bill Berry would be drafting for all the world to see one day?? I wonder what that Bill Berry would have said to us... Hahaha.. What a thought! Praise his name..
Well, Rudy - good to "hear" from you here >>> but most certainly in 1980 I would not, being the hardened "agnostic," (more truely ATHEIST) that I was, have even considered delving into God's truth, let alone writing about it. But God can do a lot of transforming in 30 years ... and He has in me, making me a "poster boy" for 2nd Cor. 5: 17 ... ;>) ... <'BB><
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