1 Timothy 6:6-9
Titus 3:4-7
Jesus saves us, not because of the righteous things we do, but because of his mercy.
And thank the Lord for this - the best I have to offer are filthy rags compared to Almighty and Holy God.
Leviticus 3:16-17
God claims the best of every sacrifice for Himself. Just as we have no claim to the blood of Jesus' sacrifice.
“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.
Exodus 7:21-22
How were Pharaoh's Magicians able to perform signs and wonders? Well they could only manage for the first three. On the first, their serpents were eaten by that of Moses. On the second and third they made things worse. More blood, more frogs! And no undoing Moses curses.
Hardly a resounding demonstration of their skills, though it served to allow Pharaoh that false-sense of superiority that his men could conjure just as well as Aaron and Moses. By the fourth occurrence though even they conceded defeat admitting that 'this is the finger of God'.
While the magicians recognised God's authority however, Pharaoh wouldn't. For the next three trials he would face ludicrously small foes of gnats, flies, and a pathogen too small to see at all. An interesting episode for sure.
Exodus 4:15-16
Have you ever wondered why God had Aaron speak for Moses? A lesson that even the great prophet Moses struggled with self-doubt and human failing.
Matthew 10:19-20
Have you ever been in a situation where your fear and anxiety have suddenly given over to clarity and words have just come, like some miracle?
It is a miracle. It is the Holy Spirit working within you!
Genesis 11:4-5
Man said let's make a name for ourselves, and build a tower which will reach into Heaven. Then God came down to see the city, and the tower, which the sons of men had built...
Acts 9:17
Having shown Saul how much he must suffer in God's name, The Lord Jesus sends Ananias to open his eyes, and bring upon him the Holy Spirit.
Ezra 9.6
I am ashamed to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens.
Acts 7:58
Stephen is stoned to death.
Saul of Tarsus looks on, safeguarding the cloaks of those watching.
This one line is so incredibly complex. And there it is, central to Christ's model prayer. As a child, who learnt the Book of Common Prayer version of the Lords Prayer by heart, I never gave it much thought. But now, when I think on it, I realise how incredibly profound it is.
Got Questions has an interesting article that illustrates just how rich with meaning these words are.
Painting by Ilya Efimovich Repin
'Follow me, Satan', 1895
45×61cm
Genesis 2:4
The first 'toledoth' (תּוֹלְדֹת) introducing the progeny that came forth from God's first act of creation - the Heavens and the Earth.
What a beautiful way of rooting man back to nature and the cosmos.
Genesis 49:11 Israel's promise to Judah.
Binding his foal to the vine
and his donkey's colt to the choice vine,
he has washed his garments in wine
and his vesture in the blood of grapes.
Genesis 45:7 Joseph and his brothers are reconciled.
"God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors."
Joseph's foresight, borne out of slavery, saves not only Egypt, but Canaan and 'all the world'.
Genesis 34:7. Dinah is dishonoured. Jacob's sons seek vengeance.
This is a difficult story. Sin against us is never put right by our own sin. Genesis 34 shows what happens when we trust in ourselves. Better we should trust in God. HE will ensure justice.
I found this commentary, by David Vanacker of Grace Church Wyoming, very helpful in properly understanding this chapter. It is a complicated narrative, with more than surface level lessons to be learnt.
https://gracewyoming.com/the-defiling-of-dinah/
Perhaps the best overall take-out for me, is that 'the narrative passages of the Bible are not meant to teach morality. They are only meant to show the result of the moral choices people make.'
Genesis 32:28 Jacob wrestles with God.
When we pray, when the Spirit helps us with our insecurities, and we can barely describe our fears or our needs, our prayer is wrestling with God.
