January 20
Genesis 41:17-42:17
Matthew 13:24-46
Psalm 18:1-15
Proverbs 4:1-6
People ask should Christians get involved in politics? I point out there’s two books of the Bible called Kings, and another couple of the Chronicles of the Kings. Genesis 41:25 – God had a message for a politician in Egypt. 41:46 interestingly Joseph was about the same age as Jesus (Luke 3:23) when his ministry began. Also notice the parallel between 42:8 and John 1:10-11? There are some sermons on SermonAudio.com that show how Joseph was a picture of Christ. (BTW – if you’re looking for more info on a passage – checking SermonAudio.com will show you some of the most listened to sermons (out of more than 1.3 million) on a passage). One final note about Joseph – though Joseph was in Egypt, and the King/Pharoah gave him an Egyptian wife of cultic pedigree (41:45), Joseph did not name his children Egyptian names. He gave them Hebrew names (41:51/52). While you may be in Egypt, don’t let Egypt into you!
Matthew 13:30 – Jesus talked about hell several times already in Matthew (5:22, 5:29, 5:30, 10:28, 11:23). Now he talks about burning tares. v. 40 – the children of the wicked one will be gathered and burned. I hate to use the word sobering so often, but when we compare reading Scripture to the amusements (literally ‘a’ = non, ‘muse’ = thinking; nonthinkings) of today, we have serious words to pay attention to. v.42 “And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” If you knew that, and believed that, shouldn’t you say something? Do we think hell is real? Do we think heaven is a “pearl of great price” that we are willing to sell all that we have for it? (13:46).
Psalm 18:1-3 – Take a sheet of paper and make a list of who the Lord is. Or if you’re already building in your journal a biography of God – add these attributes to the list. Psalm 18:3 and 18:46 (we’ll get there day after tomorrow!) have been recorded in song – if you haven’t heard this classic, it’s a great way to hide these two verses in your heart!
Proverbs 4:4 – Keeping commandments is not misery. They are life. Have you noticed that Solomon seems to think wisdom is important? Genesis has been an interesting look at people who have or have not been wise.
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