Bible Chapter: Genesis 7
Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
God told Noah that, because he was living a righteous life, he and his family would be spared the coming judgement. They were to take animals in the ark they had built and preserve all the animal species on the earth. The flood came and destroyed all the people who refused to repent and serve the Lord. God is a righteous judge. He judges because of His justified anger against sin. People must learn this truth and the horror of sin. Even churches these days don’t understand this principle. Sin is not a joking matter. The world in Noah’s day thought it was. The world today thinks sin is funny, that it is great entertainment. I try to picture the scene around the ark when the rains came and the floods came up from the earth. I can picture people pounding on the ark, pleading to be let in. These would be the same people who mocked Noah for his work on the ark and his preaching of what God was going to do. They prayed, but their prayer was too late.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
God judges sin, but also gives a way of salvation. This picture is throughout the whole Bible. His nature is love and He always gives opportunity for people to come to Him. This is a major lesson from Noah. God gives warnings, then He does what He promised to do.
3. How can I help someone?
Hey folks, did you hear what God said? He really means it. That is the message I want the whole world to hear. God won’t change His standards of righteousness just because you want to do something different. So, listen to Him and do what He says.
Bible Chapter: Genesis 6
Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
The tempter makes everything not of God look so amazingly attractive. The lie says that we can have all the fun we want with no consequences. We can still serve God as we “enjoy” all the pleasures of the world. The Bible warns us about the relationships we develop. We must be careful and not let them pull us away from God. In this chapter we see that men who were of a godly line of people saw the beauty of the ungodly women and married them. These relationships brought them down to the place where sin was even more rampant. I believe that verse five is one of the most telling verses in the Bible. It shows what happens when sin takes over.
5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. NKJV
This verse really jumps out to me, every intent of the thoughts of the hearts of people was only evil continually. They were evil, sinful and proud of it. I see that in the world today. There is such confusion and evil that people can’t think clearly. God’s righteousness caused Him to say His only choice was to judge them for their sin. People need to learn that God judges sin.
An awesome view of God – Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. God was ready to judge the whole world, and godly Noah was found worthy to save. This is a good lesson. Don’t give up serving God even if everyone else has rejected Him.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
God gave Noah a daunting task. He was 500 years old and God told him to build a boat big enough to save himself, his family and all those animals. They did it, in spite of the opposition they faced. God told Noah he would send a flood and destroy all the life, everything that had breath. Noah obeyed God and did what he was told. Noah continued to serve God.
The application of this is the importance of obedience and faithfulness. Even when the task seems large and beyond my capability, obedience will enable me to accomplish God’s plan. Basically, Noah built a floating four story building, a floating zoo. It had to be sealed so it wouldn’t leak, for there would be no repairing it once the flood came. It had to hold all the supplies they would need. All of this they accomplished.
3. How can I help someone?
The world the often comes to my mind as I read the unbelievable things people do, as I read the unbelievable laws passed and judicial findings handed down; the word that comes to me often is judgement. The world needs to hear that God is a righteous Judge and He WILL judge them for their proliferation of sin. I want to help people understand that. I trust that this will lead them to the forgiveness and grace of the Lord.
Bible Chapter: Genesis 5
Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
This chapter is a good illustration of life in previous times that is far different than we see today. This is important in reading and understanding the Bible. A person who is 100 years old today is considered very old. Yet is says here that Adam was 130 when he had his son, Seth. Adam lived to the age of 930, having children down through the centuries. We see that Methuselah lived to the ripe old age of 969. How did they live so long? The impact and the destruction of sin had not yet reached the human race. When God created the human race, His design was for people to live a long healthy life. As sin took over, it impacted the world and the health of physical bodies. Sin is a destructive force and people didn’t live as long.
In the early chapters of Genesis we see how quickly there became a separation between those who walked with God and those who followed the path of sin. I am often amazed at how people can be so blatantly open about sin. This is what was happening in the early history of the world. We read here about a godly man, Enoch. He only lived 365 years. He didn’t die because of sin. One day God took him to heaven as he walked with the Lord. Enoch proclaimed the importance of righteousness and that God was going to judge the world. They didn’t believe him. They were about to find out that God is serious about sin and judgement.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
God made people in His image. He blessed them. He gave them everything they could possibly want. And yet, so many of them decided to go their own way and do whatever they wanted. We read here about how they lived and had families and life went on. This chapter is a transition chapter, telling the names and lines of people. Some of them were very godly. The majority were the opposite. This chapter ends with the life of Noah and the fact that at age 500 he had three sons. Chapter six goes into the story of the judgement of the world and the flood. I have a choice to make – which line of life I will follow. I have made and choice and will stick with it. I will follow the line that lives for Jesus.
3. How can I help someone?
I want to help people see the importance of following God’s way. Enoch is a great example. We can only guess, but from this chapter it appears that one day Enoch was worshiping God and enjoying His presence and God just took him out of this life. That is an awesome concept. I want to help people see they will never be sorry for submitting to the Lordship of Jesus.
Bible Chapter: Genesis 4
Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
So much happened in this chapter. We see God’s plan for a husband and wife to have children. Eve gave praise to God when her children were born. Children are seldom “convenient”, but they are a blessing from God. Eve understood this as she was thankful to God for the sons born to her.
We see how quickly the curse of sin took over in the world. When both Cain and Abel brought gifts of worship to God, Cain didn’t listen to God as to how to bring an offering. Abel brought the first-fruits to God and he was rewarded. As Cain was complaining to God, he learned that sin was crouching at the door and was desiring to control him. He had to resist it, which he was not doing. We see his failure to overcome sin when he killed his brother. Satan’s solution to “problems” is usually violence and/or death.
Cain went out from the Lord’s presence. He decided to live the way he wanted to live. He established life away from God and sought life and pleasure on his own terms. He had known the best and walked away from it. I see people still doing this and wonder why they give up all that God has promised in a pursuit of temporary pleasure. It just doesn’t work.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
This chapter talks about a curse that came on Cain. Because of his sin and his lack of sorrow over it, the ground was cursed. He no longer had God’s blessing on the things he did, on the work he did to provide food. I see this principle in the world today. As our nation has turned more and more away from God, His blessing, His protection is disappearing. Our society is sinful and proud of it. People continue to ask how various horrible things can happen, how people can do those things. And the answer is that we are rejecting God and His ways and are missing the protection and blessing that we had in the past. I, or any person, must keep focus on the Lord and obedience to Him. The tempter makes so many things look so attractive, while he hides the truth and the consequences from the person. I must continually make a choice: life or death. This life or death choice is obedience or disobedience to God.
3. How can I help someone?
I want people to see the impact of their decisions. Choices have results. God asked Cain “If you do right, will you not be accepted?” This is one of those questions where the answer is obvious. Yet, so many people insist on doing things the wrong way, their own way. When the consequences come, they can’t understand why.
Bible Chapter: Genesis 3
Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
From time to time as I am reading and/or teaching a passage in the Bible, I find myself thinking that this is one of the saddest verses in the Bible. This chapter fits into that category. “Oh, no, you won’t die.” The Bible starts out with the exciting story of creation and the amazing relationship Adam and Eve had with God. Then comes along the liar, the tempter to destroy everything God has created. Eve was declaring what God had warned them about eating from the tree in the middle of the garden. This tree has been called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It was the tree established by the sovereign God to declare that He is owner of it all. It was a matter of obedience for them to leave that tree alone and obey God. The liar came along and said they would not die. The sad part of this story is that the liar still deceives people with presenting something God has forbidden as the most desirable. Forget all the other things God has provided, He is being mean by keeping this from you.
This story is so sad because it breaks the most beautiful relationship they had with God. When the sinned, Adam and Eve immediately knew what they had done and that it was really bad. They tried to hide from God. They lost the perfect home God provided for them and they had to work by their sweat to grow food. Problems began to develop – thorns and thistles and pain. This is a good illustration of what still happens. Sin still destroys and makes life difficult. The way of the transgressor is hard.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
I must keep my eyes open to see what is happening in the world. Even when the first people had just thrown away the special life He had given them, God immediately revealed evidence of His love and grace by telling that a Savior would come and gain victory over sin. God showed His plan for redemption. Jesus came to the world and died on the cross. He overcame sin and gave people a way to restore their relationship with God. I must not forget this as I see the world turning against God. The liar is still spreading his filth – you won’t die, because God is love. Most people believe that unless you are a mass-murderer, you will go to heaven. I must never get caught up in this deception.
3. How can I help someone?
I want to help people see the lies that are being told for what they are. People see a lie as a convenient tool to get out of trouble. The lies our culture is believing are destroying the culture and the individual people. But, the promise of the Savior given in this chapter is still the answer for life and the hope for eternity. I want to help people see they must apply the sacrifice of Jesus in their lives and believe on Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Bible Chapter: Genesis 2
Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
A Sabbath rest. God created all the world and then gave us the Sabbath rest. We need rest for our spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional health. God created us and gave the Sabbath to bless His people. We need renewal and refreshing regularly. He gave us a day of rest, that includes worship and fellowship with Him. The Sabbath is very important. God included it in the Ten Commandments. Believers have gotten away from the Sabbath principle in life. Sunday doesn’t seem to mean anything special any more. Church attendance seems to be optional if nothing else gets in the way. People are missing out on all the blessings that God wants to give them. One of the reasons for all the stress people feel is that they are not giving God His prime time on the day of rest and worship.
This chapter also give more details about the creation. This includes more details about marriage. God said that Adam needed a special helpmate, a exceptional creation who would be beside him. God created a man and woman to have a unique, exclusive relationship that will bring fulfillment and stability. Becoming one is experienced in many special ways. The family as God created it is the most important social unit in society. God created the family and no one has the ability to change the definition or format of God’s gift to society.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
I, along with hundreds of millions of other people, need to relearn the principle of rest. We live in a 24/7 world where we get upset if we find a store or some other entity is closed. What, I have to wait till tomorrow? Can I take care of it on line? We live in a world that is overstimulated with information and activity. We need both physical and spiritual recharging regularly. As I look at the life Jesus lived on earth, He regularly pulled back for refreshing. That is harder to do these days with multiple voices calling from all directions with overwhelming demands.
I am thankful for my wife. God had a really good idea. She brings so much to my life. We are blessed with three sons. I was blessed to grow up in a strong family with parents who were married for sixty years. I saw both parents care for the other as they had long times of health issues. They stuck together till the end.
3. How can I help someone?
People need to understand the specialness of God’s creation. He gave us an amazing universe and world to live on. He gave us beneficial relationships. He made us. Our world is focusing so much energy on the theory that we all came from a swamp somewhere. That concept gives life little value. We are seeing there results of that thinking. I want to help people see how valuable they really are.
Bible Chapter: Genesis 1
Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
In the beginning. This is how the Book started. God’s book goes back to the beginning. And, key to this opening sentence is – In the beginning God . . . It all starts with God and what He did. There are more and more people today emphasizing the “fact” that we all came from a slime pond somewhere. It was all simply a cosmic accident, a big explosion that ended up giving us this complex life. Somehow all the ingredients for a universe appeared and then slowly, over billions of years, the extremely complex laws of science somehow just happened to come into existence.
God is the creator. This gives value to all He created. This especially gives value to human life. We are told that God made mankind in His own image. Live has great value. Sadly, many today ignore this great value.
God created all of nature and gave it the command to reproduce after its own kind. The laws of science are very powerful and specific. The command to reproduce after its own kind shows God’s creation and His creative ability. The historical evidence shows this truth. We do not find half this and half that. Fish don’t give birth to sheep. Each genetic family reproduces after its own kind. Why do I think this is important? Because it shows God’s control of creation and nature and shows that He specifically planned His amazing creation.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
I can appreciate creation. I have been privileged to see many different parts of the world and the large variety of what God made. Everything I use has a designer. The computer I am writing on took many intelligent people a great deal effort to come up with a piece of equipment that can do so much more than I can figure out how to use. The planes I have flown in show how someone figured out the laws of aerodynamics to overcome the law of gravity. The right design combined with sufficient power to push it causes a plane to fly and I can be in Europe in eight hours. It all takes a designer. God designed an awesome world and universe and gave it to us to live in and take care of. I am thankful for His great gift and strive to live obeying His commands.
I like the ending of this first chapter in the Bible. God saw everything He had made and it was very good. Yes, God did a very good job of speaking all creation into existence. Everything He does is very good. That is encouraging.
3. How can I help someone?
I want to help people see the Creator. When it says we are made in God’s image, it tells us we can know Him. We have the capacity to know our Creator and receive all the benefits of that relationship.
