Today’s Bible Reading
January 17

Old Testament 1
Genesis 23

Abraham was a good negotiator and a wise man.

Remember in one of our previous expositions when Abraham made sure Mechizedez swore an oath when there was a dispute over a well about who dug it and who owns it?

Here, Abraham wants to bury Sarah and the owner of the lands told him he's free to bury her on their land. But Abraham made sure He paid for the land with witnesses present.

We should learn a lot from Abraham on how to deal with people.


Old Testament 2
Job 28

What is wisdom and where can you find wisdom??

This scripture made us understand what wisdom is, after every search into different depths of Earth for wisdom.

The fear of the Lord is wisdom and to depart from evil is understanding

[28:28 And to man He said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.]

How do you fear God? Fear of God is reverencing Him. Fear of God is knowing Him. Fear of God is totally surrendering your heart to Him.

When you fear God you will understand you need to depart from evil

Those who fear God RUN AWAY from evil.


New Testament
Matthew 12:22-50

[12:23 and all the multitudes were amazed and said, Could this be the Son of David?]

The people were amazed by Jesus. So also, people might see another perspective of you. Overfamiliarity could set in. But we are who God says we are. And we should act accordingly. We are not limited by our environment. We should shine our light.

[12:25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.]

We should shun divisiveness in the body of Christ. If you have any issue with the authority in church, solve it amicably, let the authority know, do not rebel.

Also if your neighbor wrongs you, let the person know, talk to the minister of God so that the issue will be resolved.

We have a common enemy, which is Satan. We should all be united against him

[12:30 He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.]

Here Jesus is saying, you have to pick a side. You can't sit on the fence.

If you are not doing what Jesus tells you to do, you are definitely doing what He says you shouldn't do.

Don't be idle. Get active for God.

[12:34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.]

If Christ is in your heart, it will show by what you say. What comes out of your mouth will be graceful and edifying. You won't cuss, lie, deceive, and bear false witness etc.

This is why the approach to real change isn't by correcting the word coming out of someone's mouth or by correcting their actions, real change starts in the heart.

If Christ is the Lord of your heart, you will act like Christ.

And we should be careful of what we say because 12:36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the Day of Judgment

[12:37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned]

What we say could condemn us or justify us.

[12:38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, Teacher, we want to see a sign from You]

The Pharisee asked for a sign and Jesus told the Pharisee the highest sign they will get is He will die and after 3 days He will rise up. That's the basis of our Faith as a Christian. That's the sign to believe in Jesus Christ. If anyone doesn't believe this, they don't believe in Jesus and won't believe any other sign.

[12:50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.]

Jesus' mother and brother were outside waiting to speak with Jesus, someone told Jesus His mother and brother are outside waiting to talk to Him. Then He replied "whoever does the will of my Father are my brother and sisters."

We are one big family of God when we do His will.


Action Point

Work on your interpersonal relationship with others

Shun evil

Love your neighbor


Quote

Don't let people pull you into their storm. Pull them into your peace.

-Kimberly Jones


Prayer Points

Pray that God give you rest

Pray that your life will be a good example

God make me wise and help me to make the right decision in my dealing with others

God help me to fear you and run away from evil

Pray that God should do wonders in your life that would make people amazed

Pray for God's love to abound in your heart

Pray against the spirit of disunity in the church


Word for thought

Living peacefully with one another is the will of God. Are you doing God’s will?!


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