Thoughts From My Morning Quiet Time

Reading through Genesis this morning, it just struck me, the first ever mega apartment complex was probably the Ark. think about it. After the flood, and when all the animals were released, Noah had a nice huge place fir all his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren and their families to live.

Things like this pop into my hard as I read. This is the third time I have started reading the Bible this year. I finished it twice, and with a Month left in the year I am blessed to be able to read Genesis and Matthew 3 times this year.

The Sower & Faith

As most will agree, when the Israelites entered the promised land, it was not a picture of us entering heaven, but rather the beginning of our trials in the World as a believer. We also agree that the Israelites leaving Egypt were a shadow of us accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

All that being said, I am of the belief that the years in the desert are a representation of our first days, or Months of being a new Christian. For this is the time when most new Christians fall away, which are represented by the first two of the four seeds in the parable of the sower.

Searching For Nuggets

As I prepare my next outline for the students in the Bangladesh Ministry I support, a few thoughts came to me I would like to share. Just so you understand where I am coming from, I'm concluding my study on the seven parables of Matthew chapter thirteen. Specifically the final three parables which culminate with two examples of those willing to give up everything , and a final sobering point about the day of reckoning when mere pretenders will be separated out from the true believers and cast into hell. 

Like the the theological giants who came before us, we too look at the teachings of Jesus in order to better understand HIS wisdom. Yet after 2000 years of scrutiny by uncountable theologians, I still find a rich storehouse of treasures awaiting those who are patient seekers. Throughout his Gospel, Matthew unearths some of these nuggets of treasure for some to see while seemingly concealing others for those who have trained their minds to hear the scriptures in light of the reality of the kingdom of heaven. Throughout his Gospel, Matthew is trying to train us how to properly read Scripture in the light of how Jesus taught and shared wisdom. He does this in order too give us a treasure map, if you will, of how to locate the storehouse of treasures that include the pearls of exceeding value.

Our Lord's Prayer

Matthew 6:9-13

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors.

And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen

I am of the belief that repeating the Lord’s prayer out of memory only, truly takes away from it's value to us. There is so much involved in the Words our LORD used. One should study this prayer, and  say it slowly phrase by phrase and really think and meditate upon it. But basically, JESUS is  giving to us a model prayer. One must understand that a prayer is always dependent upon relationship one has with our FATHER, and thus it is significant that the prayer opens expressing relationship. This how JESUS teaches us to start. Not just this prayer, but every time we pray we need to know that we are speaking to the Creator and lover of our very soul. What follows is what I understand each phrase of the prayer to truly mean.

End Of Sorrow In Christ

by Chuck Ness

An interesting lesson was given to me. Please follow my thinking on this. Consider this about our walk in this World as a born again child in Christ

While reading through Leviticus in my morning quiet time, I came to Leviticus 21:10. This is where GOD gives HIS regulations to the son’s of Aaron, which the line of High Priests are to come from, as to how they are to conduct themselves.

In particular, this part speaks of how the priests are to act towards the dead. One regulation is that the one’s anointed to be high Priests among their brethren, are never ever to uncover their head nor ever tear their cloths.