Through the Bible in one year - Day 48

I have not posted for the last couple of weeks, as there has been a lot going on in my life, so I will work at posting now with an eye toward getting back on track. I’ve been reading along and start today’s post with a quote from Psalm 48, since it apropos.

Psalm 48:1

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised

in the city of our God!

In Genesis today we get closer still to finding out what will happen with Joseph and his brothers. No wonder Joseph was overcome upon seeing all his brothers together; it had been so long and he had no reason to believe that he would ever see them again...except for that long-ago dream. God has been working in all of them these many years, and I am looking forward to reading what comes from all of this. There is ample opportunity for grace to abound!

And speaking of ample opportunity for grace to abound, this reading in 2 Chronicles is certain evidence of what happens when we do not listen to the Lord and his prophets. Here is what is written:

"Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, or in the ways of Asa king of Judah, but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel and have enticed Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem into whoredom, as the house of Ahab led Israel into whoredom, and also you have killed your brothers, of your father's house, who were better than yourself, behold, the Lord will bring a great plague on your people, your children, your wives, and all your possessions, and you yourself will have a severe sickness with a disease of your bowels, until your bowels come out because of the disease, day by day." (2 Chronicles 12-15)

I think it is clear that we need to be careful of our role-models and after whom we model our behavior. All I can really say is YIKES!

In reading this lesson in Acts, we notice that this question of listening to the prophets, and modeling our behavior is still being discussed (hundreds of years later no less).

This is what James says:

James replied, "Brothers, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,

"After this I will return,

and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen;

I will rebuild its ruins,

and I will restore it,

that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord,

and all the Gentiles who are called by my name,

says the Lord, who makes these things known from of old."

Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues." (Acts 15:13-21)

I am left thinking about this point that all of us were gentiles and did not know God, until he called us to himself; and once having heard the call our choice is to accept, and walk with him, or to stop up our ears and go our own ways. I will choose, this day – to serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)

Today’s readings: Psalm 48, Genesis 43, 2 Chronicles 21, Acts 15:1-35