JANUARY 19 READING…GENESIS 35 & MATTHEW 13
Today’s theme is Israel…not the man Jacob whose name was changed to Israel…not the nation that came from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob…and not the land of promise given to the people of God. Today’s theme is the meaning of the word “Israel”…it means, “He Retains God, God Is Upright”. Jacob means, “supplanter,” which is often interpreted as someone who seizes, circumvents, or usurps. The Lord is El Shaddai, God Almighty, who is able to takes a scoundrel like Jacob…change his heart, give him a new name that speaks of the work of God. Jacob has a faith based relationship with God, and now is God’s uprightness, God’s righteous…he is justified by God Almighty. He is no longer Jacob, he is Israel. That is what God does for us through Jesus. He takes we scoundrels, and through faith in Jesus He justifies us, and gives us a new name.
In Matthew 13 Jesus gives seven parables about the meaning of the Kingdom of God. The number seven is not coincidental…seven is the number of completion. We are made complete, perfect, in Jesus…it is in Jesus where the Kingdom of God is found. Jesus speaks in the parable of the sower of the Holy Spirit planting the seed of God (the Word), and how it works in the different hearts of mankind. He speaks of the Lord being the judge as to who is justified and able to enter heaven in the parable of the wheat and tares. He explains how the kingdom expands like a mustard seed that grows into a large tree…and like leaven in dough. He speaks of the great value of the kingdom, like hidden treasure being found…and like a very valuable Pearl, worth more than anything ever known. He speaks in the final parable of the gathering of souls…some into the the kingdom of heaven, and some into hell. We must become Israel to be accepted into the kingdom. No, you don’t have to become Jewish…I am talking about the name Israel. We must receive the righteousness of God through His Son Jesus…and He will justify us, change us, and give us a new name.
Please share your thoughts.
TOMORROW’S READING…GENESIS 36 & MATTHEW 14
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