JANUARY 20, 2025 MONDAY ENTRY: 10:21AM NUEVA ECIJA
VERSE OF THE DAY:
ROMANS 12:10
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
DAILY BIBLE READING:
GENESIS 49-50
MATTHEW 13:31-58
JACOB BLESSES HIS SONS
THE DEATH OF JACOB
JOSEPH REASSURES HIS BROTHER
his brothers were worried that joseph might avenge against them so they lied and told joseph that Jacob left a command to him to forgive them. Joseph wept. His brothers bowed down and said "We are your slaves" Joseph replied:
"Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
THE DEATH OF JOSEPH
Joseph stayed in Egypt and saw the 3rd generation of Ephraim's children. “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”
So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.
THE PARABLES OF THE MUSTARD SEED AND THE YEAST
Mustard seed - smallest yet grows as the largest so birds come and perch in its branches.
yeast-mixed with 60lbs of dough and worked its way through.
"I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world" (psalm 78:2)
prophecy fulfilled
THE PARABLE OF THE WEEDS EXPLAINED
they went in the house and Jesus explained the meaning of the parable privately
Sower of Good seed = Son of Man
Field = world
Good Seed = kingdom people
Weeds = evil people
enemy = devil
The harvest is the end of age
harvesters = angels
weeds are pulled and burned in the fire
Jesus will send angels and will weed out all sinners and doers of evil
the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears let them hear
THE PARABLES OF HIDDEN TREASURE AND THE PEARL
treasure hidden in a field, found and hidden again.
out of joy, was bought out of the entire life's savings.
fine pearls, found and was bought out of the entire life's savings.
THE PARABLE OF THE NET
collect the good fish and throw away the bad fish.
wicked and righteous separated.
He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
A PROPHET WITHOUT HONOR
the people in Jesus' hometown took offense with His great teachings
Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”
And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
EXODUS 3:1-10
Moses’ burning bush experience (Exodus 3) involves what’s known as a theophany, “a theological term to refer to either a visible or auditory manifestation of God” (Evangelical Dictionary of Theology). The sight or sound grabs one’s attention, but the message is what’s paramount. God assured Moses: “I have indeed seen the misery of my people . . . . I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers and I am concerned about their suffering” (v. 7). Another example of a theophany is when God appeared in fire and smoke at Mount Sinai (19:16-20).
EXODUS 3:7
The Lord said. "I have indeed seen the mystery of my people in Egypt"
LET MY PEOPLE GO
The acclaimed painting Let My People Go by Aaron Douglas uses vibrant colors of lavender, green, and gold, along with traditional African imagery, to tell the biblical story of Moses and connect it with black Americans’ struggle for freedom and justice.
The painting portrays God’s appearance to Moses in a burning bush when He revealed that He’d seen the plight of the Israelites in Egypt. The artist uses a beam of light to symbolize God and His message, “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:10).
In Let My People Go, Moses kneels in obedient submission to God’s instructions, but the eye is drawn to the dark waves and horses trained for war surrounding him—reminding viewers of the struggles the Israelites would face as they left Egypt. But the beam of light shines brightly as a reminder that God would be with the Israelites.
The emotions evoked by the painting resonate because the struggle against injustice continues; many use their power to oppress men, women, and children around the world. As those who are suffering cry out for God to be “a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble” (Psalm 9:9), we can plead with God to respond to their cries for help. And, like Moses, we can be willing to act on behalf of the oppressed.
How might you pray for oppressed people?
How might you learn more about caring for those suffering from injustice?
Heavenly Father, please make Your presence known to all those who suffer unjustly.
NAMES OF JESUS FOR ADVENT:
SON OF GOD
For those of us who have been Christians for a long time, the effect of the name of Jesus as the Son of God has probably been taken for granted. So what does it mean? In Philippians 2:6 we read that Jesus, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage.” In Hebrews 1:8-9 we read that “But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever.” When Paul said that Jesus is the Son of God, we know this to mean that He is fully man but fully God. Being the Son of God, we know this to mean that Jesus is in the nature of God. And so we can have confidence that to know the Son is to know the Father! What a wonderful comfort for us as God’s children that we too share this sonship. Praise God for Jesus!
LUKE 1:34-35
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
PHILIPPIANS 2:6
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage
HEBREWS 1:8-9
But about the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy.”