Daily Bible Portion (Tuesday)
Daily Bible Portion - 3 of 7
"HE APPROACHED"
(Weekly Reading>>Genesis 44:18-47:27, Ezekiel 37:15–28, Colossians 1:1-29)
We are told that the stronghold of bitterness hosts seven spirits: unforgiveness, resentment, retaliation, anger, hatred, violence and murder (and murder with the tongue). Family alienation, both biological and spiritual, is rampant in our society today. We can no longer deny or excuse sin. Scripture says if we do we will suffer poverty, blindness and nakedness. Only through recognizing, taking responsibility, repenting and asking for forgiveness will the door of our guilt and past close. This allows respect and honor to be restored and gives sight to the blind. Only then can a family (spiritual or physical) come together and be whole again.
Joseph had matured in his thirteen years as a slave. While a youth in his father’s house, he had studied in the tents of Jacob and was familiar with Torah by the age of seventeen when he was sold. In Egypt, he chose to walk in a Torah lifestyle; this saved his life and those of his family. His brothers were not walking in Torah successfully and their lives reflected the immoral ways of their hearts. It was this difference that was the basis for the necessity of their deliverance and heart change.
For some, repentance may not come easily due to layers of hardness in the heart. Believers like Joseph’s brothers can try to hide their dishonesty behind fabricated stories for years hoping they will stay undetected. Concealing a lie even to the point of disassociating from it will not drive the guilt away. This behavior deprives people of the abundant life they could have in Yeshua, as unrepentant and unforgiving lifestyles separate us from His love. Left unchecked bitter roots can grow and lead to physical ailments in our bodies.
Leviticus 16 teaches us that we must forgive others. Yeshua confirmed this, saying, “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24).
Yeshua taught that the difference between life and death in our lives rests on the choices we make for ourselves each day. He said that nothing outside a man makes him unclean or causes him to dishonor God or others.
The teachings from Deuteronomy 28 state that if we walk in curses[disobedience] we receive death, if we walk in blessings[obedience] we receive His Life. In effect Scripture is saying,
“Keep guard over My Words/Laws (the Gospel spoken at Mt. Sinai), and you will live in my Presence and become a nation of priests with authority and power. If you do not observe My Words (given at Mt. Sinai), I will scatter you among the gentiles and you will be left few in number many will be weak, sick and even die."
continues tomorrow...
"HE APPROACHED"
(Weekly Reading>>Genesis 44:18-47:27, Ezekiel 37:15–28, Colossians 1:1-29)
We are told that the stronghold of bitterness hosts seven spirits: unforgiveness, resentment, retaliation, anger, hatred, violence and murder (and murder with the tongue). Family alienation, both biological and spiritual, is rampant in our society today. We can no longer deny or excuse sin. Scripture says if we do we will suffer poverty, blindness and nakedness. Only through recognizing, taking responsibility, repenting and asking for forgiveness will the door of our guilt and past close. This allows respect and honor to be restored and gives sight to the blind. Only then can a family (spiritual or physical) come together and be whole again.
Revelation 3:15-18 “I know your works [sins of dishonor], that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ - and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked - I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.”
Joseph had matured in his thirteen years as a slave. While a youth in his father’s house, he had studied in the tents of Jacob and was familiar with Torah by the age of seventeen when he was sold. In Egypt, he chose to walk in a Torah lifestyle; this saved his life and those of his family. His brothers were not walking in Torah successfully and their lives reflected the immoral ways of their hearts. It was this difference that was the basis for the necessity of their deliverance and heart change.
For some, repentance may not come easily due to layers of hardness in the heart. Believers like Joseph’s brothers can try to hide their dishonesty behind fabricated stories for years hoping they will stay undetected. Concealing a lie even to the point of disassociating from it will not drive the guilt away. This behavior deprives people of the abundant life they could have in Yeshua, as unrepentant and unforgiving lifestyles separate us from His love. Left unchecked bitter roots can grow and lead to physical ailments in our bodies.
Leviticus 16 teaches us that we must forgive others. Yeshua confirmed this, saying, “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24).
Matthew 6:14 “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive you.”
Mark 11:25 “If you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you.”
Luke 11:4 “Forgive us our trespasses (Strong’s G266 hamartia: sin, from G264 hamatoano: to miss the mark), for we also forgive everyone their trespasses.”
1 Corinthians 11: 27-30 “Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of Yahweh in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of Yahweh. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of Yahweh eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep [died].”
Luke 11:4 “Forgive us our trespasses (Strong’s G266 hamartia: sin, from G264 hamatoano: to miss the mark), for we also forgive everyone their trespasses.”
1 Corinthians 11: 27-30 “Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of Yahweh in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of Yahweh. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of Yahweh eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep [died].”
Yeshua taught that the difference between life and death in our lives rests on the choices we make for ourselves each day. He said that nothing outside a man makes him unclean or causes him to dishonor God or others.
Mark 7:15 “There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.”
The teachings from Deuteronomy 28 state that if we walk in curses[disobedience] we receive death, if we walk in blessings[obedience] we receive His Life. In effect Scripture is saying,
“Keep guard over My Words/Laws (the Gospel spoken at Mt. Sinai), and you will live in my Presence and become a nation of priests with authority and power. If you do not observe My Words (given at Mt. Sinai), I will scatter you among the gentiles and you will be left few in number many will be weak, sick and even die."
Ezekiel 18:25-32 "Yet you say, `The Lord isn't being just!' Listen to me, O people of Israel. Am I the one who is unjust, or is it you? When righteous[lawful] people turn from being good and start doing sinful [unlawful] things, they will die for it. Yes, they will die because of their sinful deeds. And if wicked people turn away [repent] from their wickedness, obey the law, and do what is just and right, they will save their lives. They will live, because after thinking it over, they decided to turn [repent] from their sins. Such people will not die. And yet the people of Israel keep saying, `The Lord is unjust!' O people of Israel, it is you who are unjust, not I. "Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign LORD. Turn [repent] from your sins! Don't let them destroy you! Put all your rebellion behind you, and get for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? I don't want you to die, says the Sovereign LORD. Turn back [repent] and live!
Galatians 6:8 "If his sowing is in the field of self-indulgence [sin/disobedience], then his harvest from it will be corruption [death]; if his sowing is in the Spirit [law/obedience], then his harvest from the Spirit will be eternal life."(Romans 6:16-21,7:14)
continues tomorrow...