Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”
2 Samuel 7:12-16 ”’When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name. and I will establish his throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, who i put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.'”
Psalm 22: 6-8, 14-18 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” . . . . I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—I can count all my bones—they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the LORD himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Isaiah 9:6, 7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forever more. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.
Micah 5:2, 4, 5 but you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, wo coming forth is from of old, from ancient days . . . And he shall stand shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD. In the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace.
Matthew 1:18-25 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. . . . but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
Matthew 2:4-6 and assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “’Arise, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Matthew 2:13-15 Now when they (the Magi) had departed, behold, an angel of the LORD appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I call for you, for Herod is about to search for the child to destroy Him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herold. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken to the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my Son.”
Matthew 2: 19-23 Called out of Egypt back to Judah; they went to Galilee and settled in Nazareth, “so what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that He would be called a Nazarene.”
How overwhelmed, humbled, anxious and fearful the young maiden must have been to meet Gabriel and hear God wanted her to carry a child by the Holy Spirit to be the Messiah, the Promised One. I can’t imagine. Although God’s account do not indicate she was nervous, it is difficult being here and not thinking how overwhelming it must have been. She was willing, without argument or apparent hesitation, and she assured God through the angel that she would do it.
What would her parents say? Would they want to ban her, stone her? She was not yet married to Joseph. Oh! What about Joseph? He would think she betrayed him, she laid with another! But it wasn’t true. How would she ever be able to let him know the truth? And no matter what she said, would he believe her? They didn’t know one another that well. Why should he trust her? All knew how babes came to be, how all animals mated. Yet, she had NOT been with another, and there was no way to prove it. She would be shamed, perhaps stoned until dead. Her parents would forever be shamed, stigmatized That wonderful, poor carpenter who had asked her father for her hand, and been guaranteed she was a virgin, he would be hurt, and also shamed. What should she do? She had agreed to carry the Messiah, to raise the Messiah. How could she do that? She was young herself. She had no standing in the community. She had no experience. How could she raise the Promised One? Had she dreamed this, and it was all a vision? Oh, what, oh what had she agreed to? ‘Oh, Father God, I think I have made an error. I don’t think I can do this. Look at all the people who will be hurt and shamed by me—and yet I have done nothing wrong. But who can believe that? Who?’
And God, in His wonderful ways, had an angel appear to Joseph in a dream and told him Mary had conceived a son by the Holy Spirit—she was not tainted, and she would deliver a Son who would “save his people from their sins.” Because he was a son, he had been educated about Torah, and would have heard the prophecies that the Messiah would be born of his own clan, Judah. I am willing to bet he had some doubts, but he was open enough to believe and follow God’s directions. He trusted and went forward with the plans and when the census was ordered, went to Bethlehem to register, taking his future bride carrying the babe.
After the child was born, they took Him to temple for the presentation ceremony, and while there, an elderly woman, Anna, who basically lived in the temple saw the child and knew He was the Savior. Her deepest prayer was answered when she saw Him, and the Holy Spirit told her this was the child she had longed to see. And Simeon, an elderly gentleman had been promised he would see the Messiah before his death, and when he held Him, he knew He was the Messiah, and let God know that he was willing to die now at any time he was called.
A few months before the Child’s second birthday, Joseph was told in a dream to flee Bethlehem and go to Egypt. It always surprises me to think they were going to Egypt where the Jewish people had been finally turned into slaves of the Egyptians sometime after Joseph died. Why Egypt? Would I have hesitated if I were Joseph? Were the Egyptians so much more welcoming to a small Jewish/Hebrew family now? And perhaps it was not so hostile, after all several hundred years had passed, but I think I would have been hesitant. “Did You really say Egypt? Is that really what You said? You want me to take my wife and child to Egypt?” Thankfully, he obeyed—probably not with any of my own doubts. And Jesus, the Son of God as a toddler escaped death when Herod had his soldiers come into the area slaughtering all the boys between 1-3 years. Many were put to death, children and frantic mothers trying to protect their sons.
The Bible does not say how old Jesus was when they left Egypt. Did He have a younger brother, James by then? Perhaps there was a sister before the birth of James. Did Jesus play games and run and do what other children do—without the sneaking, plotting mischief, inventing stories of majesty and heroes? We do know He was very smart. At one of the yearly festivals, He was in the temple asking questions and commenting to the scholars, and they were amazed to listen to Him.
I am sure Mary and Joseph did not know all their son would endure, and all the difficulties His presence and teaching would arouse. And it must have been difficult at times to see this very intelligent boy/man and realize that according to God’s word, the prophet Isaiah had said He would have the government on His shoulder. He had a loving, gentle nature—is He really going to conquer governments, be a Savior to the World? How can this be possible?
But that is about all we know of Jesus until He actually started His ministry. At a young age He was educated regarding the Torah–little did the priests and teachers know this was because He helped inspire the words written about creation, that He would be descended of David and would rule forever. Now, since we also have the New Testament as well as the Old, we can see how the entire book is tied together and predicts Jesus coming and His life on earth, and then His great sacrifice to save all who are willing to say “YES!” to His invitation to follow Him.
And Father, what You and Your Son accomplished in the three years of His active ministry. . .how amazing! But You are truly amazing and the Creator. Thank You that many men received Your Words and recorded what happened, how He lived and loved and cared for others–all who came to Him. Just as He will forgive any and all who choose to follow Him, believe in Him and confess Him to others. I thank You that You also chose me with this task and thank You for all You do and have done for me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Proverbs 3:27 Don’t withhold good from someone who deserves it, when it is in your power to do so.
Proverbs 11:25 Generous persons will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves prosper.
Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his deeds.
Colossians 3:12-13 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven.
Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
John 13:35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Colossians 3:23-24 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control: against such things there is no law.
Galatians 6:2 Carry each other’s burdens and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Hebrews 13:16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
1 John 3:18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
The Bible says we all need to have a heart change and to grow more in the Holy Spirit and Jesus, and therefore do works for others. The needs can seem almost endless — helping someone get to appointments, picking up groceries, helping with yard and garden work, babysitting for youngsters or sitting with an infirm person so the caregiver can get out for a break, volunteering to pet sit so a family can go on vacation, making a meal and delivering it, and the list grows.
Until I delved into the Bible, I never realized that was part of Ten Commandments, but it is. My siblings and I were fortunate enough to live in a home that included my maternal grandmother as well as both parents. My Dad had to work 3-11:30 PM secondary to health problems and struggling with lung issues in the mornings for a couple hours. But my parents were always looking for ways to help and to lend a hand to others.
Sometimes, my parents may have volunteered our services to help rake leaves or shovel snow for one of the neighbors. They may have said I would be happy to babysit some of the children. When I had a babysitting job, my parents told me to do it thoroughly—which included doing dishes if there were any left dirty, picking up the toys after the kids went to bed, straightening out the furniture, or whatever was out of place. Without saying the words, we were to do “the tasks as though to the Lord.”
Normally, people are appreciative of the efforts one extends. There are the rare persons who come to expect more and more, which later causes distance.
This was a gift my parents and grandmother gave to us. They showed us how to show kindness and generosity to others, and to volunteer to help others. We learned we felt good helping others, and I, for one, appreciated hearing how pleased my efforts made someone else.
Because I volunteered to help with whatever needed to be done, I was invited to spend a month with cousins in Vermont. Again, I did my part with dishes, keeping the bedroom clean, and doing whatever we were told to do to help the household run smoothly. Therefore, my aunt told my parents I was always welcome. And that is a wonderful thing for a parent to hear about their child.
While living in Germany I was working in the military clinic in Stuttgart and people would see and recognize my last name and ask if I had a son who worked at the motor pool, or the commissary. The eldest worked at the motor pool, and the youngest at the commissary—but it was frequent to get the feedback they were wonderful, helpful, polite young men. It was so super to hear that feedback! It was a great thing to hear and share with my husband. Somehow, without a training manual, our three children turned out to be hardworking, kind and helpful people. And they are still like that—we are blessed!
But kindness, goodness and trying to help others whenever you see or expect a need is what Jesus did. He KNEW, but we too are sensitive to the Holy Spirit and His prodding. That is what we are to do—reach out to those who may be alone over the holiday season, invite them to a meal, bring cookies, offer to shop or take them to an appointment or shopping. Reaching out to those in need, or just lonely, or alone means so much. One can bring light and relieve some gloom, especially when one continues to reach out to a person who is alone, living a lonely existence, and thinks there is no hope. So much brightens when someone reaches out to another.
One can feel God’s love and presence when kindness is given. It touches the heart, it lightens a load, it is an example of why God created people—to help one another, to reach out and lighten one’s load, to show love and care for another, to give in a positive manner, to allow someone else to see a glimpse of love, and then perhaps more than a glimpse, but they can experience the full lightness of friendship and God’s love. Everyone needs to feel cared for and cared about.
Lord, thank You for blessing me with a loving and kind, and good family, from grandparents through grandchildren, You have richly blessed me. Thank You for all You have blessed me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Genesis 37:21-27 Joseph’s brothers wanted to be rid of him, they discussed killing him, but then it was decided to throw him into a pit, but he ended up being taken by the Midianites and sold in Egypt. They kept him a coat their father had made for him, smeared it with blood. V 26, So Judah said to his brothers, ‘what profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh. ‘
Genesis 38:11-30 (Judah proposed they sell Joseph into slavery rather than killing him)
Joshua 2:2-7 Rahab was a Canaanite and Gentile, commonly thought to be a prostitute, who had heard of God’s power, and wanted to know more about Him. She also knew that the Israelites were strong, because they were God’s chosen people. Willingly, she helped the Israelite spies—hiding and protecting them, and then making an agreement with them for protection for herself and her family. Rahab married Salmon, one of the spies from the tribe of Judah, and became the mother of Boaz, the great grandmother to King David.
Joshua 2:17- 21 After rescuing the Israeli spies she made a deal with them to hang a red cord out her window and to have her family in her home and stay there until the battle was ended, and all her family would then be saved. Agreement met between both parties.
Ruth A Moabite woman who had married an Israelite man. Her husband died, and her mother-in-law was the only one left from that family, and when she decided to return to Jerusalem, Ruth decided to go with her, leaving her family, country, culture, and gods, and choosing to follow the Israelite God. She spent her life helping her mother-in-law, and married Boaz, then became the grandmother of King David.
2 Samuel 11, 12 David spotted Bathsheba bathing on a roof, had her brought to the palace, slept with her, then when it was found she was pregnant, brought Uriah home from battle so he would sleep with his wife, and they could pretend the babe was theirs. Uriah, felt it was not honorable to go home when his troops were still fighting. David, then demanded that Uriah be put in the front lines to be killed, and he was. Thus, David was able to take Bathsheba, Uriah’s widow, as another wife.
Matthew 1:11-17 v 5, Rahab is an ancestress of Jesus
There are many of Jesus’ fore-parents who were not always the most righteous of people. One of Abraham’s grandsons was selfish enough to think his birthright was so unimportant compared to the immediacy of filling his stomach that he quickly gave it to his younger twin. Jacob, however, was as scheming as his mother—and since he seemed closer to her than Isaac, I am sure he learned many things at her knee.
After all, her family was not that upstanding. They bartered, cheated, lied and were quite sneaky, and justified it all with their own selfishness. Jacob had arrived at his mother’s childhood home per her instructions to escape his angry brother, Esau, over the entire birthright debacle.
When he arrived, he met his cousin, Rachel, and fell in love with her—willing to work for his uncle for seven years to be granted permission to then wed her. He completed his part of the bargain, making his uncle, Laban, a very wealthy man. However, Laban snuck the elder sister, Leah, into the marriage bed, then demanded that Jacob work for him another seven years for Rachel, the woman he was supposed to have married.
For several years there were underhanded dealings not only between Laban and Jacob, but between the sisters, jealousy over pregnancies, using their maids to become surrogate mothers, and finally, when the large family was finally escaping Laban’s property, Rachel decided to steal some of her father’s wealth and idols. So again, we have theft, lying, coveting, jealousy, backstabbing, and so forth. When Laban discovered them fleeing, he was angry and wanted to stop them—‘how dare they cheat him out of money and wealth?’
When the family returned to the area Jacob and Esau were raised in, Rachel became pregnant with Joseph—and he became a favorite son of his father. Later, Rachel became pregnant again with the last son, Benjamin. But Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him; Joseph was bit of a braggart and boaster, and his brothers resented him. But his brother Judah, a direct forefather of Jesus, was the one who had the idea to kill him, and then lie and say he was devoured by wild animals.
Years later, when the brothers and their father were all convinced Joseph had been killed, they found he was a leader in Egypt and was feeding many during a famine which God had warned him of, and he had then made plans to stock food for the years of the famine from the years of plenty. He rescued his brothers and their families, but when their father died, they again became fearful and mistrustful—because of their guilt and fright of retribution.
Years later, when the Israelites were in the Wilderness, close to the Promised Land, Moses sent in two spies to assess the enemy. Rahab, a woman who had been a prostitute (I believe, although not written in the scriptures, she was sold to pay her parents’ debts, and then had been set up as a mistress/prostitute) recognized and helped the spies. She hid them, lied to protect them, and only asked that she and her family be spared when they invaded Jericho. Without knowing God, she knew enough of God to want to know Him truly. She had faith.
Naomi, her husband and two sons moved to Moab during another famine, several years after the Israelites were in the Promised Land. After the sons married, Naomi’s husband died, then both sons passed away, leaving their wives and their mother without a man to care for their needs.
Both daughter in laws initially agreed to follow Naomi back to Jerusalem, but one decided she did not want to face the unknown countryside, customs, and not knowing anyone, and she chose to return to her family. Ruth insisted she would stay with Naomi, care for Naomi and they were family. She flatly refused to return to her family. We are not told if she had a reason to be thankful to be away from her family, if she feared them, if they had treated her poorly, or if she had been touched seeing the small Jewish family celebrate their various customs of Shabat, Passover, and the other festivals. But something had her insisting she was leaving Moab and going to Jerusalem, with no income or any means of support either could see.
She went into the fields to gather grains left in the harvesting—bits that fell to the ground. When she told Naomi she was gathering from Boaz’s fields, Naomi encouraged her to pay attention to Boaz, as he was distant family and would protect her. In the meantime, Boaz had told his foreman to make sure she was protected and allowed to pick extra. Then he went about seeing who the closest relative might be, and if he would be responsible for the women.
The closest relative refused, so it was Boaz and he then married Ruth, and they became the grandparents of King David. King David ‘s family certainly had issues—one of his sons raping one of the daughters, sons disagreeing and trying to cheat one another out of the throne, and lying, deceiving, and sneaking and stealing the throne, and even committing murder. Most of his household certainly did not seek God’s heart and thoughts like their father!
The descendants eventually lost the royal seat becoming prisoners of Assyria and then the southern Judah was captured by the Babylonians. There was no more family to rule the Israelites. Many of the descendants were poor—shepherds, carpenters, and fisherman and many other working men.
God had chosen Mary to be the virgin mother for His Son, and according to scripture, He had chosen her long before her birth, her engagement to Joseph. When approached with this daunting statement from Angel Gabriel, that she would be the mother of the Messiah, she accepted, only asking how it could happen, since she had never been intimate with a man. There was no doubt, there was no hesitation displayed, only her willingness and to know how this would occur.
Maybe she was a little anxious, a little fearful (or more) and she needed an older woman she trusted and could share her thoughts and feelings with. Was her mother still alive? Was she an older sibling and her mother very busy with younger ones, so she felt she could not talk with her? Had her mother died much younger and there was no one she felt comfortable confiding in? Were there perhaps too many siblings, older and younger in the house so she did not feel comfortable confiding? Who knows? And maybe not important. But Mary was comfortable going to an older cousin/aunt and knowing with all the anxiety within, that Elizabeth would understand and be empathetic.
So, we know of Judah, Rahab, Ruth, a Moabite woman—not Israeli, a descendant from Judah, and then King David, but there were many who were not as resolute as David about living according to David. David loved God, sought God, and when he messed up and sinned, he confessed and sought forgiveness. He wanted to live according to God, he chose to look for God and do his best to serve Him and live honorably most of the time.
Like all of us, there are some sinners and bad people in our histories—whether we have met them or not.
I have looked into my ancestry; actually, have found out more, at least about more of my ancestors in the 1900’s from cousins and family members. And they were not always honorable. But, thankfully my Lord chose me and has guided me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Psalm 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Proverbs 28:13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
Mark 9:23 Everything is possible for all who believe.
Luke 11:28 But He said, “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
Romans 3:23-24 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
Romans 6:1-2 “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?”
Romans 6:12-14 “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.”
Romans 6:23 Sin leads to death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 14:23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.
Galatians 5:17-21 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Hebrews 10:26-27 For if we go one sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of the fire that will consume the adversaries.
James 1:6-8 The one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
1 John 3:4 “Sin is the transgression of the law.”
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
It sometimes surprises me how fickle the Israelites were in the Wilderness. I mean after all, they lived to leave Egypt because they sprinkled the blood of a lamb on their doorposts, stayed inside and ate the lamb and bitter herbs, they lost none of their first born. Yet, listened to the wails of grief as the Egyptians saw and experienced the death of the eldest of their children and their animals.
As they fled, fearful, still doubtful, they came to the Red Sea, and they witnessed God parting the water, which stood tall and upright while they crossed from one side to the other, separating them from the oncoming Egyptians. They witnessed the waters coming fully down on the Egyptians and their horses, drowning all in pursuit.
When thirsty in the desert, they cried for water, a bed of water was found, but it was rancid. God instructed Moses to throw a large stick in, and that made the water sweet and clean. Again, later, while roaming the desert, water was scarce, the people were still complaining and whining after all the provisions God had given them. God led them to a large rock, instructed Moses to strike the rock once and water would appear. (In his anger, Moses struck the rock twice, and then suffered a severe punishment).
They had manna delivered to them each morning, and quail later in the day. And yet, they doubted the power and steadfastness of God. They had seen the fire which led them during the nights safely across the desert floor, and then while surrounded by a cloud, they had days of rest, and setting up camp
God gave Moses specific instructions, and Moses would tell the million plus people what the Lord said. (No AV equipment, loudspeakers, microphones. . . I keep thinking of that game we played as children when someone would whisper a secret to the other person on one side, then each would whisper to the next until it got back to the original speaker. With maybe 8-12 of us playing, we would NOT get it perfect. How did the correct message pass along with that many?)
God had already issued the order to have NO other gods other than Him. When God called Moses to the mountaintop and he was gone several days, the people, including Aaron, his brother, who was beside him during each of the miracles God performed, yet Aaron was easily talked into collecting golMad, melting it and throwing it into a pot—and a calf came out.
What about NO other gods before Me? They lived these miracles—Red Sea standing on end to allow the millions to cross, water out of rock, spoiled water made fresh with a branch thrown in, food dropping down from heaven; and yet in a few days, they crumped and grossly back-slid, with the second-in-charge seeming to overseeing it.
How did this happen? Did they have no faith without Moses? He was not God; God spoke to him, and he passed the messages to them. And they would swear their allegiance to God.
It amazes me how fast they seemed to fall away. BUT, then it dawned on me—don’t I doubt and whine and question at times? “Is this really You, Lord? Does this mean. . . ?” And I can become unsure of what I believe He has told me. Then fear and anxiety try to squirm in. . .but 1 John 4:18
Thankfully, because I have the entire book, I know we are still supposed to march forward on the last thing we know God directed us to do. In His time (which is almost always not the same as mine) He will tell me time to move ahead. But I am not sure that I would not be impatient and go my own way without all I have – Bibles, commentaries, teachings – that enforce being PATIENT, STEADFAST, to following Him. I could easily swing away, and I toll have experienced many blessings. I have not seen any body of water stay upright to allow me to pass on dry ground, but still I have received miracles.
Sins are often considered selfish because they stem from being self-centered and loving self more than God, and lacking empathy. Self is immediate, and one wants what one wants, and sometimes does not want to wait. Being self-centered leads to other sins such as envy, impatience, jealousy, and arrogance, and shows only love for self, not love for others. (I am indeed selfish!)
Selfishness is the opposite of love as it focuses primarily on oneself, and that is not showing or even thinking of love toward others. The Bible says any thought or action that against God’s will is sin.
Thankfully, I have the Book in several versions and have learned to develop some patience, seeking His will, and thrusting off Satan’s attempts to make me disobey, be tempted, and so forth. . (I am not always good at resisting temptation and may mentally pull at my “bridle” but have learned it IS in my best interest to do as God wishes and not as Kathy wishes.)
God’s Words have never changed over the years to fit changes in cultural times. We, us sinners, have tried to manipulate His word to change to fit our lifestyle, our selfishness, our sin and justify. But He has not changed His mind about what is sin, what is the path He wants each to follow. His Word stands. (Matthew 24:35)
I am still a work in progress, and when tempted may still try to justify why doing “something” this once is okay — buying a shirt I do not NEED, or pants, shoes, a meal, food, jewelry. I know I am selfish, but it is harder for me to talk myself into disobedience now. I know the price my Savior paid, and I do not want to be disobedient. I am more apt to walk away, and within moments feel good. I spent no money on something I didn’t need, I do not have to argue in my head “oh, but it’s so cute.” versus “but you truly do not need it. It was a wasteful expense.” Then I don’t like it and after a couple months if I have disobeyed and purchased something like that, I donate it. But still I have gone against the guidance of the Holy Spirit, therefore I have sinned. I certainly am NO different than those who disobeyed while in the Wilderness—have chosen idol over God’s direction, and so forth.
God means what He says. He warns us, warns us, and finally punishment is due. In the Old Testament, He sent countries to come and conquer Israel and take them prisoner. He sent out many prophets warning the Israelites that IF they CHOSE to not to back to Him, and make Him first in their lives, they would be conquered and pay a price.
I need to keep in mind how easily I have disobeyed and sinned. It is not just the Israelites who habitually sinned—we still struggle with our sinful natures. God made us all with the blessing of choice—but we do not always make the best choices. Hence, we sin.
Thank You for Your patience and love and most especially for the blessing of Your Son coming and then willingly becoming our sin atonement. Thank You, God for guiding me to become more cautious about my choices and sinning; You have patiently led me and ‘mybellaviews.’
I wrote the verses a bit different in this blog. I wanted to put the OT prophecy with the fulfillment of the prophecy in the New Testament, so decided to put them in the same continuation of thoughts.
Genesis 3:5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. 1 John 3:8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil
Genesis 12:1-3 Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family….I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Acts 3:25-26 You are sons of prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’
Genesis 17:19 The God said, “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. Romans 9:7 . . .nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but “In Isaac your seed shall be called.”
2 Samuel 7:12-13 When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. Matthew 1:1-16 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham. . . And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Luke 3:23-38 the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Matthat . . . the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham . . .the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God
Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son. Matthew 2:13-15 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the your Child to destroy Him.” When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”
Isaiah 40:3-4 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. John 1:23 He said, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the LORD,”’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey. Matthew 21:2-7 . . . saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, you King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them.
Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Luke 2:11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Psalm 69:21 They also gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. Matthew 27:34 they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink.
There were more than 100 prophecies fulfilled by the time of Jesus’s birth. It is amazing to read the Bible, find many prophecies in the Old Testament, and see them fulfilled in the New Testament. That is a complete impossibility to “just happen” and it amazes me that ANYONE can think it was “coincidence.” I am sure anyone who thinks any of these occurrences were random, have never read the Bible; or ig they attempted it, perhaps they were looking to find fault, and then stopped. I certainly did not find it comforting when I first started reading and delving in—all these people in the Old Testament being killed. What had they done that was so bad? Sure Cain was pretty bad, killing his brother, but the rest? Whole nations were being killed and wiped out.
I needed more education of who all these “—ite” peoples were, and what they were doing wrong. I found it confusing, a bit bloody, and was always aware of an underlying anxiety that at any time I could be wiped out.
I listened to different bible teachers on tv, read more, started going to different bible studies, and started reading different books written by Dr, Charles Stanley, Dr. David Jeremiah, and Joyce Meyer. It became clearer to me these being killed were sinning in grievous manners, and the Israelites were God’s chosen people.
Admittedly, it has taken me years of reading, studying, delving into more – bible studies, having a copy of several of the prophecies and the fulfillments, delving, searching, and seeking to learn more. It takes time, intent, and asking the Holy Spirit for help to a better and deeper understanding. And the more you study His Words, the better you want to grow. You want to obey, to learn more, to recognize vices, then keep away from them. Seeking knowledge grows into a true relationship, and it becomes vital to one’s being.
Those who do not know Him, and doubt there truly is a Creator believe they are master of their lives. They often spend time delving into scientific writings, many of which refute the Creator. And there have been many educated, learned people who have never CHOSEN to believe, and it is after all a choice. But again, if one has really read all the prophecies and recognizes all that were fulfilled on the day of the birth—certainly not something a babe wrapped in swaddling could accomplish on His own—but only through a Greater Power. It stumps my mind.
Only through grace by confessing our sins and truly repenting of the wrongs we have done, can we make the choice to follow and learn more about the trinity. It is so humbling and amazing, and I have a lot of difficulty knowing that some have no interest in delving into that grace and forgiveness and giving us new lives. Just take a quick dive into the ones that have been fulfilled—over 100, just with His birth.
There are still some prophecies to be fulfilled. Look a few up and as events continue to happen that were predicted a few thousand years ago and draw your own conclusions about times now.
You chose me before I was born, and knew me and ALL my sins and errors, faults and good, and yet You chose me. I am humbled. I am so thankful for all You have done and given to me and ’mybellaviews.’
Hi, I'm Kathy. Welcome to my website!