Christ First 01.02.09

Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is January 2, 2009, we are continuing our studies on the book of Genesis.

Today's Focus: The importance of realizing that we must put Christ first before our flesh. It is only by putting Him first are we able to live the correct life that God created for us.

Today's Bible Reading: Please read Genesis Chapters 4-6. If the link does not work you can copy and paste this one into your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%204-6&version=9

Highlight's of Today's Reading: Cain and Abel's sacrifices to God; Cain murding Abel; the genealogy from Adam to Noah; and God commands Noah to buid an ark.
It did not take long for Adam and Eve's sin nature to become evident in their children. Out of pure jealousy Cain killed his brother Abel for being favored by God, then became angry with God Himself because his offering was not accepted. "And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him." (Genesis 4:3-8).

What God was saying was that while Cain's offering of the firstfruits of the ground recognized God as the Creator, it did not recognize himself as a sinner. He never gave a blood offering recognizing his sins. God accepted Abel's offerings because he not only recognized God as the Creator he also offered his first born flock, recognizing himself as a sinner.

The physical, mental, and spiritual consequences of sin are astounding and are eternally irreversible except for the blood of Christ. We are blessed to no longer have to offer a daily blood sacrifice unto God for our sins, they were bought and paid for when Jesus became the ultimate sin sacrifice for all mankind. However, that still does not stop us from receiving the consequences of our sins. We need to daily offer ourselves as a living sacrifice onto God and repent, it's the only way to walk in the Spirit, which keeps us from falling into sin in teh first place.

The genealogy of the sons of God continued through Adam and Eve's third son Seth. "This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth: And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters: And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died." (Genesis 5:1-5). Seth became the lineage of where Jesus Christ would come from.

When we take a look at the world today we see many resemblances of what we read in the Bible thousands of years ago. "And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown (popularity)." (Genesis 6:1-4). What this means is that godly men and women were marrying those who were not obedient to God.

It is assumed by some that marriage of believers with nonbelievers may be acceptable, but there are many struggles that often lead to divorce as well as falling away from God. That is why we are warned not to fellowship with non-believers. "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (II Corinthians 6:14-16).

When we walk with believers we will enjoy the blessings that God has in store for us, including the perfect mate.

Christ is Revealed: "And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:" (Genesis 4:4). Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who was sacrificed for man's sin.

Today's Psalm: 54:6
"I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good."

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
We praise You because there is no dreaded sin in our life that surpasses the all-sufficient grace You freely give to all who believe. It is through no merit of our own for we are deserving of death and eternal punishment. But through the tremendous sacrificial death of Your Son, Jesus, we are freed from all our guilty stains of sin. Thank You, Jesus for all that You do for us and help us to put You first above all things. In Your mighty name, Jesus'......Amen.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night.
God Bless,
Christina

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