I came across this footnote in my study bible about Acts 1:3 that I found interesting... Jesus was victorious over his 40 day temptation to Satan, and he showed himself his disciples over a period of 40 days to show his even greater victory over Satan through his death and resurrection.
Something I found encouraging in Acts 1:8 is the "ye shall receive power" part. Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, is still present among us, and through the Holy Spirit, provides us the power to be his witnesses. Once we accept his task, he will continue to give us courage, power, grace, wisdom, and whatever else we need.
Something else I found in the footnotes, Genesis 2:21 God put Adam to sleep not in order to prevent pain, since pain did not exist before the fall. Instead, it was a primeval picture of the future death of the "second Adam" (Jesus), whose sacrificial death would result in the formation of his bride. I don't know if it's true, but thought it was interesting :]
Wow Eliza, that last footnote was especially interssting, because I was trying to make myself see the analogy of Christ and us as the bridegroom and the bride because that's the reason for Genesis 2:24 also where a man 'shall leave his paretns and be joined to the wife' in order for us to better comprehend the extent of the intimacy that God wants with us. And thus, Jesus' death is necessary in order for the 'bride' to come into being as you said.
I found Psalms 1 especially convicting for me today because I feel that I defintely have 'sit in the seat of mockers' and that I am truly a chaff that the wind blows away. I find myself really eager to obtain new friendships and might even be too ingratiating. But anyway today especially there was a boy that I did not exert as much effort with just because he did not seem as interesting to me, and I am especially convicted and shame-faced now. That's something I definitely want to pray about.
P.S. Yay Eliza, you make me excited about thsi bible reading thing :)
Nothing specific, but I just started reading my Bible again, which I havent done in a long time. It feels good, like eating food after starving for a long time. I felt my spirit sucking it in. It was cool.
I am completely astonished at the contrast between Genesis 1 & 2 and Matthew 1 & 2. Genesis presents such a picture of creative genius and intimacy with God and ingenuity and diversity (the "vast array" of the heavens and the earth) and of productive work and of rest and abundance, unity and family and shamelessness. It's beatiful.
In contrast, the world that Jesus was born into is a place of disgrace and secrecy and broken relationships (divorce) and fear and sin and protection (from harm) and deception and infantcide and exile. Horrific.
I have such a tenuous understanding of wholeness (shalom) and fallenness that comes from sin, and thus, such a limited perspective on what grace is. It's incredible to think that because God is a God of all goodness, He consistently intervenes when He sees the brokenness of man. He intervenes through the flood and through prophets and priests and ultimately, through Jesus.
I like Acts 1:7-8 a lot..again a reminder to draw power and wisdom from God alone. Also in verse 4 "gift" refers to the Spirit, right? That humbles me too...that we deserve nothing, but God is reconciling us and wants to use us.
The Genesis reading reminds me of God's love for us. That he delights in us and gives us the whole earth. At Urbana I went to a musicians panel and they mentioned creation...how God loved us so much he even killed his own creation which he delighted in to clothe Adam and Eve after the fall. So their point was that we should be giving away our gifts to others.
"Cause us to hear Your lovingkindness for on You do we lean and in You do we trust. Cause us to know the way wherein we should walk, for we lift up our inner self to You." Psalm 143:8
A daily bible reading group from Wesleyan University, CT. Please do feel free to join us at anytime or to comment :)
All you have to do is click on this link to Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan and then pick the dates you want to start from, and start posting your daily reflections! There is no right date or end time so enjoy the ride..
"Cause us to hear Your lovingkindness for on You do we lean and in You do we trust. Cause us to know the way wherein we should walk, for we lift up our inner self to You." Psalm 143:8
8 comments:
I came across this footnote in my study bible about Acts 1:3 that I found interesting...
Jesus was victorious over his 40 day temptation to Satan, and he showed himself his disciples over a period of 40 days to show his even greater victory over Satan through his death and resurrection.
Something I found encouraging in Acts 1:8 is the "ye shall receive power" part. Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, is still present among us, and through the Holy Spirit, provides us the power to be his witnesses. Once we accept his task, he will continue to give us courage, power, grace, wisdom, and whatever else we need.
Something else I found in the footnotes, Genesis 2:21 God put Adam to sleep not in order to prevent pain, since pain did not exist before the fall. Instead, it was a primeval picture of the future death of the "second Adam" (Jesus), whose sacrificial death would result in the formation of his bride. I don't know if it's true, but thought it was interesting :]
Wow Eliza, that last footnote was especially interssting, because I was trying to make myself see the analogy of Christ and us as the bridegroom and the bride because that's the reason for Genesis 2:24 also where a man 'shall leave his paretns and be joined to the wife' in order for us to better comprehend the extent of the intimacy that God wants with us. And thus, Jesus' death is necessary in order for the 'bride' to come into being as you said.
I found Psalms 1 especially convicting for me today because I feel that I defintely have 'sit in the seat of mockers' and that I am truly a chaff that the wind blows away. I find myself really eager to obtain new friendships and might even be too ingratiating. But anyway today especially there was a boy that I did not exert as much effort with just because he did not seem as interesting to me, and I am especially convicted and shame-faced now. That's something I definitely want to pray about.
P.S. Yay Eliza, you make me excited about thsi bible reading thing :)
Nothing specific, but I just started reading my Bible again, which I havent done in a long time. It feels good, like eating food after starving for a long time. I felt my spirit sucking it in. It was cool.
I am completely astonished at the contrast between Genesis 1 & 2 and Matthew 1 & 2. Genesis presents such a picture of creative genius and intimacy with God and ingenuity and diversity (the "vast array" of the heavens and the earth) and of productive work and of rest and abundance, unity and family and shamelessness. It's beatiful.
In contrast, the world that Jesus was born into is a place of disgrace and secrecy and broken relationships (divorce) and fear and sin and protection (from harm) and deception and infantcide and exile. Horrific.
I have such a tenuous understanding of wholeness (shalom) and fallenness that comes from sin, and thus, such a limited perspective on what grace is. It's incredible to think that because God is a God of all goodness, He consistently intervenes when He sees the brokenness of man. He intervenes through the flood and through prophets and priests and ultimately, through Jesus.
I like Acts 1:7-8 a lot..again a reminder to draw power and wisdom from God alone. Also in verse 4 "gift" refers to the Spirit, right? That humbles me too...that we deserve nothing, but God is reconciling us and wants to use us.
The Genesis reading reminds me of God's love for us. That he delights in us and gives us the whole earth. At Urbana I went to a musicians panel and they mentioned creation...how God loved us so much he even killed his own creation which he delighted in to clothe Adam and Eve after the fall. So their point was that we should be giving away our gifts to others.
giving away our gifts: that's really convicting :)
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