February 7, Reading 1 – Genesis 45

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

God’s promise to Jacob: All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring, begins to be fulfilled with Joseph. Joseph saves millions from famine, including his own family. Joseph wept! Joseph is deservedly a much loved Biblical character, and one who mirrors his Master.

SJA Notes

* Dear God, thank You for giving us life and for Your word to us. Please help us know You better today.

“So it was not you who sent me here, but God.”

Joseph has an eternal perspective here, seeing the things of God.

How hard it can be, and must have been to arrive at this point for Joseph – His brothers sold him into slavery!

And yet. All the hardship that Joseph suffered, and as well all the blessing and honor bestowed upon him, he openly points to God’s sovereignty and power, His doing.

It was clear to Joseph that God had ordained him into this position for the saving of many people, including his family.

We can be encouraged to remember God’s sovereignty at work as we wrestle with what is happening in our lives.

To remember His love for us!

* Dear Lord God,

Thank You for Your steadfast love for us, Your faithfulness without end.

Thank You for that You do care for us and are powerful to work Your love for our good.

Please help us to remember this when we go through travail and turmoil.

Please fix our eyes on Jesus, who suffered that we might be free!

Amen.

February 7, Reading 2 – Psalm 23, 24

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Psalm 24 was the psalm that they sang as a closing song at the morning temple worship. On Palm Sunday, the people had just come from singing this psalm, when Jesus rode in through the gate on a donkey! No wonder they sang ‘Hosanna’!

SJA Notes

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

“The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory!”

Today we ready two uplifting psalms of great worth!

We have the Shepherd of our souls, the Lord God Almighty.

And we have the King of glory, the LORD of hosts!

We can dwell on and contemplate and take strength from Psalm 23 every day of our lives.

Our enduring hope is spoken clear,

“… And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

David clearly trusted in the hope of heaven.

And the anthem of Psalm 24, the drumbeats and stamping of feet – It is a mighty song of praising God.

“The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle!”

How good is God’s word!

Don’t let it go, grab hold and chew it over, wrestle with it.

* Father God,

Please write Your word on our hearts today.

Please show us a little more of You today.

May we know You better, follow You more closely, walk under Your will with more humility.

Amen.

February 7, Reading 3 – Matthew 26:3-30

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

These verses cover four major events in that last week. The unnamed woman and her faith highlight the darkness of both the chief priests and Judas. What verse speaks to you and to your situation?

SJA Notes

* Dear God, please help us understand more of You today from Your word.

“Then one the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?'”

Matthew wants us to know something very important from this passage.

Directly before Judas goes and betrays Jesus to the church leaders, Jesus points out that we are to give the best that we have.

Whether poor and destitute or blessed with temporal wealth. We are to acknowledge Him with our thought, word and deed.

To pour out the expensive ointment, to see Him as worth EVERYTHING that we have to give (and more).

This is what happens right before Judas walks out, stung to the quick by Jesus’ words, down the streets to the church (temple) and into the vipers’ nest. To betray the King of Kings.

Judas could not understand Jesus!  (remembering he was the accountant for the group, he took care of the money)

Why would Jesus talk about burial and anointing? Even the other disciples agreed with Judas at the time, why waste that fine expensive perfume?

Judas just couldn’t understand Jesus.

This is important for us to remember.

God must open blind eyes and deaf ears. The Spirit must pour new life into dead hearts.

To love and serve and truly (start to) understand Jesus – We must be born again!

Which is something only God can do.

Let us remember to put God in His rightful place in our lives. And pray that He would call others too, saving the souls of those around us.

* Gracious Lord,

Please help us to promote You in all that we do. To give to Jesus all that we are, our best ointments and perfumes.

That what we do might be acceptable to You.

Please save those around us, draw them to You, break open minds and revive hearts Lord God – For Your honor and Your glory.

Amen.