Short Reflection from Genesis 1-15

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (BRU-F) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

[6:41 am, 31/12/2021] S.R:

 Guys,

This year 2021 ends today. Tomorrow, we start putting up our updates.

Do you have any Bible Reading Plans for 2022? And which book would you like to read and post in this group? I shall be posting a line of reflection or two from each chapter of Genesis in the next 50 days.

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟙:𝟛𝟙

"God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day."

The first chapter of the book of the Bible repeatedly made a point that God is good by demonstrating the mighty works of God in the creation and declaring by God Himself.

Never doubt the goodness of God. And if you are a Christian, everything is working for your own good, by the amazing Providence of God! (Rom.8:28)

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟚:𝟚𝟘

"The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him."

You may love your cat or dog, but remember that only human is a suitable helper! Or else, you are farther from reality than most people!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟛:𝟙𝟡

"By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return."

Because of this, everyone dies sooner or later. However, there's forgiveness, redemption, second chance that's impossible to fail, in Jesus Christ. Those who die in Christ (Christians) will be raised back to life at an opportune time to live in this world and also a new world!

We aren't hopeless like the rest of the world!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟜:𝟙𝟝

"So the LORD said to him, 'Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.' And the LORD appointed a sign for Cain, so that no one finding him would slay him."

The Lord still exercised grace upon Cain, the wicked murderer. Apostle John in his first epistle wrote of Cain as the primary example of an unbeliever, the seed of the serpent, the child of the devil!

This reminds me that there's grace for everyone including for the hell-bound sinner. He might still go to hell, but if he calls upon God for protection, God is gracious to hear.

It is written God heard Pharaoh's prayer/desire through Moses’ intercession. There's a chance that God can bless an idol worshipper if he asks a Christian to pray for him. He still will remain an unbeliever and may go to hell, but God can and may hear to bless him on earth for he desires and asks of God.

This story confirms the goodness and amazing grace of God to protect and provide for our needs!

 

[6:15 am, 05/01/2022] S.R: 𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟝:𝟚𝟡

"Now he called his name Noah, saying, 'This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the LORD has cursed.'"

What an ironic name! 😬😂 After the birth of Noah, and when he grew up to be a responsible man, God killed everyone!

However, Noah, indeed, has become the great ancestor of the Messiah who truly has rested the curse of God!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟞:𝟙𝟚

"God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth."

It was, so God destroyed the earth. It is again, and God will destroy this earth again.

But like God saved Noah through an ark, God will save us through Jesus Christ, who is the real ark.

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟟:𝟟

"Then Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him entered the ark because of the water of the flood."

The only way to be saved was to enter the ark, not just Noah, but all those who want to be saved. Outside the ark is the killing water.

A perfect picture of salvation in Christ. No matter whom you love or are closed with if they don't live in Christ, the water of death will take them away!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟠:𝟚𝟙

"The LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself, 'I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.'"

Had the Lord not promised this, there would have been a series of visible judgments. Sometimes, we are the victims, other times we are the perpetrators! One day, God shall take account of all our deeds, thoughts, and desires! Blessed are the ones who humble themselves before God every night begging for God's power to overcome temptation and indwelling sins. Though they may never overcome in this life, God shall forgive all their sins, and grant them what they desire when He appears!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟡:𝟚

"The fear of you and the terror of you will be on every beast of the earth and on every bird of the sky; with everything that creeps on the ground, and all the fish of the sea, into your hand they are given."

Indeed, animals and every living creatures owe man their lives for Noah saved their species. Good chapter and verse to refer to when discussing the difference between humans and animals!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟙𝟘:𝟡

"He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, "Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the LORD.'"

@Gaan AirTel and @Joseph Kahmei, nang nei pu (daddies) khang suang Nimrod rui suchui mai (better) tipui jat the ni?

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟙𝟙:𝟛𝟘

“Sarai was barren; she had no child.”

Well, Sarai was made barren by God for a demonstration of His glory!

Our barrenness in life is under the sovereignty of God. In joy in sorrow, in riches in poverty, in all circumstances, let's keep our hope and trust in God!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟙𝟚:𝟙𝟙

"It came about when he came near to Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, ‘See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman.’"

Wow! Sarai was a beautiful woman. Nowadays, celebrities are made to look more beautiful than they actually are, and even common people have been fooled to think that celebrities are more beautiful than them. The truth is clear: it's the popularity that makes celebrities seem to look beautiful; while a lot of beautiful women may be just in next door!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟙𝟛:𝟙𝟛-𝟙𝟜

"Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the LORD.  The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, ‘Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward’"

When that part of the world was terribly wicked and God was about to bring terror and destruction, He had a prosperous plan for Abraham.

If we remain walking with God, even if there is a pandemic, tsunami, anarchy, or persecution, God is surely having a plan for us. It may not be as immediate as in the case of Abraham. He never saw it. And it still is yet to be fulfilled in a magnificent way!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟙𝟜:𝟙𝟚

"They also took Lot, Abram's nephew, and his possessions and departed, for he was living in Sodom."

Abraham is not only godly, not only a man of faith but a courageous gut. He went to fight and won!

We need more leaders who are warriors!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟙𝟝:𝟞

"Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness."

Believed ➡️ Righteousness.

And Righteousness will produce Good works in life.

Noteworthy "Chapter 1 verse 11" of the books of the Bible

One of my favourite scripture portions in the bible is Romans 1:11, especially the phrase “that I may impart to you some spiritual gift” in “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established—” Romans 1:11 [NKJV]. It has been my philosophy, my guiding principle, my goal for all my online activities, namely the social media, especially on the Blog and WhatsApp.

However, I used to forget the chapter and verse of this scripture. So, one day I decided to take a thorough look at it to never forget it again. I also looked up chapter 1:11 of all the books of the Bible. Here are some interesting 1:11 I found it to be relevant/connected to what I was thinking that day:

 

“May the Lord God of your fathers make you a thousand times more numerous than you are, and bless you as He has promised you!” Deuteronomy 1:11

“Then she made a vow and said, ‘O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.’” I Samuel 1:11

“Then God said to Solomon: ‘Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king—’” II Chronicles 1:11

“‘O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.’ For I was the king’s cupbearer.” Nehemiah 1:11

“But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” Job 1:11

“There is no remembrance of former things, Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come By those who will come after.” Ecclesiastes 1:11

“‘To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?’ Says the Lord. ‘I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, Or of lambs or goats.’” Isaiah 1:11

“All her people sigh, They seek bread; They have given their valuables for food to restore life. ‘See, O Lord, and consider, For I am scorned.’” Lamentations 1:11

“For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations,” Says the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 1:11

 

“Then a voice came from heaven, ‘You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’” Mark 1:11

“He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” John 1:11

“In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,” Ephesians 1:11

“Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,” II Thessalonians 1:11

“who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.” Philemon 1:11

“For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.” James 1:11

“for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.” II John 1:11

“Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.” III John 1:11

Bible Reading Reflection from Revelation 15-22

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (KD) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

ℝ𝔼𝕍𝔼𝕃𝔸𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ 𝟙𝟝:𝟠

"And the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished."

No one has seen God and lived. No mortal man has the capacity to behold the glory of God. Even the Seraphim covered their eyes.

And yet, there are some who claimed to have seen God! They really have no idea about the glory of God.

 

ℝ𝔼𝕍𝔼𝕃𝔸𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ 𝟙𝟞:𝟡, 𝟙𝟙

v9. "And men were scorched with fierce heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has the authority over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory."

v11. "and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and they did not repent of their deeds."

They didn't repent! Rather, they blasphemed God!

We see the precursors now already. When something bad happens, people are already saying, "Holy S*** or "Jesus Christ"

Even OMG! Huh!

Blaspheming God instead of praying!

 

ℝ𝔼𝕍𝔼𝕃𝔸𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ 𝟙𝟟:𝟙𝟜

"These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and elect and faithful."

War is coming! Yes! Christ will defeat them. And we will be on the winning side! We are known as

1. The called

2. The elect

3. The faithful!

 

ℝ𝔼𝕍𝔼𝕃𝔸𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ 𝟙𝟠:𝟟

"In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’"

Supreme Court doesn't [cannot, will not] give enough justice. Even we, ourselves, do not know how to give enough justice. When God judges the world, it will be proper and satisfying. No one will want more or less!

Even the guilty will not say anything. Remember that guy in the parable of the wedding feast? He was just speechless: no protest, no excuse, not even begging for forgiveness. A time will come when people realize that they ought to be condemned and sent to hell.

Interesting world we live in here now. We love to justify ourselves. We don't own responsibility. We want only excuses, forgiveness, mercy, and grace.

Peter was not praying for deliverance, forgiveness, or grace. Rather, he requested to be crucified upside down.

Paul engineered the stoning of Stephen to death. Paul was quite willing to be beheaded.

A time will come when everyone will submit to God's will to perish or to flourish!

 

ℝ𝔼𝕍𝔼𝕃𝔸𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ 𝟙𝟡:𝟡

"Then he *said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he *said to me, ‘These are true words of God.’"

How wonderful that there are some blessed people in the midst of severe judgment! This vision is given as if to calm us and reassure us that God is not out of control. He is wrathful, but not with everyone. He is in perfect control that there can be a party in heaven and torment in hell without losing His composure! 🙂

Well, how blessed is the one who is invited to that marriage supper of the Lamb!

 

ℝ𝔼𝕍𝔼𝕃𝔸𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ 𝟚𝟘:𝟙𝟛

"And the 𝕤𝕖𝕒 𝕘𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕦𝕡 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕕𝕖𝕒𝕕 which were in it, and 𝕕𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕙 𝕒𝕟𝕕 ℍ𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕤 𝕘𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕦𝕡 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕕𝕖𝕒𝕕 which were in them, and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds."

Many people who committed suicide thought that suicide was the ultimate painkiller, the ultimate solution to the problems of life, the ultimate escape, the ultimate peace at last! Really?

Dead is not the end. Death itself will give up the dead on the last day of judgment. There's a life beyond death. Death itself will die and cease to exist.

The ultimate solution to the problems of life, the ultimate painkiller, peace, and escape is Jesus Christ! He is the only Way!

In Jesus, we have the sufficiency of His grace to endure all things in this world and even in the coming judgment!

Sure, Death, the consequence of sin wrought by Satan shall accomplish nothing in the end. For Death will give up in the end to everlasting life in hell or heaven!

What a loser is Satan, huh! 🙂😂👍

 

ℝ𝔼𝕍𝔼𝕃𝔸𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ 𝟚𝟙:𝟚𝟛-𝟚𝟜

"And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. And the nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it."

There will be no sun. Good news for Delhiites. Summer is hot. I won't be sweating, dehydrating there! And no humidity! 😎

 

ℝ𝔼𝕍𝔼𝕃𝔸𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ 𝟚𝟚:𝟚𝟘

"He who bears witness to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus."

It is the desire of Jesus to come soon. It was the desire of John as well. I also join with them, and say, "Come soon, Lord Jesus!"

Bible Reading Reflection from Revelation 8-14

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (KD) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

ℝ𝔼𝕍𝔼𝕃𝔸𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ 𝟠:𝟙

"When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour."

This is the famous text some people use to prove that heaven is only for men, not for women! 😂 Because it is said that when 2 or more women come together, they can't stop gossiping around. They always talk and talk! 😂

And in heaven according to this verse, there was a silence for about half an hour, which means women were not there, because it is impossible for women to maintain silence!  What do you think so @_______? 😂😂😂

I think it's true yaar! 😎😂

 

ℝ𝔼𝕍𝔼𝕃𝔸𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ 𝟡:𝟚𝟘-𝟚𝟙

"And the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, 𝕕𝕚𝕕 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕣𝕖𝕡𝕖𝕟𝕥 of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they 𝕕𝕚𝕕 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕣𝕖𝕡𝕖𝕟𝕥 of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their sexual immorality nor of their thefts."

The pathetic state of the wicked world. Even in the midst of fearful judgment, they did not repent. If they don't repent now, they won't repent even if they see a miracle or judgment.

When a lump of clay is dry you cannot reshape it again.  A lump of clay must be moulded into any shape one likes before it is not hardened. Someday every heart will be hardened, and there will be no repentance and will perish in the judgment of God.

Praise God for us and our friends who have repented now, and we must ask people to repent of their sins and turn to Jesus in faith now. Or else, their hearts will be hardened!

 

ℝ𝔼𝕍𝔼𝕃𝔸𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ 𝟙𝟘:𝟙𝟘-𝟙𝟙

"And I took the little scroll out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. And they *said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”

The scroll was sweet and bitter. The news of judgment against wicked people is welcome news for righteous people. But when we really understand what that means, it's sad.

Yesterday, as I was teaching about heaven in Gopalpur Bible Study Group, I attempted to bring out the greatness of Heaven by comparing [contrasting] it to the miseries of life on earth. Suddenly one person got sad and asked, "What will happen to my mom?" Her mom had passed away a few months ago without knowing the Lord.

When we think through the reality of the fate of non-Christians whom we know and love, the judgment of God, the consequence of the Gospel is also bitter, it’s not only sweet.

That's why John and all of us must continue to share the Gospel and pray for our unsaved friends all the more.

 

ℝ𝔼𝕍𝔼𝕃𝔸𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ 𝟙𝟙:𝟙𝟞-𝟙𝟠

"And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, "We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign. And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth."

God is lovely and beautiful when He saves us, and He is equally lovely and beautiful when He damns some. The 24 elders confirmed that truth.

On the last day, there will be judgment for the unbelievers and rewards for the believers, what a contrast! Do I really deserve any reward? Salvation is His gift. Even all my good work is His doing. What rewards should I be expecting? That's why the 24 elders laid down their crown in chapter 4:10, knowing everything belongs to God.

In a sense, I really appreciate and agree with some theological illiterate when they say, "I will be so happy to sit in the corner of heaven; I don't need rewards." Actually, they don't know what they are saying 😂 but they are saying something profound to deny something profound!

 

R𝔼𝕍𝔼𝕃𝔸𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ 𝟙𝟚:𝟙𝟘

"Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. "

Satan stands before God, day and night, accusing us. Wow!

But in 1 John 2:1, we see Jesus also standing before God as our advocate.

Now, if we don't have Jesus as our advocate, wouldn't the devil ask God for the maximum punishment against sinners? And so, will be!

Not only Jesus is in Heaven. Satan is there too. We read that from the book of Job. But he will be thrown down soon!

 

ℝ𝔼𝕍𝔼𝕃𝔸𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ 𝟙𝟛:𝟠

"All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain."

What a terrifying chapter! But what a wonderful verse inserted in this!

Believers are protected by the power of God. They won't bow down!

Daniel didn't bow down to the King's edict. His three friends didn't bow down before the image.

The land of Goshen was spared when Egypt was plagued!

God did it and He will do it again!

God knows how to preserve His people! What an assurance that believers will not fall away!

 

ℝ𝔼𝕍𝔼𝕃𝔸𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ 𝟙𝟜:𝟟

"And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.”

God is not losing the battle when sinners rejected Him. He was equally glorified in the condemnation of sinners as in the justification of believers. Both Hell and Heaven shall glorify God. We are created for the glory of God. Everyone will glorify God either in Hell or Heaven.

I prefer to glorify God in my salvation than in my condemnation. I prefer to confess Him, Lord, now and be in heaven than to reject Him now and confess Him in Hell. For Philippians 2 says that one day, every knee will bow and confess that He is Lord. There's even a song from that verse!