January 3

Genesis 5:1-7:24 – This is the account of the descendants of Adam, people who got seriously old!  I wouldn’t even be middle aged yet! Even if the 120 years that God finally decided would be the limit were still the norm (6:3) I’d still be a young’un!  This section of scripture includes  the account of Noah and the flood as well.

Some thoughts: (6:1)The “son’s of God” saw the “daughters of man” were beautiful and took any they wanted as their wives.  Further study on this indicated that the daughters of man were the ungodly descendants of Cain (Cainites) and the “sons of God” were the Godly descendants of Seth.  It continues to be very unwise and cause trouble for “good looking” to be the only criteria for a relationship.  Also, this supports the New Testament teaching to not be “unequally yoked”. 

I’ve always been a huge fan of Noah’s faith!  Can’t imagine the ridicule he endured as he built that ark!  I hate being ridiculed, and I am not sure that I could have stood up under it.  Of course with the help of God we can stand up under much more than we think we can, and Noah certainly lived his life of faith with God’s help and not by his own power.  Still, he certainly is a hero of the faith!

The New Testament reading was from Matthew 3:7-4:11 This includes the baptism of Jesus by John as well as the account of Satan tempting him in the desert.  I always find it ironic how familiar Satan is with the word of God and how he used it as a weapon.  But because he used it out of context and incorrectly, and because Jesus had an accurate knowledge of scripture Satan could not dupe him.  It is vitally important for God’s people to study scripture so that they are able to stand up under the attacks of Satan and this world.

I also readPsalm 3:1-8 and Proverbs 1:10-19.