Thursday, January 2

THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020


"And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, 'Where are you?' And he said, 'I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.'" (Genesis 3:8-10)

"And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.'" (Luke 4:18,19)


Happy New Year! Genesis takes a quick journey from the glory and goodness of God's creation to the Fall. Please note carefully that the Fall comes about through deception, a lie, and a questioning of God's character: "Did God really say... ?" In order to protect ourselves from falling ourselves, we must take in the Scriptures, so that we may know what God really has said. In addition, through reading Scripture, we come to know the Story at its center: God's work of redemption, fulfilled in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Before leaving Genesis, please observe the deep sadness of Adam and Eve's hiding from God, their loving Creator. Due to their newfound knowledge, they have now encountered fear for the first time. This fear likely emerged from realizing the holiness and separateness of God and their relative weakness and fallibility. Where intimacy had once marked their relationship, now God and His people had become separated.

I share Jesus's reading of Isaiah 61 because it highlights the primacy of rescue and restoration in Jesus's mission. His Incarnation and ministry would turn the tide of separation and bring about restoration. Fear would give way to freedom, grace, mercy, love, and wholeness. God would restore the integrity and dignity of those who have trusted in Him and come to know Him. The oppression of fear, doubt, and loathing would melt away.

How may you join with Jesus in this ministry of restoration and rescue this year? Which of His mission goals could you adopt into your own life? What difference could you make in 2020?

Thank you for joining on this journey. May His Story of love and restoration echo into our hearts and mind throughout this year!


Lord God, thank You for Your amazing grace: that You would seek restoration and rescue of even us, who have rejected You and sinned against You. Thank You for bringing us back into right relationship with You through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank You for bringing freedom, mercy, and grace in lieu of fear and hiding. Help us to know You better this year through reading Scripture and meditating on it. In Jesus's mighty Name, amen.


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