The seeds of the Gospel

       In 1965 archaeologists found date palm seeds in an ancient jar in Herod the Great’s palace on Masada, Israel. The seeds dated to the first century B.C. and were preserved due to their dry, sheltered environment. The seeds were stored at Bar-llan University until 2005. The seeds were them placed in a fertilizer and hormone rich solution and allowed to germinate. They were then planted at Kiddutz Ketura in southern Israel. One of the seeds grew into a healthy male Judean date palm, a tree extinct for over 1800 years. They named the tree Methuselah after the oldest person in the Bible. As I read about this I was reminded how the Lord used the image of a seed to describe the Gospel.

These Judean date palm seeds are precious because there are no other ones in the world. They have the potential to produce a fruit that no other plant possibly can. In the same way the Gospel of Jesus Christ is unique, it has the power to do what no other truth can do, save souls. The fruit of the Gospel has the potential to change the world in a way that is profound.  Like a seed, the Gospel must be placed in right soil for it grow, it takes time to germinate, it needs the right conditions to germinate, it must be planted, and it produces a harvest. The Gospel is not like a seed because it will never perish (1 Peter 1:23).
For these Judean date palm seeds to grow someone had to prepare the soil, plant the seed, and then water and feed the tree as it grew. In the same way God has chosen in His infinite wisdom for us humans to be the ones who tell the good news of Jesus. He could have used angels or simply made it evident to all, but He chose to use us. Therefore we are called to plant the seeds of truth in the hearts of men and women. This is not a burden, but an incredible privilege. Jesus commanded we go to all the world and spread the good news (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16).
One of the truths of the Bible that is hard for us to accept is that those without Christ are lost. If we understand this truth it compels us to spread the good news of the grace of Christ.  There are billions of people in this world that survive without the hope of Christ and will die without the hope of heaven. This fact should break our hearts and bring us to tears. As Jesus wept over Jerusalem and her unbelief we should weep over the cities of this world that are trying to live in unbelief. We who know the peace that passes all understanding, the love that has been shown to us, and guidance of the Word and Spirit should weep for those that do not.
Each of us is called to spread the Gospel. Some will plant seeds, some will prepare soil, some will water and feed the young growth, and the Lord will read the harvest. What is your role? How are you helping to bring the Gospel to the world?

Bible readings for Feb 1-15

Here are the Bible readings for Feb 1-15 for both those that are reading through the Bible chronologically and for those are that reading key stories (smaller amount of reading).

Feb 1  Ex 7‐9 

Feb 2  Ex 10‐12

Feb 3  Ex 13‐15 

Feb 4  Ex 16‐18 

Feb 5  Ex 19‐21 

Feb 6  Ex 22‐24 

Feb 7  Ex 25‐27 

Feb 8  Ex 28‐29 

Feb 9  Ex 30‐32 

Feb 10  Ex 33‐35 

Feb 11  Ex 36‐38 

Feb 12  Ex 39‐40 

Feb 13  Lev 1‐4 

Feb 14  Lev 5‐7 

Feb 15  Lev 8‐10 

If you are following the shorter plan:

February 1 Exodus 20 (10 Commandments)

February 2 Leviticus 11 (Nadab and Abihu)

February 3 Leviticus 26 (Blessings of Obedience and Consequences of Disobedience)

February 4 Numbers 11 (The people complain)

February 5 Numbers 12 (Aaron and Miriam complain)

February 6 Numbers 13-14 (Spies sent and report)

February 7 Numbers 16-17 (Korah’s rebellion)

February 8 Numbers 20 (Water from the rock)

February 9 Numbers 21 (Bronze serpent)

February 10 Numbers 22-23 (Balaam and Balak)

February 11 Numbers 24-25 (Balaam and Balak)

February 12 Deuteronomy 6 (Teaching our children)

February 13 Deuteronomy 31 (Joshua chosen to lead)

February 14 Deuteronomy 34 (Death of Moses)

February 15 Joshua 1 (God’s charge to Joshua)

How to read Scripture

This is the way to understand the things of God: “Meditate thereon day and night;” so shall you attain the best knowledge, even to “know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent (formational/relational). And this knowledge will lead you “to love Him, because He hath first loved us,” yeah, “to love you Lord Your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength” (relational/being) . . . And in consequence of this, while you joyfully experience all the holy tempers described in this book, you will likewise be outwardly “holy as He that called you is holy, in all manner of conversation” (doing that flows from being).
Taken from: Wesley, Works, Vol. 14, 253. (with the things in parenthesis my emphasis)

Let me break down this quote a bit:
1. To set apart a  little time, if you can, every morning and evening for that purpose
Time
• Consistency
• Set Apart
o Outwardly Unhindered
o Inwardly Unhindered
• Giving our best

2. At each time, if you have leisure, to read a chapter out of the Old and one out of the New Testament; if you cannot do this, to take a single chapter or a part of one
Balance
• Ordered discipline, orderly working through the whole of Scripture
• Value of a balanced diet
• Small units of Scripture

3. To read this with a single eye, to know the whole will of God, and a fixed resolution to do it
Decisive Intention
• Purpose is to know the whole will of God
o Caution toward preconceived notions
o Caution to cultural bias
• We should seek the whole will of God with a fixed resolution to do it
• Example of Exodus 19:3-8

4. Have a constant eye to the analogy of faith, the connection and harmony there is between those grand, fundamental doctrines, original sin, justification by faith, the new birth, inward and outward holiness
Holistic Reality
• The unity of Scripture
• The danger of taking passages out of context or elevating beyond its proper place

5. Serious and earnest prayer should be constantly used before we consult the oracles of God. Our reading should also be closed with prayer, that what we read may be written on our hearts
Prayerful Reading
• Realize the relational dynamic of Scripture in addition to the functional dynamic
• Use the Scriptures to guide your prayers
• Lincoln said, “I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go; my own conviction and that of those around me seemed insufficient for the day.”

6. It might also be of some use, if, while we read, we were frequently to pause, and examine ourselves by what we read, both with regard to our hearts and lives . . . And whatever light you  then receive should be used to the utter most, and that immediately.  Let there be no delay. Whatever you resolve, begin to execute the first moment you can. So shall you find this word to be indeed the power of God unto present and eternal salvation.
Self Examination and Action
• Self examination is the conscious, disciplined opening of ourselves to be addressed by the Word.
• It is an inward and outward examination
• Stop frequently for mediation, journaling can be helpful
• Then go about doing it without self justification and rationalization

This is worthy of some discussion and some tying it out a bit.

Here are the readings if you are reading through in chronological order:
Jan 21  Gen 27‐29
Jan 22  Gen 30‐31
Jan 23  Gen 32‐34
Jan 24  Gen 35‐37
Jan 25  Gen 38‐40
Jan 26  Gen 41‐42
Jan 27  Gen 43‐45
Jan 28  Gen 46‐47
Jan 29  Gen 48‐50
Jan 30  Ex 1‐3
Jan 31  Ex 4‐6

Here are the readings if you are reading key stories this year:

Jan 21 Gen 37 (Joseph’s dream)

Jan 22 Gen 39-40 (Joseph in Egypt)

Jan 23 Gen 41-42 (Joseph and brothers)

Jan 24 Gen 43-45 (Rest of the story with Joseph) 

Jan 25 Exodus 1 (Situation in Egypt)

Jan 26 Exodus 2 (Moses)

Jan 27 Exodus 7 (Moses goes before Pharaoh)

Jan 30 Exodus 8-10 (Plagues) 

Jan 31 Exodus 11-12 (Passover)