God's Plan for His Kingdom in This World - Genesis 33-35 and Matthew 10:1-20
It is obvious from reading the Bible that God has a plan for this world. His plan is to enlarge His Kingdom to include as many people as possible. His plan has two parts, the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. The Old Covenant focused on the 12 Tribes of Israel, who were the descendants of Jacob's 12 sons. The New Covenant focused on Jesus Christ and the 12 apostles. The covenants were different in many ways, but there were several important similarities. People have always become a part of God's Kingdom by placing their faith in Him. God has always desired to work through His people to influence the rest of the world to come to know Him. Think about this as you read these passages.
When Jacob met Esau there was a great relief, because Esau came in peace. God had fulfilled His promise, and Jacob had trusted that promise by faith. In the incident with Dinah and Jacob's sons there was an obvious lack of faith on the part of his sons. Jacob was displeased and he called them all to go back to Bethel and build an altar where he first met God. He called on his sons to put away all foreign gods and to seek the True God. Why did he do that? He knew that they would only be effective in fulfilling God's plan if they acted in faith, and they were different from the people around them. God's plan was for Israel to be a holy people, so people could see His relationship with them and His power through them. I am afraid they often failed to live up to this standard and to fulfill God's plan.
In Matthew 10 we read about God's New Covenant plan. He sends out believers as His representatives with His power, so that the people of this world can hear God's Word and see His power. The 12 apostles were sent out as sheep in the midst of wolves, but if they trusted Christ for His power and direction, all would be well. In other words, if they were holy, set apart to the Lord for His use, He would use them. Therefore, the New Covenant is similar to the Old Covenant, but instead of working through a nation, now God works through the individual members of His Church. We are the modern day apostles sent out into the world. If we are not different, people will not come to know Christ. We must not fail at this task. We must trust Him for the glory of God and His Kingdom.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 36-38 and Matthew 10:21-42.
When Jacob met Esau there was a great relief, because Esau came in peace. God had fulfilled His promise, and Jacob had trusted that promise by faith. In the incident with Dinah and Jacob's sons there was an obvious lack of faith on the part of his sons. Jacob was displeased and he called them all to go back to Bethel and build an altar where he first met God. He called on his sons to put away all foreign gods and to seek the True God. Why did he do that? He knew that they would only be effective in fulfilling God's plan if they acted in faith, and they were different from the people around them. God's plan was for Israel to be a holy people, so people could see His relationship with them and His power through them. I am afraid they often failed to live up to this standard and to fulfill God's plan.
In Matthew 10 we read about God's New Covenant plan. He sends out believers as His representatives with His power, so that the people of this world can hear God's Word and see His power. The 12 apostles were sent out as sheep in the midst of wolves, but if they trusted Christ for His power and direction, all would be well. In other words, if they were holy, set apart to the Lord for His use, He would use them. Therefore, the New Covenant is similar to the Old Covenant, but instead of working through a nation, now God works through the individual members of His Church. We are the modern day apostles sent out into the world. If we are not different, people will not come to know Christ. We must not fail at this task. We must trust Him for the glory of God and His Kingdom.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 36-38 and Matthew 10:21-42.