God’s Covenant with Adam and Eve

God created the heavens and the earth and it was good.

Genesis 1:27-31 7 God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. 30 Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. 31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

In the beginning Adam was given dominion over all the earth to care for it. God’s paradise was given to us perfect but it came with restrictions to not eat of the one thing that could separate us from our Creator God…the knowledge of evil. Adam and Eve broke that Covenant. The serpent in deceiving them only wanted to destroy the world and everything created by God for us.

Genesis 2:8-9 The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

God wanted to protect our innocence and  our dependence on Him alone and the deceiver only strives to open our eyes to the evil that is in him and plant the mindset that it is all about us, our wants and our desires for power and control. He wants to destroy our faith and trust in God alone. 

Genesis 2:16-17 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Forbidden to eat of the knowledge of good and evil was the only restriction in the Covenant of God to mankind in Adam and Eve.

God has total control over His covenants with mankind. He made them and He  has the right to end them. It is mans’ responsibility to adhere to His rules.

That same serpent from Genesis today only strives to kill, steal and destroy everything that God created for us. God, from the start had already planned for the  salvation of mankind in Jesus. Fearing his loss of control over the minds of man he knew that God’s salvation to the world in Jesus would come to destroy him. Satan tried to stop the coming of Jesus through Herod. but the wise men were warned of his plan to kill the Christ child. through the divine intervention of Holy Spirit and His warning to the wise men and to Joseph his plans were stopped.

The deceiver hates Jesus knowing that through Him the world could be saved. John 3:16-18.  Satan knows that his power is limited and it has an end. 

Jesus the Christ has conquered  sin and death in His birth, death and resurrection. Christ within us is the hope of God’s glory to all who accept Him.

Revelation 21:5-7 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” 6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 

A new heaven and a new earth, that satan will have no part in, will be established with mankind. Everything will be brand new. All the suffering of humanity will end in the peace of Christ’s rule. In our faith in Jesus the Christ alone we are saved. We have seen the light and it is good.  It is finished! Carla

John 1:4 (ESV) "In him was life, and the life was the light of men."

Have you ever considered how each Gospel account begins? Mark opens at the start of Jesus' earthly ministry.Matthew unfolds Jesus' human genealogy reaching back to Abraham. Luke paints an intimate picture of Jesus' birth and then traces His lineage, this time back to Adam.

Then we read John. With his sights set on the divine nature of Jesus, John ventured into the mysteries of heaven itself to trace Jesus' existence back to ... well, always. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God ... In him was life, and the life was the light of men" (John 1:1-4).

I must confess that as I read these God-inspired words, I get chills, and I want to take off my shoes as if standing on holy ground. Throughout the Old Testament, light and fire represented purity, holiness, wisdom, righteousness, restoration and the presence of God (2 Chronicles 7:1-3; Psalm 27:1; Exodus 3:2; etc.). But the gospel reveals that Light now has a name: Jesus. Later in his book, John recorded this truth in Jesus' own words: "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12a). 

The Light of Men

● Jesus is the Creator of light. He is God, and when "God said, 'Let there be light' ... there was light" (Genesis 1:3). 

● Jesus also reveals the light of God's glory. In one miraculous instance in Matthew 17:2, Jesus even physically "shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light." Revelation 1:16 uses similar imagery to show how our Savior will be "like the sun shining in full strength" as the King of heaven in eternity.

● Finally, Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1), and He fulfills all that light symbolizes in the Word of God. He is pure, holy, wise, righteous, restorative and ever-present.

The Life of Men

● Jesus brought forth not only light but all life at creation (John 1:3-4).

● Though we are dead in our sins, those who trust in Jesus for salvation are granted new spiritual life(Romans 6:11; Ephesians 2:4-5). He forgives our sin and restores our relationship with God.

● And one day, Jesus will return to bring resurrection life to all who have believed in Him (John 14:2-3). In the presence of God, we will finally dwell forever in His light.

First5

Paulo Coehlo’s reminder that, “It’s the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary.” Yes. The ordinary is the hiding place for the holy.

Here's my invitation to you; take a moment to pause, and give thanks for all the small and simple gifts that have enriched your life during this holiday season…knowing that the light from simple gifts, spills and gives hope to the world around us. Yes, remembering that “Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.” (Howard Zinn). Sabbath Moments

1 Peter 2:4-8 Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith. Merry Christmas.

Isaiah 66:7-13 

Before she was in labor, she gave birth; 

Before her pain came, 

She delivered a male child. 

8 Who has heard such a thing? 

Who has seen such things? 

Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? 

Or shall a nation be born at once? 

For as soon as Zion was in labor, 

She gave birth to her children. 

9 Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?” says the Lord. “Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?” says your God. 

10 “Rejoice with Jerusalem, 

And be glad with her, all you who love her; 

Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her; 

11 That you may feed and be satisfied 

With the consolation of her bosom, 

That you may drink deeply and be delighted 

With the abundance of her glory.” 

12 For thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, 

And the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream. 

Then you shall feed; 

On her sides shall you be carried, 

And be dandled on her knees. 

13 As one whom his mother comforts, 

So I will comfort you; 

And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”

God chose Israel, even though they sometimes acted like other nations and worshipped false gods. They became so proud of themselves that they forgot about God. But God still found those who believed in Him alone and didn’t worship worthless idols. From that small group of people who loved Him above all, God would bring forth His righteousness and send His Redeemer King into the world. He will come to judge the unbelievers, but he will be the rock of salvation for all those who believe. God is the only one who controls the whole world, and it’s all His creation. We are a special people who trust our lives to Him, believing in the mercy and goodness of our Lord and Savior. God’s promises have been and will continue to be fulfilled in Jesus Christ alone!

John 14:13-18 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. 15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 

When we gather together and invite Him in, He’s right there with us. When we invite Him into our lives, no matter how messy they may be, He’s there…we just need to listen to that still, small voice of the Holy Spirit in us. Christ within is  the hope of God’s glory in our lives.

1 Peter 2:4-8 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” 7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

Jesus is the chief cornerstone of God’s Kingdom and He will never leave nor forsake those who place their trust in Him alone. Carla

The reference to the Lord in 1 Peter 1:3 prompts Peter to discuss the relationship between Christ and the people of God. He draws on two Old Testament passages to emphasize Christ’s worth in God’s eyes despite the world’s rejection of Him (Psalms 118:22; Isaiah 28:16). Living stones describes  the status of Christians in relation to Christ, the cornerstone of the temple in this metaphor. Believers function as building blocks in the spiritual house of God (the temple); they do this by virtue of their new life in Christ. Peter explains the transfer of priesthood language from Israel to the Church in a later verse. Peter reminds his audience of the priesthood’s ultimate purpose: to offer God praise and thanksgiving. Here Peter cites Isaiah 28:16 to emphasize the precious nature of Christ as the cornerstone of the spiritual temple. 

The citation of Isaiah also serves as a reminder that believers will not ultimately experience shame, despite their present sufferings for honoring Christ. The Greek word used here for consigned, tithēmi, is also used in 1 Peter 2:6, and thus may be literally rendered as “set,” as in the setting of the stone in verse 6. This reveals that Peter’s point is not that some people are preordained to destruction, but that some will stumble over the “cornerstone,” Jesus. 

The cornerstone is set firmly in place, so for those who do not acknowledge it, it is a stumbling block and thus offensive—it is viewed as being in the way of their perceived path.  Faithlife Study Bible

Jesus, as a living stone, is superior to the Old Testament temple. It may also may be a subtle attack on the dead stone idols that the Gentiles worshiped prior to becoming Christians. 

Thus Jesus is greater than the traditions received from the fathers, He is greater than the temple in Jerusalem, and He is greater than the traditions of the Gentiles with their lifeless stone idols. The new building of God, of which Jesus is the Cornerstone, is living: it is the assembly of all believers, the church. 

Not to receive Christ is to reject Him. 

Christians are part of God’s great spiritual building project. Stones here refers to stones that are shaped and ready for use in construction, as opposed to natural rock. Unlike the Old Testament priesthood, in which only those who were born into a certain tribe could be priests, all who are reborn into God’s family, that is, all believers, are priests who have the privilege and responsibility of offering spiritual sacrifices to God (Romans 12:1, 2; Hebrews 13:15, 16).

Jesus is the foundation stone from which the placement of all other living stones in the spiritual house is determined. In ancient buildings, the cornerstone was first situated on the foundation and then all of the other stones were aligned to it. Thus as part of the house of God, we need to keep our focus on our Cornerstone (Hebrews 12:2).

Those who trust in Jesus will never be embarrassed by making Him the focus of their lives. Rejected suggests that unbelievers, after examining Jesus to see if He meets their needs, declared Him to be useless or undesirable. Though He was not what they wanted, He is specifically the One whom God the Father has chosen to be the foundation of His eternal work. Unbelievers, because they do not follow God’s Word, find Jesus to be repugnant, an obstacle in their way and a cause for disapproval and anger. The NKJV Study Bible

Matthew 2:2 (ESV) "saying, 'Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him. '"

Just as God sent a star to guide the wise men, He sent His own Son as the Light of the world to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). When we put our faith in Jesus, He forever rescues us from spiritual darkness, and His Spirit resides in our hearts as the Guide of our steps (Ephesians 3:16-17). We can be fully confident of Jesus' location today: He is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven, where He prays for us and defends us against the enemy (Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1).

This Christmas Day, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, may we learn from the wise men to seek Him with our whole hearts, willingly go where He guides, and worship Him as the King of kings. First5

A Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all.

And gratitude to Sabbath Moment friend Michael Citrini, for our poem to carry with us this week.

“Real Presence
Making room for Jesus isn't easy;
Cleaning out stables of hatred is tough.
Forgiving mean innkeepers is trying;
Loving what's unlovable is rough.
We live in a world of division -
In our hearts, in our homes, in our minds;
Sometimes deaf to the insight and wisdom
To treat ourselves and our neighbors more kind.
Yet on a cold winter's night in Bethlehem,
Someone no one suspected would call -
Came into our world of confusion,
Modeling Peace, Love, and Justice for all.
So as we follow the stars on our journey -
Seeking salvation in faraway lands,
Let's remember the life-saving Presence
Made real in our hearts and our hands.”
Michael Citrini (excerpt from Sabbath Moments)

A merry and blessed CHRISTmas to everyone!!!

 This Christmas I pray for

Those who are homeless to find shelter.
Those who are depressed to discover joy.
Those who are addicted to find release.
Those who are lonely to find a friend.
Those who are confused or lost
to find a path.
Those who are heartbroken
to know that it will pass.
Those who are sick to find healing.
Those who live in darkness
to be covered in light.
Those who are dying
to know that they have lived.
I pray today for peace where there is unrest,
for love to prevail over all
Amen
(Peace Compassion Love)

John 8:39-42 We love because God first loved us!

Isaiah 63:9-12 

In all their affliction He was afflicted, 

And the Angel of His Presence saved them; 

In His love and in His pity He redeemed them; 

And He bore them and carried them 

All the days of old. 

10 But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; 

So He turned Himself against them as an enemy, 

And He fought against them. 

11 Then he remembered the days of old, 

Moses and his people, saying:

“Where is He who brought them up out of the sea 

With the shepherd of His flock? 

Where is He who put His Holy Spirit within them, 

12 Who led them by the right hand of Moses, 

With His glorious arm, 

Dividing the water before them 

To make for Himself an everlasting name,

The New King James Version

God’s word is never invalidated His promises are sure. He has always kept a remnant of the Israelites who do not bow to idols. Throughout the Old Testament He carried them He was their guiding light always directing their path. In their unbelief they broke His heart and they separated themselves from Him. Unbelief in their Redeemer King, the promise of the Father, is the ultimate sin. In the age of grace, faith not works, equals salvation only found in Christ Jesus. Although nothing happens without His knowledge the world is under the influence of satan, the deceiver of our souls, and we choose whom we will serve in our free will. 

Joshua 2:8-13 8 Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, 9 and said to the men: “I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. 12 Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, 13 and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”

Years after its happening the news of the parting of the Red Sea was known throughout the land and the people  feared the Lord.

John 8:39-42 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 

The righteous leaders of the Jews denied the glory of Jesus, their God and Redeemer King.  They chose to rely on their genealogy through Abraham as their free ticket to eternal life. Carla

Jesus concedes their physical descent from Abraham but disputes their automatic inheritance of the promises to Abraham on that basis alone. Behavior, not bloodline, determines who are truly children of Abraham.

The deeds of Abraham refers to Abraham’s faith. The New Testament  frequently credits Abraham with saving faith because of his trust in Yahweh (Romans 4:3; Galatians  3:6). 

Abraham did not try to kill God’s messenger if he didn’t like the message. Insinuating that Abraham is not truly their father because they are emulating someone else. With Jesus questioning their parentage, they appeal to one greater than Abraham—God Himself—as the founder of their faith and the one who established the behavior by which they claim to live. Their rejection of Jesus reveals how distant they truly are from following God properly. Faithlife Study Bible

The Pharisees believed that being a descendant of Abraham guaranteed them a place in heaven. The works of Abraham included paying honor to those who spoke in the name of God (Genesis 14; 18). 

We were not born of fornication: From ancient times, this has been interpreted as a sneer, as if to say, “We are not illegitimate children, but You are.” Apparently gossip had followed Jesus for many years, alleging that He had been conceived out of wedlock. The NKJV Study Bible

Our Lord opposed the proud and vain confidence of these Jews, showing that their descent from Abraham could not profit those of a contrary spirit to him. Where the word of God has no place, no good is to be expected; room is left there for all wickedness. A sick person who turns from his physician, and will take neither remedies nor food, is past hope of recovery. The truth both heals and nourishes the hearts of those who receive it. The truth taught by philosophers has not this power and effect, but only the truth of God. Those who claim the privileges of Abraham, must do Abraham’s works; must be strangers and sojourners in this world; keep up the worship of God in their families, and always walk before God.  

Satan prompts men to excesses by which they murder themselves and others, while what he puts into the mind tends to ruin men’s souls. He is the great promoter of falsehood of every kind. He is a liar, all his temptations are carried on by his calling evil good, and good evil, and promising freedom in sin. He is the author of all lies; whom liars resemble and obey, with whom all liars shall have their portion for ever. The special lusts of the devil are spiritual wickedness, the lusts of the mind, and corrupt reasonings, pride and envy, wrath and malice, enmity to good, and enticing others to evil. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

John 8:37–38 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.”

1 John 5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 

Deuteronomy 32:6 

Do you thus deal with the LORD,O foolish and unwise people?

Is He not your Father, who bought you?

Has He not made you and established you?

John 8:26 I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.”

John 13:3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God,

His enemies will be scattered and those who hate Him shall  flee from His presence. The righteous will rejoice. In His second coming all the prophetic Scriptures will be fulfilled. All God’s promises reside in and come to pass in Jesus the Christ. Carla

Isaiah 9:2 (ESV) "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone." 

Throughout Scripture, God spoke through many prophets like Isaiah to foretell events, and Jesus has always been at the center of His promises. Jesus is the Savior who will crush our enemy's head as promised in Genesis 3:15. He is the One born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14). He is the One betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12-13). He is the One who puts an end to all sin (Daniel 9:24) and the One who will return to bring His people home with Him forever (John 14:2-3). Jesus' fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, and over 300 additional prophecies throughout Scripture, proves the accuracy of the Bible and provides assurance of our faith. God's record of faithfulness in the past means we can trust Him to keep His promise for the future.

Someday, darkness will be permanently dispelled for believers in Jesus. The light that dawned in Galilee foreshadows the Day of the Lord when His rule will be fully established for all eternity; then no other source of light will be needed, neither sun nor moon, because Jesus Himself and His radiance will illuminate heaven (Revelation 21:23).

This truth encourages us to live our present days on earth, no matter the darkness of today or uncertainty of tomorrow, in anticipation of the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise. We know He has been, and He will be, faithful. First5

Christmas reminds us to glory in the simplicity and wonder of one day; it unveils the extraordinary that our hurried lives conceal and neglect. We have been given such immense possibilities. We desperately need to make clearances in our entangled lives to let our souls breathe. We must take care of ourselves and especially of our suffering brothers and sisters.” Letting our souls breathe. Indeed. And taking care of ourselves and one another. Exactly. 

And let us not forget... "Peace is our gift to each other." (Elie Wiesel)

And here’s the deal: Peace is always, always small steps. Little gestures.

(Fitting that this reminder for peace this season, does not come from trumpets, or armies, or might, or braggadocio. It comes from a child in a manger. Yes. It comes from a child.) 

And on this fourth Sunday of Advent, we lit the Angel's Candle: symbolizing peace... the purity and justice that a baby in a Bethlehem manger brought to our world. A reminder of the message of the angels: “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men.” Sabbath Moments