January 1

Today's Reading

Genesis. The first book of the Bible is attributed to Moses, who wrote approximately 2600-2700 years after the arrival of humans on the planet (based on the timing listed in the Bible). Why is Moses the one who wrote it down? Early civilization didn't have written communication so history was passed down verbally from one generation to the next. For whatever reason -- probably because he believed that God wanted him to -- Moses preserved that history in written form.

Today's Genesis passage is the original story of creation in Chapter 1 followed by a more extensive retelling of a portion of it in Chapter 2.

Matthew. Matthew was a Tax Collector who started following Jesus during His earthly ministry. Even though Mark, the next Gospel in your New Testament, was written earlier, Matthew is found first. Why? The entire Old Testament exclaimed, in different ways, "Messiah is coming!" Matthew, from a Jewish point of view, declared, "He's here!"

Psalms. Remember that Psalms was the hymnbook for God's people for hundreds of years. I encourage you to read it aloud as praise and prayer unto God. I was struck today by this verse: "3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do." Ezekiel, Zechariah and Revelation all have vivid imagery about the river flowing from God's throne and yielding fruit all along its banks. It is fitting that Psalms begins with the same word picture.

Proverbs. Today's passage is, I think, the clearest explanation of the reason for Proverbs. Read it slowly. Soak it in.

That's about it. At least until you start making comments and asking questions. Come back often and follow the discussion.