Pastor Bob DuPar
January 9, 2009

Journal Entry



Scripture

Genesis 20:1-22:24; Matthew 7:15-29; Psalm 9:1-12; Proverbs 2:16-22

Observation

“He said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
Genesis 22:5

“Abraham answered, ‘God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Genesis 22:8

“So, Abraham called that place, ‘The Lord will provide.” Genesis 22:14

“And, through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed Me.” Genesis 22:18

“Watch out for false prophets. …By their fruit you will recognize them. …A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.”
Matthew 7:15-18

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
Matthew 7:24

“When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” Matthew 7:28-29


Application

Abraham did not know that God would provide a sacrifice in place of his son Isaac; but, in faith and trust he affirms this to Isaac. And, his exact words to his servants are, “We will worship and then we will come back to you.” Wow!

First of all, worship is obedience – pure and simple. Worship is not merely some warm fuzzy we get when we sing the particular praise song that we like. It’s obedience – even when it’s hard and we don’t understand God’s ways (especially at these times).

Second, notice that Abraham, in faith, said, “We will come back to you.” This indicates that Abraham really did believe that God would somehow provide. And, God ultimately did provide a lamb: His son, Jesus. He is that Rock upon which every wise man and woman builds their house.

Finally, what a thought, what a promise, that “all the nations of the earth” would be blessed because Abraham obeyed God. I’ve only thought about the personal blessings, or family blessings, that come as a result of obedience. But, what a beautiful thought that all the earth has the potential to be blessed through our faithful obedience to God – through the “fruit” of our life!

Prayer

“Lord, find me faithful. Help me to obey You at all times – not just when it’s convenient or easy. Please use me to bless the lives of others. Thank You for Your amazing plan! Your ways are definitely higher than mine!”

Pastor Bob DuPar
January 8, 2009

Journal Entry



Scripture

Genesis 18:20-19:38; Matthew 6:25-7:14; Psalm 8:1-9; Proverbs 2:6-15

Observation

I have often looked at Genesis 18:23ff. as a great example of God’s mercy and compassion in His vow to not wipe out the whole territory of Sodom & Gomorrah if 50 righteous people were found (45, 40, 30, 20, 10). But, what a sad commentary that apparently not even 10 could be found! How bad is a city when you can’t even find 10 people who fear the Lord? And, our answer to this comes in chapter 19 when we read about every man in the city (both young and old – think about that!) attempting to beat down Lot’s door in order that they might have their way with his male guests (angels). That’s just sick!

I wonder how many years had elapsed between Abraham’s offer to Lot to pick whatever piece of land looked best to him, and this catastrophic moment of divine judgment. Talk about having your investment go up in smoke!

The story of Lot’s daughters getting him drunk in order to continue their father’s lineage is further proof to me that the Bible is a divine rather than human record. Had the master editor been anyone other than God, this record would certainly have been edited, censored, or removed altogether! Our whole OT reading today documents a pretty ugly, embarrassing point in biblical history.

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? …Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:27, 34

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8

Application

We often talk in religious circles of “standing-in-the-gap.” This catch phrase/principle is certainly appropriate and enlightening in view of the fact that Sodom & Gomorrah could have been spared if there had been 10 righteous people.

As I read Matthew 7:7-8 I could not help but think that I/we don’t seek enough. I don’t knock enough. And, I certainly don’t ask enough. I need to trust that my Heavenly Father wants to bless me and use me in ways that I have not even considered.

Prayer

“Lord, thank You for opening doors when I knock, for answering me when I ask, and for meeting me when I seek. Thank You for Your incredible mercy and grace.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
January 7, 2009

Journal Entry



Scripture

Genesis 16:1-18:19; Matthew 6:1-24; Psalm 7:1-17; Proverbs 2:1-5

Observation

Abram agreed to Sarai’s plan to help God with His promise of offspring. This led to Sarai despising Hagar and feeling that Abram was responsible for the wrong which she felt she was suffering.

I couldn’t help seeing a similarity (however vague) between the angel of the Lord meeting Hagar near the spring in the desert (Genesis 16:7), and Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well in John 4.

I love the name which Hagar gives to the Lord in Genesis 16:13: “You are the God who sees me.”

Genesis 18:1ff speaks of God’s appearance to Abraham in the form of 3 men. This seems like a reference to some physical manifestation of the Trinity.

Application

God does not need our help in fulfilling His promises. We only complicate the process when we take things into our own hands. It’s interesting that Abram was 86 years old (Gen. 16:16) when Ishmael was born, and 99 years old (Gen. 17:1) when the angel of the Lord finally appeared to him to announce the fulfillment of God’s previous promise. This makes me wonder if Abram & Sarai added 3 unnecessary years to God’s timetable/plan.

Prayer

“Lord, thank You that You are ‘the God who sees me.’ You are aware of everything, including my humble circumstances. You are aware, You care, and You have the power to affect change.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
January 6, 2009

Journal Entry



Scripture

Genesis 13:5-15:21; Matthew 5:27-48; Psalm 6:1-10; Proverbs 1:29-33

Observation

“So Abram said to Lot, ‘Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.” (Genesis 13:8-9) Of course Lot picked the land that was well-watered, “like the garden of the Lord.” But, then there’s the interesting side note: “This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.”

“After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:

‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward!”
Genesis 15:1

“Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.”
Genesis 15:6

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. …If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” Matthew 5:43-44, 46-47

Application

If I had been in Abram’ shoes I would have been pretty tweaked that my brother chose the good land. But, God sovereignly protected Abram. Who would want to raise a family in Sodom & Gomorrah? (Genesis 19 is an indication of the lack of morality in S. & G. when Lot has to offer his daughters to the homosexuals in order to protect his guests.) And, it would not be long until S. & G. (Lot’s inheritance) would be erased from the landscape! (Incidentally, it’s sad that some of the most beautiful places to live end up being some of the most sinful environments to live!)

I desire to have a faith and trust in God like Abram’s – to take God at His word.

Matthew 5 has me asking myself how often I befriend those who are hurtful to me or who have nothing to offer me.

Prayer

“Lord, thank You for being my shield and my very great reward. Help me to keep this perspective: that You are my reward and not earthly treasures.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
January 5, 2009

Journal Entry



Scripture

Genesis 11:1-13:4; Matthew 5:1-26; Psalm 5:1-12; Proverbs 1:24-28

Observation

“The Lord said, ‘If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” Genesis 11:5-7

“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. …all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:2-3

“Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake (at your expense) and my life will be spared because of you.” Genesis 12:13

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
Matthew 5:6, 8

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16

Application

Genesis 5:11ff has always bothered me. The wording of the passage makes it sound like God was fearful or even threatened by the unified ambitions of mankind. Nothing could be further from the truth! Paul affirms in 1 Corinthians 1:25 that,

“The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

Genesis 11 is simply one of those passages (like Genesis 3:22-23) in which God is saving us from ourselves – saving us from the consequences of our sin. Nothing good ever results from a dream or ambition which begins with a motivation like: “Come let us make a name for ourselves…” (11:4)

Matthew 5:8 challenged me to look at holiness and purity as a means to seeing God! Often, I/we only look at a subject like holiness in terms of the negative consequences of not obeying God’s commands.

Prayer

“Lord, help my light to shine for all to see. May others see You in me; and, may they trust You as Savior and Lord, giving You all the glory.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
January 4, 2009

Journal Entry



Scripture

Genesis 8:1-10:32; Matthew 4:12-25; Psalm 4:1-8; Proverbs 1:20-23

Observation

“I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” Genesis 9:13

“Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for Himself; the Lord will hear when I call to Him. …Many are asking, ‘Who can show us any good?’ Let the light of Your face shine upon us, O Lord. You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.” Psalm 4:3, 6-7

Application

Psalm 4:6 challenges me to always make sure to give God the credit for the good in my life, the blessing which I enjoy. Many in the world are asking, “Where’s the good in these messed-up times in which we live?” We as Christians, of all people, should find it very easy to answer that question. When I fail to give testimony to God’s goodness in my life, I miss a crucial opportunity to see an unbeliever drawn to the Giver of every good and perfect gift.

Prayer

“Lord, may I give testimony to Your goodness each and every day of my life. You have filled my heart with joy. Thank You for hearing me when I call.”