Food for Thought!

Research shows that as many as 50 percent of adults in the United States make New Year’s resolutions, but fewer than 10 percent keep them for more than a few months.

https://www.westernconnecticuthealthnetwork.org/newsroom/article-listing/new-years-resolutions#:~:text=Summary%3A,more%20than%20a%20few%20months.

It can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days for a person to form a new habit and an average of 66 days for a new behavior to become automatic.

https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-does-it-take-to-form-a-habit#takeaway

The dictionary defines a Resolution & Need as:

Resolution= the act of determining… a firm decision to do or not do something.

Need= a thing that is wanted or required; circumstances in which something is necessary, or that require some course of action; necessity.

Today rather than challenge you to a resolution, I want to direct you to your need.

We are beginning a new study in the foundational book of Genesis. We won’t be in the book today but I wanted to address some scriptures in preparation for our study. Consider with me what 2 Timothy 3:16 states:

2 Timothy 3:16 NASB95

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

ALL SCRIPTURE

Follow with me for just a moment… ALL:

New Testament

Old Testament

Every verse, every chapter, every book

WORD of God… the logos! “God breathed”

Peter shares it this way 2 Peter 1:20-21

2 Peter 1:20–21 NASB95

But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

This book is precious! God’s love letter to us! Last week I shared the Psalm which states “taste and see that the Lord is good!”

Have you savored this precious word of God… or do you let that be the Pastor’s responsibility hoping to glean from his savoring of the Word?

Taste & See

Let me illustrate… Sample food describing in detail. Then sample, chew and spit out...

To be satisfied with just hearing about God’s Word is not healthy.

We need to digest together

A resolution would encourage you to get in the habit of reading and studying God’s Word… BUT I am letting you know we need His Word!

What’s the Expectation?

TO: KNOW | TRAIN | DELIGHT

Know | Think

Paul expresses the expectation in Romans 12:2 rather clearly… it is actually a directive more than an expectation!

Romans 12:2 NASB95

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

You and I are to grapple with, to think critically … allow God’s Word to renew our thinking!

You have to chew, not just swallow

The writer of Hebrews 5:12-14 is very blunt to the believers he is writing to…

Hebrews 5:12–14 NASB95

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

Church… we need to be able to get past the elementary things of scripture

In elementary school I had a teacher read books and lessons to me

Not now! I read, I think, I study , meditate… and train...

Train Up | Mentor

In Titus we see the older men training younger men (TRAIL LIFE), and the older women training younger women

If you cannot get into God’s Word for yourself, do it for the generation coming up behind you to train and mentor them!

This is true of parents especially… Deuteronomy 6 :5-7 is a passionate command to our responsibility to God’s Word!

Deuteronomy 6:5–7 NASB95

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. “You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.

Delight

God desires us to delight in Him Psalm 37:4

Psalm 37:4 NASB95

Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.

David states in the second stanza of Psalm 119:9-16 this beautiful ballad as He reflects on the Lord and His Word…

Psalm 119:9–16 NASB95

How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord; Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have told of All the ordinances of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways. I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word.

Genesis

A Book of Foundations & Beginnings… We are introduced to:

God

Origin of life & mankind

Sin & Death

Languages, Race & Nations

Marriage

The Promise & Covenants

Abraham and his family

Miracles and so much more…

As we engage in Genesis together I challenge you to KNOW God in a greater way, come alongside of someone and engage/discuss this study together MENTOR, and DELIGHT in this amazing God we have the opportunity to have a relationship with! (50 DAY READING PLAN)

The Lord’s Table

As we close out today… I invite you to REMEMBER… why we can know this God so very intimately!

We gather around “His Table” to COMMUNION

Commune= coming together, communicating intimately, fellowship

We discuss what He says in His Word, what He did to show His love

Breaking of bread= BODY

Drinking from the cup= HIS BLOOD

Looking to His coming!

What a blessing He not only paid the way to salvation, but He desires to have a relationship and for us to KNOW HIM! I look forward to our study in Genesis together.