January 1 ▪ Day 1

Scripture Readings

Proverbs 1:7
Genesis 1–2
Matthew 1
Psalms 1

Verse Focus (Proverbs 1:7)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

(Translation note: The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote a person who is morally deficient.)

Meditation

Hello, and welcome to this Bible Plan! Whether today is January first or simply the first day of your determination to read through the Bible, you are to be commended for this start. If you’ve never read through the entire Bible before, it may seem like a daunting task. But we’ll have some fun together. I will be your friend and companion on this journey. Each day will have a short meditation which is meant to be an introduction to the readings. The meditation is not meant to be an exhaustive commentary. I won’t be going too in-depth. However, I will mention whatever stands out to me — ways in which the Holy Spirit has spoken to me in reading these chapters.

In my comments, I hope to encourage you in your own devotional journey. In return, I hope that you will add comments below once you’ve finished the material. I have really enjoyed the ability to add comments in a shared YouVersion plan because in creating these comments, I find that the material takes a greater hold on me. I also am very encouraged by hearing what other people have to say. So, please, do seriously consider adding a brief post once you’ve finished the day’s readings. I care less about your commenting on what I write (although feel free to do so), and more about what you have found of interest in these Scripture passages.

And, so, let us begin!

Our verse focus for today is Proverbs 1:7, an extremely apt verse for the resolve to read through the Bible. This is it in a nutshell: the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Put another way, reverence for God and recognizing who God is, is the starting point to understanding what is real, pure, moral, and true. We cannot understand our universe or the world we are in unless we also understand our Creator and how He relates to us.

I think everyone must desire knowledge. No one wants to be ignorant, naive, or stupid. But “fools” says Scripture, “despise wisdom and instruction.” All my life I have desired wisdom, so I find the idea of despising wisdom difficult. But when you add “instruction” to the mix — suddenly it’s a lot more understandable why fools don’t want to fear the Lord. Instruction takes discipline. And it also takes humility. You have to recognize that you don’t know everything and you must be willing to learn.

Father, as we begin this New Year, please help us to grow in knowledge and wisdom. When I am foolish, may your Holy Spirit correct and instruct me in the way to walk.

Genesis. “In the beginning God.” These four words that begin the Bible sum up our Creator — the beginning of all things. Not just of our creation, but of our re-creation: of our desire for knowledge and purpose and meaning. As I’ve thought and prayed about whether or not doing these meditations within a blog structure was something I wanted to do for 2021, I’ve struggled with my fear of failure. And so this “In the beginning God” is the word for me today, too. If I try to do this project in my own strength, I’ll fail. But with God, I may succeed. So also with you. You may wonder if this is something you really have the desire or the commitment to do. But ask God to help you, and if you start with Him, you’ll be able to continue.

So in Genesis 1 and 2 we have the creation of the earth, sky, and all living beings. God reveals Himself to us first in His role as the Creator. Indeed, it is in appreciating beauty in nature and beauty in what He has created that I can most relate to God and His goodness. We should also note that the Bible makes a point of telling us that both male and female are created in God’s image (v. 27).

The story of creation is a familiar story, and there are many things to learn from studying Genesis. Whether you believe this is a literal or metaphorical history of the world, we are taught the pattern of the week — 6 days to labor and one to rest. Indeed, in chapter 1, verse 14 we are told that part of the reason for the creation for the sun, moon, and stars is to mark seasons (or sacred times or religious festivals), days, and years. So these rhythms of days and years, seasons of the year and seasons of life, are part of the created order of life. In other words, time is purposeful.

The other thing I note about this creation account is that God created the garden of Eden as a place for Adam and Eve to work. Work is meant to be part of our purpose here on earth. After the Fall (as we’ll see tomorrow), our work becomes more of a struggle. But we are still meant to create, to name, to steward the world, and to work.

In Matthew chapter 1 we are given a genealogy of Jesus Christ. Many, many years ago I found this kind of passage extremely tedious to read. Now, however, I know many of the stories behind the people who are named here. And there are some pretty fascinating ancestors of Christ! We’ll read some of these stories in the coming days, but Tamar, Rahab, and Ruth are just a few that stand out. I also think it’s pretty interesting that Matthew notes a pattern of 14 generations, 14 generations, and 14 generations (v. 17). What seems very happenstance to us is actually a planned event, fulfilling prophecies and patterns of which we understand only a small part.

I also love this story about Joseph. How hurt he must have been to discover that Mary was with child! And yet, because he was a godly man, he resolved to divorce Mary quietly. But an angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream and tells him not to be afraid. The angel tells Joseph that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and that this child will save his people from their sins. So both Mary and Joseph each received a special revelation about Jesus so that they might be together in purpose as they raised this child. God arranges every detail!

Psalm 1 is a favorite psalm. (There are so many, many favorites in the book of Psalms!) We have the contrast between the righteous and the wicked. The righteous are blessed, fruitful, and protected; whatever they do “prospers.” The wicked, in contrast, are impermanent. They are cut off from the assembly of the righteous and they quickly disappear. Doesn’t your heart also yearn to be among the righteous? To be fruitful, to prosper? Fortunately, we are told some of the characteristics of the righteous: they are respectful and do not follow the path of the wicked. Further, they delight in God’s law and meditate on His word “day and night.” This takes us right back to our opening proverb, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”

As we start this New Year, may our days and seasons be purposeful. May we develop more and more reverence for the Creator of the Universe; may we meditate on His Word and delight in doing His will.

Father God, thank you that there is purpose in the days and seasons. Thank you that there is purpose in this time of my life. Thank you for bringing me here this day. Thank you for what you will reveal to me in Your word. Thank you for what you have planned for me in the coming year. May your blessing rest upon me and overflow through me to others — through Christ our Lord. Amen.