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God, there are so many things in my life that need my attention. Help me to remember that You are the most important, and not to be distracted by other things. Help me to value Your opinion of my life, and to live in a way that honors You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

DAILY BIBLE READING: GENESIS 7-9 MATTHEW 3

NOAH AND THE FLOOD (cont.) "Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation." And Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him. He was 600 years old when the flood came. Other creatures came in the ark and the Lord commanded it to be shut. The waters prevailed on the earth 150 days. THE FLOOD SUBSIDES But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided. Noah sent forth a raven and a dove, both returned to the ark. Then the dove came back with an olive leaf. Noah knew the waters subsided. He sent the dove again and it didn't return. "Go out and be fruitful and multiply on the earth." GOD'S COVENANT WITH NOAH Noah built an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings on the altar. The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and the LORD said in His heart, "I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intentions of man's heart is evil form his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease." God blessed Noah's family. "Fear of you shall be upon every creature. Into your hand they are delivered, every moving things for your food, plants, everything. "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image. I will establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you. Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood and destroy the earth. I have set a bow in the cloud as a sign, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and creation. NOAH'S DESCENDANTS From Shem, Ham and Japheth the people of the whole earth were dispersed. Noah planted a vineyard, drank wine and became drunk, uncovered in his tent. Ham saw his nakedness and did not cover him, hence he cursed Canaan (a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers). and blessed Shem and Japheth. Noah died at age 950. JOHN THE BAPTIST PREPARES THE WAY When he was preaching in Judean wilderness about repentance, (as Prophesied in the book of Isaiah) wearing unique clothing and eating locusts and honey, people form Jerusalem and judea and Jordan went to him to be baptized by the river, confessing their sins. Some of them are pharisees and sadducess. He rebuked them "You brood of viper! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And Do not presume to say yourselves, We have Abraham as our father. God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. No fruit-cut down and thrown in the fire. I baptize you with water for repentance, but Jesus is mightier and He will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. Clearing threshing floor and gathering wheat into the barn, the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." BAPTISM OF JESUS Jesus came from Galilee to Jordan to be baptized by John. "I need to be baptized by you, why do you come to me?" Jesus answered: "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness" Then he consented. Jesus was baptized and immediately the heavens were opened to Him and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

JOHN 16:31-33 In John 16, as Jesus addressed His disciples' fears and the grief and suffering that would come during and after His death, it’s noteworthy that nowhere did He suggest they’d be rescued from experiencing fear and pain. As Christ faced death, they’d abandon Him in terror—“leave [Him] all alone” (John 16:32). The grief they’d experience from His death was unavoidable—they’d “weep and mourn while the world [rejoiced]” (v. 20).

Instead of a comfort based on escaping suffering, however, Jesus offered His disciples hope rooted in His resurrection (16:22). They couldn’t avoid the pain they’d experience, but because Christ has “overcome the world” (16:33), their suffering would be like that of childbirth—the pain wouldn’t be purposeless but would “turn to joy” (v. 20)—tremendous joy that “no one will take away” (v. 22).

By: Monica La Rose

JOHN 16:33 In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN Fear woke me at 3 a.m. on the first day of the new year. The year ahead weighed heavily on me, overwhelming me with dread. Illness in the family had long wearied me, and now, thoughts of the future made me afraid. Will more bad things happen? I wondered.

Jesus’ disciples understood the fear of bad things happening. Even though their Master had prepared and reassured them the day before He died, they were still afraid. They fled when He was arrested (Matthew 26:56); Peter denied Him (John 18:15-17, 25-27), and they went into hiding (20:19). Their fear during the upheaval of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion, as well as of persecution, led them to act contrary to His command to “take heart” and His promise, “I have overcome the world” (16:33).

But Christ’s death and resurrection proved His authority and power over life and death. He has the ultimate victory. Even though the sinful state of our world makes suffering a certainty, we can rest in the truth that all things are subject to the authority of our wise and loving God. Jesus’ presence is with us (16:32-33), just as it was with His disciples, who later confidently went on to share the gospel to the world. May God’s promise that He’s in control strengthen our hearts to trust Him in this new year and be courageous even when we don’t know what the future will bring.

By: Karen Huang

REFLECT AND PRAY: What’s your response to difficulty, suffering, and trials? What would “taking heart” look like for you?

Thank You, Jesus, for helping me with my fears and for showing me how to live courageously.