' The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. '
John 1:9-13 ESV
'And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” '
Genesis 12:2-3 ESV
The Bible could be summed up in many ways. It can be called many things—from God’s plan to Satan’s defeat, but I feel like there is a far simpler way to explain it. Actually, simplifying things isn’t always a bad thing, as per one of my favorite Albert Einstein quotes that “if you can’t explain [something] simply, then you don’t understand it enough.” So, you might ask, how can you simplify the Bible, and what does that mean for us?
Thousands of years ago, God made a promise to Abraham, and then he fulfilled it.
The 12th chapter of Genesis captures this famous prophecy that, through the faith of Abraham, the world will be blessed. I say “prophecy” because it would be some time later that Christ would be born into the world, born to die and bear the sins of the world. The true light, the blessing that was bestowed upon Abraham, that all men might not walk in the dark anymore, but rather have the opportunity to stand in the light. So, as you go through your day, consider the promises that God has given, that God has faithfully fulfilled, and be excited about the joys to come.
To Him be the power, the glory, and the kingdom forever.
So be it and let it be.
Amen.