Today is day 2 of the GRIP Bible Reading Plan, and so far we have read Genesis 1-5 and Matthew 1-2. What a profoundly meaningful way to begin our journey through God's Word! These chapters have already laid a rich foundation for what is to come as we seek to understand the big picture of the Bible. Already in these first few pages, we can see God's master plan at work.
It begins with the creation of the world in Genesis 1. God speaks, and the world comes into being. He breathes, and life is formed from the dust. There is a perfect bond between God and man—perfect trust, perfect love, perfect unity. But in Genesis 3, this unity is broken as man rebels against His creator. Sin enters the world, and the perfect bond between God and man is severed. Man becomes driven by the sin nature that wrestles within him, and pain and death ensue.
And yet, God hasn't lost. Even as Adam and Eve took their first bites of the forbidden fruit, even as Cain attacked his brother and killed him, God had a plan that would restore the relationship between God and man and put all things to right for eternity.
We see the revelation of this plan in Matthew 1 and 2 as we read about the birth of Jesus! As we continue to read through the Old Testament, we will see how the coming of Christ was God's plan all along. He promised to send a Savior—someone who would come to pay the penalty for our iniquity and deliver mankind from bondage to sin. Prophets foretold the coming of this Savior throughout history, and it finally became a reality when Mary gave birth to the Son of God.As you journey through the GRIP reading plan, remember that the Bible is one big story! As we have already seen in the first few chapters of Genesis and Matthew, it is all connected and it all works together to reveal God's master plan. May the Holy Spirit give you wisdom and understanding as you get a GRIP on the Bible this year!
-Talasi Guerra
Director of Children and Family Ministries