Day 47: Genesis 49-50; Matthew 23:23-29

I found something interesting in today’s reading. As Jacob is laying on his bed, about to die, he says some very prophetic things to his sons. In particular, take note of what he says to his son Judah:

“Judah, my son, is a young lion that has finished eating its prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honor. He ties his foal to a grapevine, the colt of his donkey to a choice vine. He washes his clothes in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth are whiter than milk” (Genesis 49: 9-12).

Now consider this verse: “But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, ‘Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals’”(Revelation 5:5).

I don’t think the connection between these two passages is an accident. The prophetic words Jacob speaks at the end of Genesis are a wonderful promise about what was to come. Already God had a plan of redemption in mind. These words in Genesis are a prophetic picture of the true Lion of Judah, who would one day come and ride a donkey through Jerusalem, being hailed as the Messiah. His robes would then be soaked with blood, much like wine, as he died on the cross for all of our sins.
What a beautiful, prophetic picture of a redeemer.

Are you in need of the Lion of Judah today? What part of your life do you need him to redeem? He is ready and waiting. Let him redeem you today. As the lyrics to the song “Hail, Hail, Lion of Judah” by Donnie McClurkin say,

"Hail, hail Lion of Judah!
How wonderful You are!
Hail, hail Lion of Judah!
How powerful You are!

The Lion of Judah shall break every chain
and give to us, oh my,
the victory again and again"


Prayer: Lord, thank you for being the Lion of Judah. Please help me to trust in you, and let you fight the battles in my life, for I am nothing on my own.

Day 46: Genesis 46-48; Matthew 23:1-22

"The greatest among you must be a servant. 12 But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted" (Matthew 23:11-12).

In a self-centered world, what does a true servant look like? They seem to be few and far between. People seem more interested in improving their own looks, furthering their own careers, and buying the newest gadget on the market than in really helping others.
But Jesus calls for a different kind of living. In today’s reading, he seems to be saying that a servant isn’t someone looking for recognition and power. Instead, a servant is humble at heart. They are ready and willing to be used by God. Joseph, in the book of Genesis, seemed to have such a heart. He gave God the credit for interpreting dreams and for putting him in a position of power. He was always ready and willing to help whomever was in need, whether Potiphar, the Prison Guard, Pharaoh, or his own estranged brothers.
A servant is humble. A servant recognizes that there is someone much greater at work in the situation. A servant looks for needs and others and meets those needs. A servant thinks of others before themselves. A servant has the heart of God.

Are you a servant of God today? How does he want to use you? Listen for his voice.

Prayer: Lord, make me a servant. Open my heart and show me my purpose for today and always.

Day 45: Genesis 43-45; Matthew 22:23-46

The words of Matthew 22: 37-39 are famous ones in which Jesus tells us to love God and love our neighbors. These, according to Jesus, are the greatest commandments of all, yet they’re not always easy to follow. Take the example of Joseph. Here’s a man who has been horribly mistreated by his brothers, thrown into slavery, misjudged and thrown into prison. Yet, instead of being bitter, Joseph chooses to love. His love for God, and for his neighbors, brings him out of the slums and into a position of great power and authority. At this point, he has the ultimate test. His own brothers come back into the picture, asking for help. Joseph had every right to be bitter and vindictive toward them, but instead, he holds out arms of love and forgiveness. What a beautiful example for all of us. Instead of holding onto the past, Joseph chooses to see the good that’s come from an awful situation. He tells his brothers,
“Don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors. So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt” (Genesis 45:5-8).
What a forgiving, loving heart! Instead of “getting even” with his brothers, Joseph chooses to save them from the famine.
Have you ever had a situation in which you looked back and saw God at work? How did you respond to your circumstances after that?
For me, one situation that comes to mind is losing my job. I have to admit that I’ve had times since them that I didn’t think to highly of my former bosses. I was hurt and angry that they would let me go.
This angry attitude really doesn’t get me anywhere; what does is looking for the good that’s come from that situation. For one, if I still had that job, I probably wouldn’t be writing to you now. I love writing; I look forward to my time with my coffee and laptop every day. What a blessing that God has given me the time and resources to do this.

Prayer: Lord, help me to love and forgive those who have hurt me. Please help me to look for the good in every situation.

Day 34: Genesis 41, 42; Matthew 22:1-22

Hello everyone. Today our reading in Genesis continues with Joseph’s sudden rise in power. Where he was once a slave, he now becomes second command over all of Egypt. Only Pharaoh is greater than him. And why does he rise so suddenly? Because he gives all the glory to God. Joseph could have claimed the power of interpreting dreams for himself, but he humbly admitted that God alone could interpret (Genesis 41:16). Pharaoh is amazed by this Hebrew man, and decides to place him in charge. He asks his advisers, ““Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” (Genesis 41:38). What a compliment. Joseph faithfully stood of for his God, and people recognized his faithfulness for what it was.

I wonder what I would do in a similar circumstance. In our reading from Matthew, Jesus says to give to “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God” (Matthew 22: 21). Jesus is talking about money here, but I think we could use Pharaoh the respect this as meaning praise and honor as well. We could say, give to due to him, and to God the respect due to him. Joseph did this in Genesis, and I would hope that I would do this as well. I hope that I always respect my leaders, but honor my God most of all.

What about you? Would you stand up for your faith, even if your life was on the line? Would you honor your leaders, but honor your God most of all?

Prayer: Lord, give me the strength to always keep you first and foremost in my life. Help me to always give you the glory due to you, for I can do nothing on my own.

Day 33: Genesis 39-40; Matthew 21:23-46

Joseph’s story in Genesis is a great one of God’s faithfulness and provision. Joseph was sold into slavery, forced to work as servant, and then thrown into prison. Throughout this time he stayed true to God and fled from temptation.

Temptation can be such a rough thing. Satan knows exactly where and when our weaknesses are the greatest. For me, sometimes it really is just turning around, walking away, and saying a prayer that makes the difference. It’s wonderful to know that God is right there, ready and willing to provide a way out of whatever is tempting me (1 Corinthians 10:13).
When Joseph fled from the temptation Potiphar’s wife offered, he was thrown into prison. Even then, God was there and “showed him his faithful love” (Genesis 39:21). What a wonderful way of putting it! Even when Joseph was as lowly as it could get, God was still there, loving him and providing for him.

Oh how I need some reminders of God’s faithful love today. It’s wonderful to know that he is there in the good times and in the bad. He will never fail me or abandon me.

And he’ll never abandon you either. He will help you through whatever temptations you’re dealing with today. He loves you with an unfailing love.

As Deuteronomy 31:6 says, “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your unfailing love. Please help me to be courageous today, and to cling to you like never before.

Day 31: Genesis 33-35; Matthew 20:17-34

There are so many sad things in this world. The reading from Genesis reminds is of this, with the rape of Dinah. Yes, Dinah’s brothers were wrong in the way they handled the situation, but they weren’t wrong in feeling upset about the matter. What was done to Dinah was a horrible thing.

As I read Dinah’s story, and then the story of the blind men and Jesus, I started to wonder if my eyes had been blinded in any way.

What had become so commonplace to me that I no longer even recognize it for the awful thing that it was?

I’ll admit, it’s often easier to sit in my cozy, safe home and immerse myself in a book, then to think about the people who aren’t in such a safe place and don’t have the novelty of reading the newest bestseller.

Perhaps they’re being abused, or lonely, or on the streets.

No matter the case, it’s easier to look right by them. If I look right by them, then they’re not my issue. I don’t feel connected. I don’t feel they’re pain.

I remember this homeless man who sold roses by the side of the road, rain or shine. I used to see him every Sunday morning as my husband and I drove to church. I always wanted to buy a rose from him, but we were always in too much of a hurry. The service was about to begin. We didn’t want to look bad by being late. Who knows what he would use the money for. Excuses. Excuses. They were all excuses so that we could get out of helping the man. We closed our eyes so that we didn’t have to help.

My question for you today is, what have you closed your eyes to? What are you missing in the world around you?

May our prayer be the same as the blind men in Matthew 20:33 who cried, “Lord… we want to see!”

Day 30: Genesis 31-32; Matthew 20:1-16

I love the portion of scripture in Genesis. Today we read about how fearful Jacob was of meeting up with his brother Esau. The last time they had been together Esau was ready to kill him. Now Jacob is on the verge of experiencing the amazing power of forgiveness. I can hardly wait for the next chapter!

Jacob and Esau are about to come time an understanding on what it means to forgive and love. In this place, there is no room for jealousy.

For jealousy is such an evil thing. In Matthew, we see how there is no place for jealousy in the in the Kingdom of Heaven. God knows best when it comes to the gifts he gives us in this world and the next. As the landowner (God) says in Matthew 20:15, “Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?”

It’s really not our place to compare our lot in life with others. This can be so tricky sometimes. I long for a comfortable life with all the latest electronic gadgets. I want to be successful in the home, in my career, in my relationships. I want all these things. But through this parable God is showing us that he really knows best. He knows what each of us needs to get through each day.

It’s about being thankful.

It’s about trusting.

It’s about believing that he knows best.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the things you have given me in this life. Please help me to not compare myself with others, but to instead be thankful for all that you have given me, each and every day.

Day 29: Genesis 29, 30; Matthew 19

Scheming and deceitfulness run rampant in today’s reading. Joseph, who once was the deceiver, meets Laban, who gives him a run for his money. Laban tricks Joseph by giving him the wrong daughter in marriage, and then forces him to work twice as long to marry the woman he loves (Rachel). Laban continually tricks, lies and cheats Jacob out of what is rightfully his. It’s not a pretty sight. But it’s a picture of what we, as humans, are all like when left to our own devices. None of us are perfect. We are self-centered human beings always looking out for ourselves.
And that’s where a Savior comes in.

On our own there is nothing we can do to obtain salvation. We are too evil and too self-centered to ever enter the kingdom of heaven. As Jesus says in Matthew 19: 26, God is the one that does the impossible thing. He bridges the gap between our sinful natures and his perfect on. Through Christ’s death on the cross, he has made a way for us to inherit eternal life. If we accept salvation through Jesus Christ, we leave our sinful, deceitful natures behind, and take on a new life.

I’m so thankful that God did the impossible and gave me the opportunity to spend eternity in heaven with him.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for taking this sinful creature and making something beautiful out of it! Thank you for doing the impossible and giving me eternal life.

Day 28: Genesis 27-28; Matthew 18:21-35

As I read today’s reading, one theme kept coming to the forefront, forgiveness. In Genesis we read of the rivalry between the twins Jacob and Esau. Esau is so mad at Jacob that he is conspiring to kill his own brother. Yes, Jacob did some stupid things, and deserves the anger, but even so, it’s never right to plan the murder of your own brother.

Right after this, we turn to Matthew 18, where Jesus tells his disciples to forgive indefinitely (“ seventy times seven!” (Matthew 18:22). This is definitely not the kind of attitude Esau had in Genesis. He wanted to kill, but Jesus wants us to forgive.

Why? Because Jesus has already paid the ultimate price for our sins. He forgave us, so we need to forgive others (as the parable of the Unforgiving Debtor demonstrates).

Forgiving is easier said then done. I know there have been times in my life when I responded to a situation like Esau. No, I didn’t want to kill anyone, but I became bitter over certain injustices and held a grudge against that person. I felt that by “withholding” my forgiveness I was somehow “punishing” that person more. But that’s not my place. God calls me to forgive no matter how hard it may be.

By forgiving and loving that person, I am furthering the kingdom of God, instead of hindering it.

Prayer: Lord, please help me to forgive today, however hard it may be. Help me to love that person with a love that can only come from you.

Day 27: Genesis 25-26; Matthew 18:1-20

Isn’t it interesting how we fall into the same habits as our parents? This was true for Isaac, and I have to say it’s true for me as well. In today’s reading, we see something that looks hauntingly similar to some earlier events.

Consider this following passage:

"So Isaac stayed in Gerar. When the men who lived there asked Isaac about his wife, Rebekah, he said, ‘She is my sister.’ He was afraid to say, ‘She is my wife.’ He thought, ‘They will kill me to get her, because she is so beautiful.’ But some time later, Abimelech, king of the Philistines, looked out his window and saw Isaac caressing Rebekah. Immediately, Abimelech called for Isaac and exclaimed, ‘She is obviously your wife! Why did you say, “She is my sister”?’ ‘Because I was afraid someone would kill me to get her from me,’ Isaac replied. ‘How could you do this to us?’ Abimelech exclaimed. ‘One of my people might easily have taken your wife and slept with her, and you would have made us guilty of great sin.’ Then Abimelech issued a public proclamation: ‘Anyone who touches this man or his wife will be put to death!’" (Genesis 26: 6-11).

Sound familiar? Isaac fell into the same fear that consumed his father Abraham. He became worried about his own safety, and so he lied about his wife being his sister.

Well, I haven’t lied about my husband being my brother, but I have dealt with "worrying” my entire life. This is a trait I come by quite naturally. My mother was a worrier and her mother was a worrier.

I’ve found something about worrying. It’s never a good thing. When I start worrying too much, I stop letting God work in my life. I take a situation into my hands, and it never works out well in the end. This is true for Isaac and for Abraham as well. They really had no reason to lie about their wives, but they were worrying, and so they took things into their own hands.

What traits have your parents passed on to you? Are these good or bad things? Do you ever need to give these things back to God?

Prayer: Lord, please take away my worrying. As you say in Matthew 6:25-27, worrying does not add a single moment to our lives. You are in control of everything, so I give control back to you today.

Day 26: Genesis 23-24; Matthew 17

Rebekah has always been an intriguing person to me. Her story begins when a servant comes from a far away land and tells her that she has been chosen to marry his master’s son, Isaac. Without any delay, she picks up her life, says goodbye to her family whom she’ll never see again in this life, and goes on a long journey to marry a man she’s never even meant. What commitment. What fearlessness. What trust in God. When she arrives in this Promised Land, she marries Isaac, comforts him over the loss of his mother, and is “loved deeply” by him. What a wonderful story, and what a person to aspire to be. I, too, have traveled far away from home with my husband. (Although I did know him before I agreed to marry him). I can understand some of the loneliness Rebekah must have felt in the new land she came to. She was completely surrounded by strangers. The only thing that was the same was her God. He was God in her old home, and in her new.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be an encourager and comfort to my husband. And give me the strength needed to follow him wherever he leads in this life. Thank you for being my Lord and Savior yesterday, today and forever more.

Day 8: Genesis 20-22 ; Matthew 6:19-34

Wow, what great readings for today. Both portions of scripture are well known to me, so I’ve been going back and forth on what to actually blog about.

I think both Genesis 20-22 & Matthew 6:29-34 are a call to faith. In the book of Genesis we see Abraham both worry & trust that God will be faithful. In chapter 20 Abraham once again lies about Sarah only being his sister, and not his wife. While this was only a tiny white lie, since Sarah was in fact his half-sister, it still shows a lack of trust on Abraham’s behalf. He saw what looked like a bleak future and decided to take matters into his own hands. In the same token, chapter 22 shows a great leap of faith on Abraham’s behalf. He believes that God will provide a substitute sacrifice in the place of his son, Isaac. What faith! Isn’t it interesting that God gives us two such juxtaposing sides of Abraham? He shows both extreme weakness and strength.

In Matthew 6:19-34 we again look at faith. Jesus tells us to not worry, but to trust God with the big and small things in life. Consider verses 31-33:

So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Just as God meant Abraham in the wilderness and provided an alternate sacrifice, he already knows the provisions each of us need in our every day lives. All we need to do is live our lives entirely for him; he will do the rest.


Prayer: Lord thank you for this reminder to not worry, but to instead trust you in things big and small.

Day 6: Genesis 16, 17; Matthew 5:27-48

“Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, 'You are the God who sees me.' She also said, 'Have I truly seen the One who sees me?' So that well was named Beer-lahai-roi (which means 'well of the Living One who sees me'.” -Genesis 16:13-14

Hagar refers to the Lord here as El-roi: The God who sees. God saw the needs of a lonely servant girl who ran away to the wilderness, and he meant her where she was.

What an honor to be visited by an angel. And what a great reminder of how God sees our every need, nothing escapes his all-knowing nature. He comes to us where we are, in each moment of the day.

Our God is Creator, Redeeming, All Powerful, All Knowing and All Seeing. What part of God’s nature do you need to cling to the most today? He is more than willing to meet you where you are.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for meeting me where I am today, and for knowing my every thought even before I speak it aloud.

Day 5: Genesis 13-15 & Matthew 5:1-26

I love hearing about Melchizedek, the Priest King. Did you know that he is the only man to be a king & priest? After Abram heroically saves his nephew lot in Genesis 14, Melchizedek comes to break bread & drink wine with Abram. He blesses him for his good deeds, but blesses God the Father most of all. The book of Hebrews explores this unique Priest King. Nothing is said of Melchizedek’s origin. Instead, “He remains a priest forever, resembling the Son of God” (Hebrews 7:3).

I encourage you to read all of Hebrews 7 when you get the chance. It’s quite fascinating. In particular, Hebrews 7:4-7 says,

“Consider then how great this Melchizedek was. Even Abraham, the great patriarch of Israel, recognized this by giving him a tenth of what he had taken in battle. Now the law of Moses required that the priests, who are descendants of Levi, must collect a tithe from the rest of the people of Israel, who are also descendants of Abraham. But Melchizedek, who was not a descendant of Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham. And Melchizedek placed a blessing upon Abraham, the one who had already received the promises of God. And without question, the person who has the power to give a blessing is greater than the one who is blessed.”

Melchizedek was not even a Levitical priest, yet Abraham understood how unique he was. He is an Old Testament image of the role Jesus Christ would one day fulfill. How so? Jesus is a priest, who offered up his body as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. Because of this sacrifice we can spend eternity in heaven.

Jesus is also the King of All Kings. He justly rules over all the world. While he was living in this world, he taught us using his kingly knowledge. In Matthew 5, he encourages attributes such as humility, purity and mercy. These are the sort of attributes that will help us share the love of God with those around us.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being our Priest and King. Help me to live every day for you.

Day 4: Genesis 10-12 & Matthew 4

Hello everyone! Here’s the portion of scripture that stuck out to me today:

“‘The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.’ So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed” –Genesis 12:1-4

This is the beginning of Abraham’s story, and what an amazing story it is! In leaving his home and family, Abraham understood that he would never see these people and places again. How tough.

I don’t know what I would do if I was told that I would never see my family again. I may live a thousand miles away from them, but I talk to them regularly and manage to see them several times a year. Abraham was saying good-bye for a lifetime.

I have to admire his faith. No, Abraham was not a perfect man. We need some of that imperfection in Genesis 12, when he lies out of fear and says Sarah is his sister instead of his wife. But here in Genesis 11, we have to admire Abraham, at least a bit. We have to admire him for heading off into an unknown world, holding onto a promise that God would go with him and bless the nations through him. It must have been difficult to truly fathom what that promise even meant. Abraham didn’t have any children, so how could God possibly bless the world through him? To some, the promise might seem like an over-exaggeration. God might bless a person or two, but bless everyone on the earth, come-on! Believe it or not, God’s words were true. He did bless the entire earth through Abraham. One of his decedents would be Jesus Christ, who would die on the cross for our sins.

Prayer: Lord, please open my heart & ears so that I can hear any words of direction from you. Help me to be like Abraham, unafraid to go wherever you may leave me in this life.

Questions: What struck you from today's readings? Is there anything you want to research more fully? If so, check out www.blueletterbible.org

Day 3: Genesis 7-9, Matthew 3

Day 3 brings us to the story of the flood and to the baptism of Jesus. Isn’t it interesting that both sections of scripture talk about water? The great flood’s purpose was to cleanse the world of its evilness. God saw the world as being so evil, that he decided to start anew. In Matthew, baptism is an outward acknowledgment of an inward change of heart. In becoming baptized, Jesus is indicating that he is reading to publicly do the work of his Lord.

Consider what John the Baptist says in Matthew 3:11: “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”∗

As Christians we participate in water baptism to this day. For me, it was a serious commitment of faith, where I told my church what I believed and asked them to pray for me in the coming years. John is saying in this portion of scripture that Jesus gives a whole different type of baptism. But what does being baptized with the Holy Spirit and with fire mean?

To find this out, I turned to Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Matthew 3. Henry writes,

It is Christ’s prerogative to baptize with the Holy Ghost. This he did in the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit conferred upon the apostles, to which Christ himself applies these words of John, [in] Acts 1:5. This he does in the graces and comforts of the Spirit given to them that ask him, [consider] Luke 11:13; John. 7:38, 39; Acts 11:16.
They who are baptized with the Holy Ghost are baptized as with fire; the seven spirits of God appear as seven lamps of fire, [see] Revelation 4:5. Is fire enlightening? So the Spirit is a Spirit of illumination. Is it warming? And do not their hearts burn within them? Is it consuming? And does not the Spirit of judgment, as a Spirit of burning, consume the dross of their corruptions? Does fire make all it seizes like itself? And does it move upwards? So does the Spirit make the soul holy like itself, and its tendency is heaven-ward. Christ says I am come to send fire, Luke 12:49.∗∗

The Holy Spirit baptizes us with a fire that cleanses our souls. It is a pour within us that enlightens, illuminates, and convicts us. It is very much like a fire in the way it consumes our lives. Through dying on the cross, Jesus was able to give this great gift of the Holy Spirit to us. It is a gift for believers alone, people who have admitted that they are in need of a saving grace. And what a wondrous gift it is!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for consuming my life. Please enlighten me to needs in the world around me and consume me with your love today.

Questions: What does the image of the Holy Spirit as a consuming fire mean to you? Did Matthew Henry’s commentary on Matthew 3:11 make sense to you, or did it just confuse you? What questions do you still have, and how will find those answers?




∗Quoted scripture is from the New Living Translation, unless otherwise indicated.

∗∗Henry, Matthew. "Commentary on Matthew 3." Blue Letter Bible. 1 Mar 1996. 2009. 9 Jul 2009. http://www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/comm_view.cfm?AuthorID=4&contentID=1598&commInfo=5&topic=Matthew

Day 2: Genesis 4,5, 5 & Matthew 2

After the reading yesterday I started thinking about the interesting correlations between Genesis and Matthew: the beginning of the Old & New Testaments.

In Genesis we read of the fall of man and the entrance of sin into human life. In Matthew we read of the entrance of a man who will be the redemption of sins.

Adam and Eve made a decision and changed the course of history. Ever since that day, God planned for atonement. In the Old Testament the Israelites sacrificed animals to cover their sins. In the New Testament, one man would sacrifice himself for the redemption of all mankind. This sacrifice would cover every sin Adam & Eve ever committed, and every person since. All we have to do is accept the great gift of redemption God offers us. He’s provided the way we just have to let him into our lives.


Out of the verses I read today, Genesis 4:9 spoke to me the most. In this verse Noah is introduced as a “righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.” Oh that such a definition could be given of me! I know from reading Genesis that Noah was not a perfect man. He made some mistakes, but he was someone who walked with God. What does walking with God mean? I think it means that Noah looked toward God for strength and support; he worshiped God with all that was within him; from the moment he woke up to the moment he lay his head down at night, he was living his life for God. Out of an entire world of people, Noah was the only one seen as worthy of saving. He was the only one left worshiping God. I wonder: would I be the same? Would I still worship God if I were the last person doing so? I’m sure Noah faced criticism for his behavior; he may have been viewed as “weird” and “un-cool,” yet he followed God. And so God gave him a daunting task, collecting two of every kind of animal into a handmade ark, and saved his family from certain death. What an honor!

Prayer: Lord, help me to be more like Noah, who “walked with you” on a daily basis. Show me ways to strengthen my relationship with you.

Questions: What do you think would have been the toughest thing about Noah’s task? Building the ark? The rebuke of others? Believing that a flood would actually cover the world?

What lesson can you take to heart from the story of Noah? What does God want to teach you today?

A New Attempt to read the Bible in a Year: Genesis 1,2,3 & Matthew 1

I was recently inspired to attempt to read the Bible in a year. I have started this process many times in my life. I don’t have adequate excuses as to why I never accomplished it. I have no explanation why I never read the Bible cover to cover in my twenty years of walking with God.

One thing I want to make sure about this new goal is that what I read sinks in. I don’t want to be reading it just to “get through” my reading for each day. I really do want some revelations to come from this study. Over the course of my life I’m sure I have read most of the Bible, but I’m praying that with this study it becomes new all over again.

My goal is to blog everyday about what I’m learning through the readings. I’m sure I won’t be perfect in this goal, but I believe that it will help me overall.

I’ve chosen a Bible in a Year plan by HEARTLIGHT® Internet Magazine - http://www.heartlight.org. Each day has a portion of scripture from the Old and New Testament. For the most part, this reading plan goes straight through each book of the Bible. I like this because I want to keep things in context. I don’t want my reading for each day to be so random that I lose the context of each passage of scripture.

The reading for today comes from Genesis 1, 2, 3 and Matthew 1.

In Genesis 1, I was once again in awe of our God who has existed since the beginning of time. It’s so past my comprehension. He has always been there. For me, my life began with my first breath. For God, he has always been around. It was he that created this spectacular earth that I live on. Each and every thing was created by him.

As I read about God creating “light” and separating light from darkness, I started thinking about the wonder of light. Light is something I take so for granted. When I wake up in the morning, I expect the sun to rise…it’s just the natural progression of a day. It’s funny to think of a time that existed without light or darkness.

Not only did God create light and darkness, but he created such beautiful ways for them to begin and end each day. Sunrises and sunsets are spectacular things. I remember once, standing on a beach, watching the sun crawl up into the sky. The clouds glowed a beautiful orange color. The air was crisp, the beach quiet. It was a time for me and my God. Together we greeted the day and all the spectacular things in store.

Sometimes I feel insignificant in this big world God has created. Then I am reminded of Genesis 1:26: “Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.” I am created in the very image of God. How wonderful to be reminded that I do have a purpose: to worship my creator, my God with everything that I am. I can get so caught up looking at my imperfect self. Instead, I need to be looking toward my perfect Creator God who makes no mistakes in his creation. He credited all of his creation as being “good,” so who am I to argue?

God created human beings and determined specific order of life. A husband & wife would come together and conceive children, who would then grow and bring glory to God with their lives and reproduce more offspring. This has been the order of life since Adam and Eve. In the gospel of Matthew we see the one and only exception. In Matthew 1:20 an angel appears to Joseph and says, “Joseph, son of David…do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.”

The Virgin Birth is such a spectacular story, and the only one of it’s kind. Right from the beginning God was showing how significant this birth would be. He could have just had Jesus conceived the normal way… but he chose not too. Since the beginning, he determined that Jesus’ human birth into the world would be a miraculous one. A young, virgin would be the mother of the Christ. It must have been a wondrous thing to watch her belly grow, and contemplate who was living inside, the Savior of the world. Such responsibility was on Mary’s shoulders, but such blessing as well. For she was just an imperfect human being, yet she was chosen to be the mother of the Christ-child.

Questions: What strikes you as amazing about the Creation story in Genesis 1-3? What specific lessons does God have for you here?
What do you find the most appealing in Genesis 1?
How can you apply these lessons to your daily life?

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for creating this wonderful earth we live in. Help me to be thankful for everything in it, big and small. Also, thank you for sending your Son into the world to forgive me of my sins and give me eternal life. Help me to take the lessons I learned today to heart, and to serve you with all that I am.