January 25

Genesis 50:1 – Exodus 2:10, Matthew 16:13 – 17:9, Psalm 21, Proverbs 5:1-6



PRAY: Lord, thank You for Your Word. Would You please open my eyes to see Your faithfulness? Inspire me to be a person of faith just like our heroes in the Bible. Lord, they weren’t perfect – I am not either – but I can choose today to take steps in Your direction. Lord, I am determined to celebrate You today and watch You work!

READ: It’s interesting how both Jacob and later, Joseph, would request that their bones not remain in Egypt upon their deaths. Although Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel) died in Egypt, he believed God’s promise to one day bring his descendants back to Canaan. Although Joseph was appointed to serve in Pharaoh’s palace during the years of plenty and famine, he too would arrange for his bones to go with the Hebrews when their time in Egypt was complete. And then we segue into Exodus and pick up with the birth of Moses—the one who would lead Israel to freedom and the one to whom God would entrust His Law.

EDIFY: While in Egypt, Israel’s descendant went from 70 to a mighty nation! In the New Testament reading, Jesus takes three of His disciples up a high mountain and His “appearance was transformed so that His face shone like the sun.” Who would appear with Him, but Moses and Elijah? Think about it: Moses—Rescuer, Lawgiver; Elijah—prophet, and one in whose spirit John the Baptist would prepare the way for the Lord’s Christ. With Peter, may we declare of our Lord: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!” Faith is all over our reading today, from Jacob and Joseph believing God’s promise to Moses’ parents hiding their baby in a basket among Nile River reeds to Peter’s declaration of faith. God is faithful. And we must live by faith.

PRACTICE: Again, none of us is perfect. But we must keep our focus upon Christ’s mission in the world. Just moments after Peter’s declaration of faith—Jesus being the Messiah—the Lord had to rebuke Peter for opposing His purpose to suffer, die, and rise again. “Jesus turned to Peter and said, ‘Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s’” (Matthew 16:23). We all have struggles and setbacks. Nevertheless, will you make sure your overarching focus today is to align with Christ’s work in the world?  

January 24

Genesis 48:1-49:33, Matthew 15:29-16:12, Psalm 20:1-9, Proverbs 4:20-27



Pray: Today’s Psalm begins with, “In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry. May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm”, and verse seven declares, “Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.” Let’s begin today crying out to the Lord with our concerns and cares while lifting up His name. Let’s end the day boasting not in our accomplishments but boasting in His through us.

Read: Jacob models both wisdom and leadership as he blesses the members of his family. Jacob lays hands first on Ephraim and then Manasseh. Yes, Manasseh is born first but Jacob knows what God will do in Ephraim’s life one day, so he blesses him for leadership. Before he breathes his last, Jacob blesses each of his sons. What a gift, to have your father place his hand upon you and give you a blessing and speak truth into your life. Yes, in some cases it is troubling what Jacob says to some sons, yet some are real rascals to be sure. However, there is time to change if they will. What would be worse than hearing the truth? Not hearing the truth and your life is diminished. Perhaps to hear the truth, then there is time to correct the mistakes.

Edify: Jesus once again does another public miracle where 4000 are fed after He heals many individually. Jesus’ words to the disciples are so powerful when He says, “this is not about bread!”.  So often I want to stand up in the middle of worship and declare, “This is not about liturgy, music, great songs, or tradition!” I would rather say, “This is about a real relationship with a living God. So let’s give Him the praise He is due. Yes, bring your hurts, your pain and brokenness, but don’t forget to bring your praise and thanksgiving.”  Jesus feeds the 4,000 to bring food to the “lost people of Israel,” the Hebrew people so they might bring the living bread to the world. D.T. Niles once said, “The gospel of Jesus Christ is one beggar, sharing with another beggar where he can find the bread of life.” Like the Psalmist says, “We can’t boast, but we can boast in the Lord.”

Practice: We are not far from the religious leaders in our discerning process. We too often look for signs. Is this the right direction? Should we begin this new adventure? Is it the right timing? Is it the right move? How can we know? Is there a sign? These leaders demanded a sign. They wanted credentials. Jesus later gave them a miracle, but they failed to even see its power and significance. Maybe, just maybe, Jesus is the sign. For you and me, it is an empty tomb! Do you really need to know anything else, except that the person you are putting your faith in, trusting your life to, has already defeated sin and death? Risk boldly for God today. Take this extra bread from the feeding of the 4,000 and tell others today, “He really is the bread of life.”

January 23

Genesis 46:1-47:31, Matthew 15:1-28, Psalm 19:1-14, Proverbs 4:14-19



Pray: What if you could see the future, would you really want to know how everything ends up? I would probably run. In any case, God gave Jacob a rare gift and he could see the future. God gave him the vision of what lies ahead. God also encouraged him by saying, “Do not be afraid….”  I wish you could hear the Lord sharing with you, “Do not be afraid….” No matter what the future holds, pray with boldness today that the God who holds the future loves you and is fighting for you. Pray for insight into God’s depth of love, not so much knowledge but a personal experience of learning about God’s love for you today.

Read: When they arrived in Goshen, Jacob and Joseph wept as they held each other. Some people want titles, success, accolades, and material wealth. Jacob, as an old man, just wanted to see his beloved Joseph’s face one more time and he was ready to die. Die he did, not at the instance, but he did see his son’s face. Do you take the faces of your family members for granted? Your spouse, your sister, brother, child, grandchild, parent or grandparent? Do you take your friends for granted? Look again, into their eyes and give thanks.

Edify: We are camping out in the O.T. a lot today but think about it for a minute. A total stranger, only being Joseph’s son gets him an audience with Pharaoh, and Jacob blesses a man who is seen by many to be a god. Jacob knows he is not God because he has wrestled with God. Jacob knows he is not God because he knows his character. But, Jacob knows the man standing in front of him has major influence and needs a blessing from God to rule the people under his care. So Jacob blesses Pharaoh not once, but twice. Jacob knew the deep need for a blessing. He would not let the Angel go before he blessed him when he wrestled with God. What do you need God to do for you today? What do you need to do for God?

Practice: Today Jesus echoes the teaching in Jeremiah which states, “The heart is evil…” You see Jesus knew the limited capacity of food to actually hurt our witness. Yes, you can drink too much wine or alcohol and this will hurt your witness as you act out or may say things to hurt others. But, what is far worse is what comes forth from our mouths when we gossip, engage in character assassination towards others by speaking negative words. Proverbs tells us that words bring “life or death”. So, which one will you speak today? Life or death to others? Seriously, measure your words today. Seek out the ones in your life, whom are like Joseph was to Jacob, and let them know that you really needed to see their face or hear their voice on the phone. Call them or go see them now. Tomorrow’s letters and phone calls don’t get made. Do it now.

January 22

Genesis 44:1-45:28, Matthew 14:13-36, Psalm 18:37-50, Proverbs 4:11-13



Pray: Today’s reading is all about revelation. Much is revealed in the reading. The world doesn’t need any more information, our world is crying out for “revelation”. Ironically, God desires to reveal Himself to us in multiple ways. Ask the Lord to do so as you read the text and look for the Holy Spirit to reveal truth to you today.

Read: As you read the text allow the Holy Spirit to take you on an amazing journey filled with drama as Joseph has the cup placed in his brother Benjamin’s bag which would have made him a slave to Egypt and which would have killed his father to not have him back. There is the reality that the sons of Jacob are still having to wrestle with the results of their past sin toward Joseph. It is true that God is gracious to forgive us, yet it is also true that our sin does have consequences.

Edify: When Joseph demands that Benjamin stays as a slave to Egypt, it grips the heart of Judah for he knows the pain it will cause his father Jacob. No brother seemed to want to take a stand. Yet, in a rare step, Judah stepped forward and respectfully requested that Joseph take him as the slave and allow Benjamin to return to their father Jacob. This is a great sacrifice on Judah’s part, and in some ways Judah finds a redemptive moment from his earlier sins we read about in Genesis. How powerful is sacrifice to you? Do you find it encouraging when a person is willing to lay down his or her life for another? Remember, from the lineage of Judah will come King David, and from David will come the Messiah, Jesus Christ our Lord who laid down His life for you.

Practice: There are two powerful stories in today’s reading found in Matthew. Jesus feeds the large crowd and walks on water. Ironically, Peter was bold enough to think that he could join Jesus by walking on the water. Yes, Peter stepped out of the boat and shortly after became frightened and his eyes became focused on the fear and not Jesus. This is when he began to sink. Before we rush to a concluding “practice” today to tell you to keep your eyes focused on Jesus, we should first realize the necessity of getting out of the boat. You can’t walk on water while remaining in the boat. God’s dream, God’s purpose cannot be fulfilled in your life if you remain in apathy or if you stay frozen in fear of failure. Today, get out of the boat. Secondly, keep your eyes focused upon Jesus.

January 21

Genesis 42:18-43:34, Matthew 13:47-14:12, Psalm 18:16-36, Proverbs 4:7-10

Pray: We can’t always change our circumstances for they are often beyond our control. But, we can choose how we respond to our circumstances. As we pray today why not ask God to reveal to us this very truth as we read the story of Joseph, his brothers and father. Moreover, let us visit the rejection of Jesus in His own home town of Nazareth. Maybe we can identify more than we first thought with today’s reading.

Read: Jesus is able to do much more than the people have faith for. They immediately try to discredit Jesus because He is from Nazareth, just because of His teaching and watching His miracle. Why is it that we often find it hard to believe a movement of God when it is going on right in front of us?

Edify: Joseph has now vetted his brothers to see if they have increased in their selfishness or if they somehow have changed. When they take such good care of Benjamin, then Joseph knows that they now care a little more for their father and brother than they did for Joseph years earlier. He even sits a table of food before them as they dine with the very brother they betrayed. Often you may be asked, “Could you forgive someone who has sinned against you like Joseph did?” The greater question is this: “Could you receive the forgiveness for all that God has done for you? Could you forgive yourself for sins against others?”

Practice: Trust is earned and rarely given in large supplies. Joseph gives his brothers a large amount of trust and requires that they trust him and that Joseph would not seek revenge. Joseph is healthy and is willing to dine with his brothers. Could you sit down and fellowship with those who have lied about you or engaged in character assassination? Why not start with coffee or a snack?

January 20

 Genesis 41:17-42:17, Matthew 13:24-46, Psalm 18:1-15, Proverbs 4:1-6

Pray:  Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dream through the Holy Spirit. Joseph gives God the credit. When you and I begin to read this powerful text perhaps we should ask God to give us the capacity to interpret, and understand how God’s redemptive story of Joseph, Egypt and the people of Israel intersects our lives.

Read: Joseph does hold his brothers accountable, but he does not move into a state of judgment nor does he give them any harsh penalty for selling him into slavery years ago. He only puts them in prison for three days. They deserved much more, but when it comes to justice we all deserve much more. In fact, I often hear people say, “I want justice!” Really? You want justice for others, but you would never want justice for yourself. Justice is for you and me being eternally separated from a Holy God due to our sinful nature. Yet, God is so merciful and gracious.

Edify: Jesus speaks to us in Matthew about the wheat and weeds. We have to be careful in our lives to weed our spiritual and emotional gardens regularly. Sin has a way of showing up and growing even within the decent areas of our lives. We have to first recognize them, then pull the weeds regularly or they will take over our lives if they are not identified and thrown out through repentance and confession.

Practice: Today we see Joseph showing compassion towards his brothers as he has been elevated to a tremendous position of power. Joseph now becomes second in command of all of Egypt. Yet, he is willing to show compassion. Who needs your unconditional love today? Why not ask God for a double portion of grace today so you might give it away to others.

January 19

Genesis 39:1-41:16, Matthew 12:46-13:23, Psalm 17:1-15,Proverbs 3:33-35

Pray: Misunderstandings for sure and often betrayal are a part of our lives. We get hurt. Hurting people hurt people. This is why prayer is so vital as we bring our hurts, disappointments and pain to the Lord. In addition we must ask God’s help in forgiving others. Today, ask the Lord to open further understanding for you as you read these powerful stories of persistence in the midst of persecution.

Read: Joseph is a rare young man as the story reveals in today’s reading. Integrity and loyalty are observed in multiple ways in our text. As we read the New Testament we also find Jesus lifting up devotion and obedience when he says, “Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!”  There is no greater way to touch the heart of God other than obedience.

Edify: Joseph runs away from temptation to secure his honor and his future. Too often we exchange temporary pleasure for lasting regret. When we have sinned, the most important thing we can do is to come clean and ask for forgiveness. Joseph’s honor was further tested as he had every right to become bitter due to the way Potiphar’s wife lied about him and he was thrown in prison due to her sexual misconduct. Joseph decided not to become bitter but to build his life by adding value to those in his immediate surroundings.

Practice:  Joseph’s choice to add value to the warden of the prison and to his fellow prisoners made him valuable and credible. Moreover, when he was told the dreams of his fellow prisoners, he could have told them, “I have enough problems of my own I don’t have time to hear yours.” Yet, Joseph heard their dreams and gave them understanding. Who can you add value to today? Who needs a listening ear? You and I become even more valuable when we add value to people.