January 5

Genesis 11:1-13:4, Matthew 5:1-26, Psalm 5:1-12, Proverbs 1:24-28



Pray: Today is a day of unity and confusion. Any confusion in your life? Any chaos? You should be able to relate to today's story both in Genesis and Matthew. So pray that God would help eliminate any confusion or chaos in your life and bring compassion and clarity.

Read: Read this story and try to see yourself in the story in some capacity. God has a loving message for you and me in these words. Especially read slowly the Matthew text called the Beatitudes for there is much encouragement here.

Edify:  Sometimes I think the world would be totally different if it weren't for people. I know, that was a bad joke, but we are often so proud and so stubborn. It is a wonder God has ever put up with us this long. Here we find folks trying to build their own kingdom and hear these words, "Make themselves famous". I thought the purpose of loving and following God was to make His name famous and not our own. So, to cut to the quick, how have I engaged in similar behavior and tried to make my name famous while neglecting the very person of Jesus Christ?

Practice: Jesus says that those who engage in peacemaking and thirst for God will find numerous blessings. So, how can you and I on this very day seek to be more than a fan of Jesus by making His name famous in how we live our lives before others? Will we practice peacemaking? Will we thirst for righteousness? Even when people persecute us we must take confidence, for our reward will not be on this earth but Jesus has promised plenty in heaven.

January 4

Genesis 8:1-10:32, Matthew 4:12-25, Psalm 4:1-8, Proverbs 1:20-23



Pray: Ask the Lord to give you insight and understanding as you read the Scripture. Some of this story may sound familiar as it is the story of Noah and Matthew tells of the beginning of Jesus' ministry. Ask God to give you fresh eyes as you read this story.

Read: See how the two promises are fulfilled in today's reading. Let's examine the text and notice how Jesus calls the disciples from ordinary jobs to extraordinary opportunity.

Edify: Today we read how God has established a covenant that the world will never be destroyed again by a flood. Another promise is given in the prophecy recorded about Jesus Himself. What does chapter 4:15-16 tell us about Jesus' purpose? If He came to shine His light in the darkness, then we, who are His followers, cannot live in darkness. We are called to push the darkness back so God's light can shine in the hearts of men and women.

Practice: God called Noah and his family to a purpose and task to save the world as they knew it. Jesus called the disciples to follow Him to bring healing, economic stability and unity. Notice that people are from Galilee, the Ten towns-land of the Gentiles, Jerusalem-the religious city and Judea which used to be divided against Jerusalem. Jesus is calling His disciples to "Multiply" and make an impact, bring healing and unity as we share the Good News about the Kingdom of God. Jesus multiplied Himself through equipping His disciples. Jesus taught Peter how to catch more fish, then others had to come with their boats to bring them all ashore.

January 3

Genesis 5:1-7:24, Matthew 3:7-4:11, Psalm 3:1-8, Proverbs 1:10-19 

Pray: Today we come to grips with both humanity’s capacity to do evil and wicked things and God’s greater capacity to redeem and save. So, let's pray that as we read Scripture we will not too easily dismiss seeing ourselves in the text. Perhaps there is a part of our story which will resonate with the wrongdoing of humanity and the Lord’s desire to spare us. Fill us O Lord, with the Holy Spirit to experience You fresh and new.

Read: Today’s reading is challenging from Genesis to Proverbs for we come to grips with the depths of human depravity. God destroyed the world. But, as we read the story of Noah, and Jesus and the Pharisees we should see encouragement, not discouragement. God found a way to redeem us, not destroy us. Look for your story in the midst of this greater story.

Edify: Perhaps the hardest verses for many are found in both chapters 5 and 6 of Genesis

1. “When God created human beings, he made them to be like himself” Genesis 5:1b and...
2. “So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart.” Genesis 6:6 

However, there was one man named Noah, who found favor with God through his obedience. John the Baptist emphasizes obedience in his comments to the Pharisees, “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.” We then find Jesus modeling obedience to the Father by submitting Himself to baptism. One possible takeaway today is to never underestimate the importance of simple obedience to God. Disciples are not made in a day, but disciples are made daily. Your obedience gives you favor with God. Remember the words of the Father when Jesus was obedient to baptism, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” Perhaps you need to hear today the voice of God saying, “This is my beloved daughter/son who brings me great joy.” Or, the verse from the Psalmist, “I lay down and slept...for the Lord was watching over me.” Psalm 3:5 

Practice: Simply practice obedience. Love God and love your neighbors today. Do the next right thing you know the Lord would have you to do. Pray for who you will invite to church this next weekend. Then take a step of faith and invite them.

January 2

Genesis 3:1-4:26,, Matthew 2:13-3:6, Psalm 2:1-12, Proverbs 1:7-9

Pray: This is your time with God. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a message of hope and encouragement today. Lord, let me have eyes to see and a heart to understand.

Read:   Genesis 3:1-4:26, Matthew 2:13-3:6, Psalm 2:1-12, Proverbs 1:7-9

Edify: Today is the story of God’s finest creation, a relationship which God initiated. The beautiful part of this story of God creating humankind in His image is God didn’t need us. He still does not need us. Yet, God chose to create humanity and gave us free will. Free to love Him, free to obey Him, free to follow His loving instructions which lead to life or free to disobey which results in chaos, brokenness and hurt for us and those around us. Remember that this story begins with God creating us and loving us. It ends with God displaying this love in its purest form, for when Adam and Eve sin we find God pursuing them. God is a missionary seeking God who pursues us even when we have rebelled and done wrong. John Wesley once wrote, “we would not know the depths of which God would go to express His love if the fall had not occurred.” Matthew’s Gospel speaks of both an evil King Herod who seeks to destroy anything which threatens his kingdom and a Savior who has come to transform the evil of this world and turn it upside down. Jesus has come to save us from our sin so what was lost in the sin of the Garden of Eden can be restored in the person of Jesus Christ.

Practice: Write down what this story means to you and how you might practice gratitude today. God loves you even on your worst day. How can you love God today by loving others more intentionally around you? Ask the Holy Spirit to enable you to practice your takeaway and to intentionally love others more.

January 1

Genesis 1:1-2:25, Matthew 1:1-2:12, Psalm 1:1-6, Proverbs 1:1-6



PREP: 

Pray before you read. 

Read Scripture as if reading a letter from God.

Edify: Look for edifying words or principles in the Scripture for your life.

Practice: What is the one takeaway you can practice or put to use in your life? 

Pray: “God open my eyes to see, my ears to hear the sounds of Your voice, and help me empty myself of me so Your Holy Spirit can now fill me with truth and Your very presence.”

Read: Genesis 1:1 through 2:25, Matthew 1:1 through 2:12, Psalm 1:1-6, Proverbs 1:1-6

Edify: 1) The writer of Genesis begins with a declaration: “In the beginning God…” This is not a hypothesis on the possible existence of a higher being. The writer begins with a statement of faith, as if he was there. In the beginning God created something out of nothing. God brought order out of chaos. 2) The Bible opens with Good News - God created the world and God created humankind in His image. We had a relationship with God that was not yet tainted with sin, fear and shame. Today is a day of new beginnings. 3) Matthew’s Gospel is no different as he also begins with a declaration of faith that Jesus is the Messiah and here is the genealogy to back it up along with prophecy to back it up. The Messiah is to come from King David’s line and no less born in Bethlehem, the City of David.

Practice: The Gospel of Jesus Christ begins with Good News. God came upon the universe which was void and without form. God created something beautiful out of a mess and brought order out of chaos. This is good news for you and me. God meets us right where we are in our chaos, our pain, our upside down world and can do a work of beauty in your life and in the lives of those around us. Today, I am determined to see the redemptive work of God in my life and the lives of others. Today is a new day if I partner with a God who can bring order out of chaos and fulfill His redemptive work in me through Jesus the Messiah.  Who can I encourage today? Today begins a New Year. Who can I share the Good News with today about a God who brings beauty out of our chaos? 

December 31

Malachi 3:1-4:6, Revelation 22:1-21, Psalm 150:1-6, Proverbs 31:25-31



Pray: Father, I trust You for my salvation but there have been times I have not trusted You with my finances. Help me to move from being cursed to being blessed by tithing.

Read: Through the prophet Malachi God said to His people, “Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you. (Mal. 3:7) Then Malachi goes on to say, “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me!” The response of Israel was what do you mean and when have we ever cheated God? Malachi responds to Israel saying, “You have cheated God of the tithes and offerings due to him." And because you have done that, you are under a curse. Israel is then told to bring all the tithes into the storehouse so that there will be enough food in God’s temple. 

Edify: Can you imagine being cursed and having the United States cursed as well by God Himself? But that is exactly what happened to Israel. Israel found themselves outside the blessing and protection of God. But God does offer a blessing. If Israel tithes, God said He would open the windows and pour out a blessing so great they wouldn’t have enough room to take it in. God through the prophet goes on to say that crops would be abundant, insects would not harm them, and disease would not destroy them. God also promises that their grape harvest would be great and that all nations would call them blessed. 

Practice: The passage in Malachi beginning in Chapter 3 with verse 10 says, “Put me to the test!" This is the only place in scripture where man is encouraged to test God. The tithe is the first 10% of your earnings. Are you willing to put God to the test? Are you willing to see if God will bless 90% enough to go further than 100% used to go? Are you tired of having 100% cursed? Start the new year blessed….TITHE!

December 30

Malachi 1:1-2-17, Revelation 21:1-27, Psalm 149:1-9, Proverbs 31:10-24



Pray: Lord, You restore and You reconcile broken people to a holy God. Please open my heart to reconciliation. Help me to claim it for myself and accept that it is Your desire and will for all men…no matter how broken.

Read: The Apostle John sees the city of God, the New Jerusalem, descending from heaven to earth in chapter 21 of Revelation. Heaven has come to earth. God is dwelling amongst His people. It is interesting that heaven, sometimes called paradise, started on earth. God would spend time with Adam and Eve each day and the place they lived was called the Garden of Eden or paradise. The next time we hear of paradise is when Jesus spoke to the thief on the cross promising that the thief would be with Jesus in paradise that very day. We know from the scriptures that Jesus first descended into the lower parts of the earth and preached before ascending into heaven. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus we see a further description of paradise in the lower parts of the earth as being divided into two chambers…paradise and hell. Lazarus, the poor man, was in paradise. The rich man was in hell. There was a great gulf between the two chambers. Later we see paradise up in what we call the heavens when Paul was caught up there. Finally we see paradise descending to earth…full circle you might say.

Edify: We are created in God’s image. Although we fell and chose our own way God still desires to live with us and have us reign with Him. He desires reconciliation and restoration so much so that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, to pay the price for our sinfulness and to make possible reconciliation and restoration.

Practice: Practice seeing what you can be in Christ and what others can be in Christ rather than focusing on what you are and where you are right now. We are under construction but God sees us as whole. Others are under construction as well. See them as whole. Sometimes that isn’t easy, but it is heaven’s perspective.