January 11

 Genesis 24:52-26:16, Matthew 8:18-34, Psalm 10:1-15, Proverbs 3:7-8



Pray:  Ask the Holy Spirit to give you insight as you read God’s Word today. Pray that as you read the dysfunctions of Isaac and Jacob’s family you will also be encouraged that these were also persons whom God worked through to fulfill His purpose. 

Read: Our Old Testament lesson tells of a war within a family which has the victor fleeing from his family. Yet, God brings redemption in due time. Jesus, in Matthew’s Gospel, calms the waves in the midst of the storm allowing us to realize that Jesus is more powerful than the storms which come our way.

Edify:  Abraham married again after Sarah, had even more children, and died “at a ripe old age of 175.” Isaac marries Rebekah and they have twins who “war within the womb”. Interesting how the Spirit reveals to Rebekah that the younger of the twins would rule over the first born one day. When you read the story, it is shocking to learn that Esau sells his birthright for a bowl of stew. Seems so foolish until we consider how so many of us sell out our “birthrights” for cheap. We cheat on taxes. We inflate numbers at work to appease the boss. We have affairs which damage our marriages and destroy our families all for false security or some immediate pleasure.  What ultimately matters to you and what is “not for sale in your life?”

Practice: Not only does nature yield to Jesus, but the forces of darkness and evil must yield to His voice as the demons are cast out. Perhaps you and I should say along with the disciples, “Who is this man…. even the winds and waves obey Him!” Perhaps we should obey Him as well.  What is the Holy Spirit calling you to do today which would enable you to love God and love people today?

January 10

Genesis 23:1-24:51, Matthew 8:1-17, Psalm 9:13-20, Proverbs 3:1-6 



Pray:  Today is a day of answered pray for many. From Abraham and his servant finding a wife for Isaac, to Jesus healing many persons who had been ill or dealing with disease for some time.  In everyday life people need assistance, yet many are crying out for a double portion of God’s divine touch. Ask the Lord to give you insight today as you read.

Read: The miracles of Jesus are often explained away by those who want a “reasonable explanation” for the supernatural encounters people had with Jesus. Others wonder, “Why doesn’t God still heal today?” Many more will affirm, “God does still heal and deliver as Jesus did 2000 years ago.” Every person Jesus healed in the New Testament had one thing in common, they had a need. As you read today, what is your greatest need or problem? It might be that you don’t think you have any problems.

Edify:  Now your guess is as good as mine. Why didn’t Isaac seek a wife for himself? Was Abraham a helicopter parent and didn’t know it? Or, do we just fill in the gaps culturally as it may well be that marriages were often arranged in that era of history because the parents wanted what was best for their children and Isaac carried the “blessing of many nations and people” in his lineage. In any case, there was divine intervention as the Lord instructed the servant what to look for in a possible wife for Isaac. Rebekah could have simply said, “get your own water, I’m not your servant”, or she could have said, “I’ll give you some water, but not for your camels”. Both requests had to be met for the sign to be confirmed that Rebekah was the one. The Scriptures tell us about a God who is not simply removed from our everyday lives, but desires to be involved with our choices each day.

Practice:  People have deep needs all around us. Children in our community go to bed hungry, many deal with depression and anxiety, men are trapped in pornography, while some are dealing with heavy financial burdens. All of us have needs. The greatest need is to be valued, to be loved. Perhaps we overlook the first reality that Jesus first loved people, then He addressed their needs. Why don’t you and I first practice valuing people today? Who’s on your list? Read these words as encouragement in Proverbs 3:5-6

5“Trust in the Lord with all your heart;

   do not depend on your own understanding.

6 Seek his will in all you do,

   and he will show you which path to take.”

January 9

Genesis 20:1-22:24, Matthew 7:15-29, Psalm 9:1-12, Proverbs 2:16-22 



Pray: Wow, as you pray, think about how the stories in today's reading are rich with God’s promise being fulfilled through the birth of Isaac by his 90 year old mother and 100 year old father. Is there anything too big for God? You are under this covenant if you are a follower of Jesus Christ. So, ask God today to open your understanding and give you new insight as you read the text.

Read: Today’s reading is full of complexity with a beautiful promise fulfilled for two elderly people of God and then a test which seems quite unfair in light of the promise being fulfilled. Why on earth would God give a gift to Abraham and Sarah in their old age of a son and then take him away through a pagan-like sacrifice? We have to read the text with covenant in mind and sacrifice. The sacrifice which Abraham was willing to make was to determine who Abraham truly worshiped and put first in his life. As you read this story you may entertain this question, “What or who would you give up for God? Would you leave family and familiar surroundings to go wherever God would send you?” Abraham did when he left the home of his father.

Edify: Abraham does take Isaac up to the top of the mountain and he is willing to sacrifice him there if this is what the Lord requires. This is also believed to be the future foundation for the Temple in Jerusalem. When God sees his unyielding trust, God sends the angel to withdraw His request of Abraham. This seems very cruel on the part of God. Yet, it is also true that far too many people, even today, worship their children over God. The children even know it and often rule the home and lives of their parents. Instead of giving the children a bedrock of faith and allegiance to God, parents will put their children’s sports and extracurricular activities above worship and service to Christ. God wanted to know if the one whom He had chosen to be the father of the Hebrew faith would actually put God first in all things. Do you put God first in all things?

Practice: Jesus gives us definitive guidance here to build our spiritual and physical homes upon “my words” and to “do them”. If we listen and build our faith upon Christ’s teaching, then we build our lives and our homes upon the rock. If we ignore the words and instructions of Jesus, then we build our homes and lives upon the sand. The foundation will crumble when the storms of life hit it and the storms will come, you can count on it. What words or teachings from this passage will you act upon today? What will you put in place? Let’s build a solid foundation!

January 8

Genesis 18:16-19:38, Matthew 6:25-7:14, Psalm 8:1-9, Proverbs 2:6-15 



Pray:  Jesus gives us permission today in the reading to seek, keep knocking, and to keep asking. Seldom do we believe that God really wants to hear from us, but He does. So ask boldly today for God to meet the needs of you and your family. Intercede for others who may be struggling with physical, emotional or spiritual needs.

Read:  As you read today’s passage we notice that Abraham intercedes for his nephew Lot. As you read, it may be shocking to realize that God will not destroy the city, and He doesn’t want to destroy the city.  If God can find 50, 40, 30, 20 or even 10 righteous people in Sodom and Gomorrah, He will spare the city. God is just, but look for ways the Lord reveals that He is still merciful. Look to see that the Lord’s will is still done though Lot negotiates for other things.

Edify: The two angels appear to answer the prayer of Abraham to spare Lot and his family from the destruction which is coming to Sodom.  The sin is so great and outlandish among the men of Sodom that they want to have sex with the angels. As we read that Lot asked to be sent to another town we quickly understand that God is only destroying Sodom for its great depravity. Why just Sodom and the villages around it? Why not other towns which must have some sin, as all people sin? God did not destroy Sodom because it had sin. God destroyed Sodom because it sanctioned sin! Sodom and Gomorrah called good evil and evil was called good. Sodom sanctioned all forms of sexual sins and God cannot tolerate the sanctioning of any sin. The passage does show a merciful God but not one who tolerates the sanctioning of sin.

Practice: Jesus teaches us to boldly and persistently share the concerns of our heart to a compassionate God. Moreover, Jesus gives us one of the greatest principles in governing relationships with family, marriages, communities and even nations: “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.” Today let us practice the “Golden Rule” as we seek to honor others as we want to be honored and to value others as we want to be valued.

January 7

Genesis 16:1-18:15, Matthew 6:1-24, Psalm 7:1-17, Proverbs 2:1-5 

Pray: Today as we pray to ask the Holy Spirit to open our mind and heart to understand God’s Word to us, we are aware that Jesus is actually teaching on prayer. God is answering Abram’s prayer in giving him a covenant and later a son. What can God do for you today? What does God want to do through you? Pray a bold prayer.

Read: As you read look for the ways in which God fulfills His promises and begins a new mark or sacred observance which is later known as circumcision.

Edify: There is division in the house of Abram with the birth of Ishmael, yet God will fulfill His promise in changing Abram’s name to Abraham and promising that he will have a son at the age of 100 and Sarah at the age of 90. Though this is hard to believe, God’s response is strong, “Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” What need exists in your life and you are hesitant to ask God because you believe it is too far gone, not possible, or would take supernatural intervention? How big is your God?

Practice: Jesus explains to us how to pray. The Lord’s Prayer has three components about God 1) to honor His name, 2) His Kingdom come in you and me, 3) His will be done as we align our lives up with His will. There are also three components which speak to our involvement 1) giving us daily bread, 2) forgiving us as we forgive others, 3) and asking for deliverance from temptation from the enemy. Will you begin today by practicing aligning your will with God’s will? Who do you need to forgive? What temptations do you keep yielding to? Ask God for deliverance.

January 6

Genesis 13:5-15:21, Matthew 5:27-48, Psalm 6:1-10, Proverbs 1:29-33

Pray: Pray for a year of new beginnings. Today’s Old Testament story is one of new starts. Abram is taking a new territory and is gracious in allowing Lot to select the land he desires to inhabit. Pray for God’s discernment that He will direct your path in 2026 and give you insight as you read today’s scripture.

Read: As Abram takes the new ground God makes a way so His will is accomplished through Abram and Lot. Today ask the Holy Spirit to open understanding in the Old and New Testament lessons as Jesus is very practical in instructing us how to pray, how to forgive, how to hold fast to covenantal forms of relationships like marriage and love of our neighbors.

Edify: Abram exemplifies servant leadership which seeks to focus upon God’s purpose and Abram is not seeking selfish pursuits. In fact, when Abram is victorious in the battle with the enemy he does two powerful acts of selfless spiritual leadership: 1) He immediately tithes ten percent of his income to God by giving it to the priest Melchizedek in Genesis 14:20 (this is before the Law of Moses even speaks about the command to tithe) and 2) Abram refuses the generous offering from the king of Sodom believing that others might one day say, “The king of Sodom made Abram rich”. Abram wanted others to know that God had blessed Abram and is powerful enough to bless anyone who puts the Lord first.

Practice: Jesus gives strong advice in Matthew about honoring our commitments to family, spouses in marriage, and how to more effectively love our enemies saying, “If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that?” Wow, Jesus just challenged each of us to go the extra mile in learning to love our enemies and pray for those who seek to do evil against us. Perhaps today’s practice is to write down the names of those who have hurt us, who have broken our trust, who have disappointed us and ask God to bless them and bring them closer to the love of Jesus Christ so we might “be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect."

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.