January 17

Genesis 35:1-36:43, Matthew 12:1-21, Psalm 15:1-5, Proverbs 3:21-26

Pray: Today’s reading reminds us of the brevity of life. Jacob’s parents, and even his wife while giving birth to their youngest son, have passed away. So our lives are precious and these very moments you spend with God in prayer are also valuable. Let us pray, “Lord, allow me to make every moment count today. Open my soul to hear Your message to me as I read Scripture. Open my eyes to see the needs of others around me so I might serve others today.”

Read: In reading our text don’t miss this small but vital part of the Old Testament reading, “4 So they gave Jacob all their pagan idols and earrings, and he buried them under the great tree near Shechem”. Also notice the descendants of Esau who will later appear in our readings as the Edomites. There will be conflict in future years with the descendants of Jacob and Esau. Lastly, we hear the encouraging words of Jesus to honor the law, but our allegiance is supremely to worship God—not the law. This is discussed in Jesus’ response to the Sabbath.

Edify: Jacob recounts how God has always been with him. He tells his servants and people to gather their idols so he may bury them. There is a spiritual cleansing needed in every household.  We accumulate idols subconsciously and consciously. We give other things more allegiance, a greater priority, than we give to our Lord. Many are good things, like work, children or spouses, but if we place them above our trust in God then our faith is misplaced. 

Practice: Make a list. It’s still the beginning of the year. Isn’t it time to do some spring cleaning in your home? Take a look at your bank account. Where is God in your finances? Does God get the first fruits or the leftovers? Do the members in your household know where you stand with putting God first by attending worship services regularly each week and putting God first in your day by reading the Bible and spending time in prayer? Have you attended the prayer service at Christ Church on Sunday nights, or some other prayer service, to truly seek God’s will for you and your family? Make a list. Then practice faithfulness. 

January 16

Genesis 32:13-34:31, Matthew 11:7-30, Psalm 14:1-7, Proverbs 3:19-20

Pray: Today we claim the words of Jesus in the text when He says, “Come to me all who are weary and have heavy burdens for I will give you rest.” Many of us are carrying burdens, worries, anxiety, and much stress. Feel the spiritual lift as you lay down your burdens and worries before Jesus in prayer. Prayer is allowing for the spiritual other to walk beside us revealing God’s peace and presence. Spend some time asking God to open your heart to new understandings and your mind to revelation.

Read: Be careful as you read today’s text. Multiple lessons are in store for you. Remember the previous week’s reading, twenty years of anger and bitterness meet on the road as Esau comes to meet Jacob. Esau’s last words in Jacob’s ears were his brother’s threat to kill him. In reading the passages, we find Jesus finding confrontation as well with the religious leaders seeking to discredit Him and John the Baptist.

Edify: Servants are sent ahead with livestock as gifts from Jacob, who fears for his life. The brothers meet as Esau runs to meet his former adversary.  Instead of knives being drawn, there is a long embrace and tears falling to the ground as healing takes place. Esau asks his brother why the gifts? Jacob tells him they are for him. Esau says, “I have everything I need”. Wow, when is the last time you’ve heard anyone say that? When is the last time you’ve really believed that? 

Practice: We know that Rachel and Joseph are present, for they kneel down before Esau out of respect. They have both witnessed an amazing act of God’s grace. Instead of Esau seeking to take the life of their husband and father, they witness Esau kissing Jacob on the neck. When Jacob looks into Esau’s face he says, “It is like seeing the face of God!” Wow, why did Jacob say that? Perhaps it was because when he looked into Esau’s face, Jacob saw the face of grace, the face of forgiveness, which is the face of God. We are more like God when we give and when we forgive. What do people see when they look into your face? Bitterness, anger, hostility, and heavy burdens which you refuse to lay at the feet of Jesus? Why not ask the Holy Spirit to help you to lay down a burden, a hurt, bitterness or give the Lord an unresolved conflict so healing can begin today.  

January 15

Genesis 31:17-32:12, Matthew 10:24-11:6, Psalm 13:1-6, Proverbs 3:16-18



Pray:  When we feel we are under attack, in a tight spot, and our back is against the wall we wonder what we can do. Today’s Scripture challenges us to trust in God and give our issues, our problems and those who would do us harm over to God. So, begin today by giving your troubles, your problems or concerns to God. Lift up the Lord first and ask for God’s guidance as you read today’s stories of redemption.

Read: You don’t find this often, but here in Genesis is a clear instruction from God to Laban to “Leave my servant Jacob alone.” Jacob has outwitted Laban who has sought to deceive Jacob multiple times as Jacob had to work for Rachel for seven years, then he was deceived on his wedding night as he awoke the next morning only to find Leah in bed with him. Thus, Jacob works another seven years for Rachel and in a sense he never works for Leah—she is part of the deal or part of the family feud. Laban isn’t upset because Jacob took his daughters and grandchildren, but upset because the idols were stolen. These idols were likely made of silver or gold, thus being valuable not only for their sacred meaning but literally of great value monetarily. 

Edify: In Genesis and Matthew we find that God cares for his followers. Jacob is anointed as a grandson to Abraham. God will fulfill His purpose through Jacob so He tells Laban, “don’t touch my anointed.” Jesus also says in verse 26, “But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.” Today, we should take courage that God fights for those who obey Him and follow our Lord.

Practice: Prejudice is all around us and within us. We all are guilty of having preconceived notions about other people and jumping to conclusions without giving others the benefit of the doubt. Jesus warns about this in today’s reading. Our remedy for prejudice is to serve our neighbor with the love of Christ. When we serve others in the same humility and with the love of Christ, we are less likely to stand in judgment of them. It’s hard to try and rule over a person when you are actually washing their feet. Who will you serve today with the love of Christ?

January 14

Genesis 30:1-31:16, Matthew 10:1-23, Psalm 12:1-8, Proverbs 3:13-15

Pray: Prayer opens the windows of our soul to hear the whispers of God. Prayer also opens our mind for understanding and insight. Today, ask the Lord to open your soul and mind to encounter truth, but to close anything out which would distract you from hearing the Lord’s special message to you today.

Read: Today is a disturbing read with Jacob and Laban going at each other trying to “out-wit” the other. There is no trust in this family and there is a competition for being top dog. Patrick Lencioni speaks about the essentials for trust in any organization.  This too is essential in any family or marriage. This is not only found in the relationships with the men but also with Leah and Rachel. In the midst of this dysfunction, the voice of God speaks to Jacob to go to the land of his grandfather and father. The Lord does in fact speak through our dysfunction and call us out of sin and brokenness to a life of redemption. Listen for the Lord’s voice as you read.

Edify: Jesus gives us great insight into how to do ministry among persons who may receive us or may not. It is no disgrace to realize that sometimes people are open to an invitation to church, to hear your faith story or not. When people are not receptive, then it is okay to respectfully move on to a more receptive people. Lastly, Jesus warns us that we may have to even go to prison for our faith. People do in many countries. However, they trust in what God will give them through the Holy Spirit in that hour. When we are being faithful to serve, we can trust the outcome to God. 

Practice: Today, Jesus sends out the twelve disciples to the “People of Israel", for it is to them that God wanted to offer salvation. Not because they are privileged, but because “salvation will come through the Jews.” The purpose is to heal the sick, cure leprosy, cast out demons and raise the dead! A normal day? I don’t think so. There is no greater journey in the world than partnering with the living God to change lives. You may not feel empowered to cast out demons or raise the dead, but your personal invitation to an unchurched neighbor, coworker, or friend could change their life forever.  So, pray and invite someone today to attend worship.

January 13

Genesis 28:1-29:35, Matthew 9:18-38, Psalm 11:1-7, Proverbs 3:11-12

Pray: Pray for revelation, not just information. Your story can be found within today’s reading in some capacity. We all need some kind of healing, and we all struggle with significance. We want our lives to matter.  Jacob has a dream which is really God’s dream for him but a greater dream for humanity. Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, will be the father of many nations and from him will come the 12 tribes, and from one of these tribes the Messiah would come.

Read: Here are personal stories of romance, family feuds, and Jesus’ passion for the lost to know there is a Gospel of Good News. Jesus heals and brings hope to persons who are struggling. What is God saying to you today?

Edify: We all seek significance and meaning. Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. The story of Jacob and Rachel is one of the great love stories of the Bible, while the story of Leah is very sad in so many ways. What person has not felt some rejection or displacement among her or his peers at some time? Leah is heartbroken that her husband will not find favor in her though she has given him three sons. Notice in verse 35 of Genesis 29 “She named him Judah, for she said, ‘Now I will praise the Lord!’ And then she stopped having children.”  Leah had tried to please her husband by giving him sons, but his love for Rachel was greater than his compassion for Leah. Jacob is not her God. So Leah teaches us a valuable life lesson, “Praise and worship the Lord God above all else.” When Leah praised the Lord and put God above Jacob she gave birth to another son whose name is Judah. From the line of Judah comes King David, and Jesus the Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Practice: Seeking significance is a natural and innate desire of most people. Why? God put us here to live into our purpose. When we are living into God’s purpose for our lives, then our lives are more fulfilled. Jacob’s life was not to be lived for his own purposes—God was bringing forth a people who would worship Him and from Jacob and Judah would come the Messiah to bring salvation to the entire world. Likewise, Jesus tells us in Matthew’s Gospel that there is a harvest and the workers are few. You and I will never experience greater meaning and purpose than when we partner with God to help people find their way home to salvation in Jesus Christ. We don’t want people we care for to have a Christ-less eternity. Every follower of Christ needs to be conscious to invite persons to worship regularly and to pray for the unchurched we know. Who is on your list?

January 12

Genesis 26:17-27:46, Matthew 9:1-17, Psalm 10:16-18, Proverbs 3:9-10

Pray:  We begin in prayer before we read so we might understand more fully the stories of faith and how these stories intersect our lives. Prayer is also dialogue, not monologue. So, as you read listen for the voice of God speaking to you through the text. 

Read: Disturbing stories here about a brother betraying both his father and his brother while a mother helps in the betrayal. Yes, the Bible is a real book about real dysfunctional people who struggle with being faithful just like you and me. Don’t miss the one verse in Genesis 26:35 which stresses the importance of who influences our lives. Esau married two Hittite women who made the lives of his parents miserable. What is more problematic is that these wives will influence the children of Esau and these women are not believers in the God of Abraham and Isaac. Lastly, Jacob receives his father’s blessing while Esau gets the “leftover blessing”. It saddens me when Esau cries out, “Don’t you have a blessing for me?” So many children grow up crying out to their parents, “Don’t you have a blessing for me?”

Edify:  In Matthew, we read of Jesus reaching out to heal the paralyzed man. The first thing Jesus does is assure him that his sins are forgiven. This is what disrupts the religious leaders and should get your attention as well. Their statement is true, …”Does he think he’s God?”  Yes, should be our response. Jesus is not merely a prophet, a wise man, nor is He a spiritual guru who points us to God. Jesus is the living God in the flesh who alone has come to atone for the sins of humanity. Perhaps one take away today is that you and I don’t worship a weak Savior but a powerful God in the flesh who cares for the least among us. He cares for you and your family.

Practice: Look for the persons among you today who are crying out for a blessing. Look for those who want their lives to be different and need encouragement and prayer. Perhaps that person is you. Why not share the deep needs of your heart before the Lord and then be mindful of those who need hope.

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?