Jim Gallagher

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Genesis 19-20 & Matthew 10

Old Testament: Genesis 19- You’re Kidding

Genesis 19:14
“So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, ‘Get up, get out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city!’ But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking.”

I remember growing up with the story of Paul Revere riding through the New England countryside, heralding the message that the British were coming. In the version I was told, he rode from town to town warning the people who responded by preparing themselves for battle. Lot, like Paul Revere, was given a warning. His warning came by… Read More
Genesis 20- Turning Around

Genesis 20:2
“Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, ‘She is my sister.’ And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.”

Abraham’s journey had led him to the far south of the promised land, to an area that had begun to be occupied by the Philistines. Because of the reputation of the Philistine people, Abraham and Sarah decided the best approach to guarantee their safety was to lie about their relationship. They would tell anyone who asked, they were brother and sister. Thinking Sarah… Read More

New Testament: Matthew 10- The Twelve

Matthew 10:2-4
“Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.”

These twelve ordinary men were chosen, empowered, and sent by Jesus into the world with the simple message of salvation. As a result, their lives have transformed the world.

John Foxe records the plight of many of them:

Phillip labored in Asia and was scourged, thrown into prison, and crucified… Read More