TODAY’S DAILY READING: Genesis 17-18 & Matthew 9
Old Testament: Genesis 17- Change

Genesis 17:5
“No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.”

Juliet asked Romeo, “What… Read More

Genesis 18- Impossible

Genesis 18:14
“Is anything too hard for the Lord?”

This question was not asked on a theology exam, but in a real life situation. A one hundred year old man, and a ninety year old barren woman, were promised a child from whom a great nation would be established. The promises of God were met head on by the circumstances of life, making them seem so far-fetched, both Abraham and Sarah laughed. It was not improbable for a 90 year old woman to have a child, it was impossible. Not… Read More

New Testament: Matthew 9- Be Of Good Cheer

Matthew 9:2
“Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.’”

This chapter introduces us to a man who is facing one of life’s greatest challenges; that of a terrible physical disorder. Being a paralytic would mean he not only missed out on much of the experiences of life that we take for granted, but also, he would be totally dependant upon others. He … Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Genesis 13-14 & Matthew 7
Old Testament: Genesis 13- Moving Forward

Genesis 13:3-4
“And he went on his journey from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Abram called on the name of the Lord.”

As we read the story of Abraham, we find erecting altars was a regular part of his walk with God. On five separate occasions, he took time to build an altar and call on the name of the Lord. These altars were … Read More

Genesis 14- Meeting Melchizedek

Genesis 14:18-20
“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: ‘Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.’ And he gave him a tithe of all.”… Read More

 

New Testament: Matthew 7- Removing The Speck

Matthew 7:5
“Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Often, when we know of a Christian friend who is stumbling in their walk with Jesus, we are not sure what to do. They may have gotten involved in an ungodly activity or into a bad relationship, or simply stopped investing into their relationship with Christ. We want to help, but at the same time we fear that saying something will be construed as “judging them.” Jesus gives us, in this… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Genesis 11-12 & Matthew 6
Old Testament: Genesis 11- United

Genesis 11:1
“Now the whole earth had one language and one speech.”

Unity is a hot topic today, in the church and in the world. Many economists see global unity as the best solution for prosperity. Many politicians see unity as the only hope for peace, and within the church, many see unity as the only way… Read More

Genesis 12- Famine In The Land

Genesis 12:10
“Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land.”

Life is filled with ups and downs. Sometimes, it seems as if… Read More

New Testament: Matthew 6- Treasures In Heaven

Matthew 6:21
” For Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

The longer I live, the more I have come to realize, so much in life is passing. Things I once coveted and had to have, are bundled up and given to the Salvation Army. That “new car smell” has been replaced with “what’s that smell?” Even relationships that were once so close, have grown distant. The…Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Genesis 9-10 & Matthew 5
Old Testament: Genesis 9- Cover It Up

Genesis 9:21
“Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent.”

Once the waters had resided and the ark settled, Noah and his family exited the ark to begin a new life. They would have to… Read More

Genesis 10- Babel

Genesis 10:10
“And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel…”

Genesis is the book of beginnings. In it, we are introduced to many things which play a prominent role as the rest of Scripture unfolds. Here, in Chapter 10, we are introduced to the city of Babylon, which becomes a… Read More

New Testament: Matthew 5- Sermon On The Mount

Matthew 5:1-2
“And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: . . .”

Matthew 5-7 contain one continuous message that Jesus preached to His followers on a hillside overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Although it is called a sea, it is actually a lake. The Greek word for sea and lake are the same word.

Verse 1 gives us the setting in which… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Genesis 7-8 & Matthew 4
Old Testament: Genesis 7- Obedience

Genesis 7:5
“And Noah did according to all that the Lord commanded him.”

Obedience is critical to any relationship with the Lord. If we are going to grow in Christ, experience the promises of God, and effectively witness to others about relationship with Jesus, we must learn obedience. Samuel told Saul that to obey is better than to sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22), and Jesus declared, if… Read More

 

Genesis 8- Dark Times

Genesis 8:1
“Then God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the animals that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided.”

The last time Noah heard… Read More

New Testament: Matthew 4- Fight

Matthew 4:1
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”

People seem to be fascinated with fighting. I can remember being in Jr. High School and hearing the word “FIGHT” resonate across the playground. All activities… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Genesis 5-6  & Matthew 3
Old Testament: Genesis 5- Likeness

Genesis 5:1
“This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God.”

The Bible teaches that man was originally created in the image of God. Since God is eternal, man was created to live forever. Since God is triune: Father, Son and Spirit, man was also created as a triune being: spirit, soul and body. Since God is holy, man was originally created without sin, placed in a perfect environment, and enjoyed sweet… Read More

Genesis 6- Finding Grace

Genesis 6:8
“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”

The story of the flood is a story of judgment and redemption. Mankind had turned its back on God. Moses is careful to describe the condition of the world at that… Read More

New Testament: Matthew 3- Baptism

Matthew 3:15
“Jesus answered and said to John, ‘Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’”

The baptism of Jesus was a critical event in His life and ministry. It becomes a great… Read More

 

 

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Genesis 3-4  & Matthew 2
Old Testament: Genesis 3- The Cunning Beast

Genesis 3:1
“Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, ‘Has God indeed said, “You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”‘”

The scene in the garden quickly shifts, and we find Eve face to face with… Read More

Genesis 4- Offering 

Genesis 4:2-5
“Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He… Read More

New Testament: Matthew 2- Worshipping Jesus

Matthew 2:2
“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

Those ancient travelers who went in search of the Child Jesus, form a valuable illustration of true worship. Their worship included at least five ideas… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Genesis 1-2  & Matthew 1
Old Testament: Genesis 1- In The Beginning

Genesis 1:1
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

The first verse of the Bible introduces us to its main character: God. This verse is not a philosophical statement, but an axiom upon which all other statements will be… Read More

Genesis 2- God Rested

Genesis 2:2
“And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.”

The Biblical account of the origin of life is fascinating and filled with… Read More

New Testament: Matthew 1- A Personal Story

Matthew 1:1
“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham”

I did not grow up going to church. At the age of 15 years old, I had never seen a Bible. A close friend of mine went on a family… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Malachi 3-4 & Proverbs 31
Old Testament: Malachi 3- Solid Gold

Malachi 3:3
“He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness.”

Since ancient times, precious metals have been purified using intense heat. The… Read More

Malachi 4- Sound Of Silence

Malachi 4:4
“Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.”

The book of Malachi brings the Old Testament to a close. For a period of 1,100 years God at various times and in diverse manners… Read More

Proverbs 31- True Beauty

Proverbs 31:1
“The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him . . .”

Proverbs 31 is a section of Scripture most often taught at women’s conferences or retreats, because it goes to great length describing a virtuous woman. A more… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Malachi 1-2  & Proverbs 30
Old Testament: Malachi 1- The Lord’s Cow

Malachi 1:8
“And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor!
Would he be pleased with you?
Would he accept you favorably?
Says the Lord of… Read More

Malachi 2- Happy Marriage

Malachi 2:15
“But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? and why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.”

Malachi has a lot to say about… Read More

Proverbs 30- Lessons From Nature

Proverbs 30:24-28
“There are four things which are little on the earth,
But they are exceedingly wise:
The ants are a people not strong,
Yet they prepare their food in the summer;
The rock badgers are a feeble folk,
Yet they make their homes in the crags;
The locusts have no… Read More