Genesis 20

“In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this” (v5). Although God was working out His plan of salvation through Abraham, Abimelech’s integrity and conversation with “the Lord” revealed that God cared for and spoke to others in the land. Abimelech’s righteous intentions, in fact, contrast with Abraham’s self-serving lies about Sarah (v11-13). When Abraham’s lack of faith nearly resulted in disaster for Sarah and their descendants, God interven

Matthew 7:14-29

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father” (v21). Jesus rejected the idea that one could claim His name without loving and following His kingdom ways. Those who did “mighty works” in His name but had no interest in heart change would hear the terrible words, “I never knew you” (v23). He warned against “false prophets” who claimed faith but lived ungodly lives (v15-20).

“Everyone then who hears th

Matthew 7:1-13

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (v3). According to Jesus, human religion focuses on criticizing others and ignoring our own wrongdoing. Even worse, we may justify great sin in ourselves while pointing out someone’s smaller error (v4). Jesus taught his followers to deal with their own hearts first (v5) and to humbly ask for what we need (v7-10). Instead of imitating the world’s cruelty, Jesus calls

Psalm 5

“For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you” (v4). The psalmist was convinced that God was not just a divine force of power; instead, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had revealed Himself as holy. He hates lies and violence (v6); He is against those who harm others by manipulation and threats (v9-10). The psalmist asked this God of “steadfast love” to lead him not in the ways of wicked men, but in the way of righteousness (v7-8).

“I wi

Genesis 18-19

“For I have chosen him, that he may command his children ... to keep the way of the Lord” (18:19). Just after “the Lord appeared” to Abraham and confirmed that Sarah would soon be pregnant (18:1), Lot and his family became caught up in the terrible destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (18:22). The attempted gang rape of Lot’s guests revealed the twisted cruelty of the population (ch 19), and Lot’s family barely escaped. Amid the “very grave” evil of the times (18:20), God cho

Genesis 17

“I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly” (v1-2). God called Abraham to follow Him, initiating a special relationship, and Abraham responded in faith. Circumcision was the sign of this covenant between God and Abraham and Abraham’s descendants (v11). Significantly, the family would not multiply naturally, but through supposedly infertile Sarah and the miracle baby Isaac (v19).

“And I w

Genesis 16

“So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, ‘You are a God of seeing’” (v13). Sarai and Abram’s frustrations with ten years of waiting for a child led them to the disastrous choice of using Hagar as a concubine-surrogate. When, unsurprisingly, this plan produced conflict, Hagar fled into the desert. But the Lord found her there and spoke to her. The runaway slave, mother of Ishmael, experienced God’s mercy and love. “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me”

Genesis 15

“And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness” (v6). God had promised to give Abram descendants, and now the Lord confirmed that He was Abram’s “shield” and source of reward (v1). But Abram had “no offspring” and wondered how and when God would fulfill His promise (v3). Bringing Abram outside, God commanded him to look at the night sky, filled with stars: “So shall your offspring be” (v5). Abram trusted that God would do what He said.

“Fear not ... I

Matthew 6:19-34

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (v21). According to Jesus, wherever we put our treasure (our time, our money, our attention) becomes the controlling center of our lives. He offers us the chance to “lay up treasures in heaven” – to make God and His kingdom the center of our affections and our highest goal. When we do, we know that our investment is secure (His kingdom is unshakeable) and that we do not have to live in anxious desperation (v25).

“B

Matthew 6:1-18

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven” (v1). Jesus taught his followers that to have a real relationship with the Father, they would need to live for His presence and approval, not the opinions of others. Instead of public displays of religious tradition, giving, praying, and fasting should be private matters of devotion to the One who matters most (v5-8).

Psalm 4

“Who will show us some good?” (v6). This is the universal question of men and women everywhere, in every generation. Who will give us a better life, more security, more happiness? How will we make our “grain and new wine” increase? (v7). Sadly, by believing “vain words” and “lies” (v2), we end up with shame instead of the life God desires for us (v2). He calls us to put our trust in Him alone and discover the joy of knowing Him (v5,7). 

In peace I will both lie down and sle

Genesis 13-14

“Lift up your eyes and look ... for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever” (13:14). After Abram’s disastrous attempt to find help in Egypt, he returned to Canaan, “to the place where he had made an altar at the first” (13:4). After Abram and Lot separated, God reminded Abram that He would give him the land (13:11,17). Later, after rescuing Lot from Canaanite kings, Abram met the priest-king Melchizedek. Rather than grasping for more, Ab

Genesis 12

“Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house ... I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing” (v1-3). God’s call to Abram included the promise to make his name great, just as his ancestors had desired (Gen. 11). Yet in contrast to the Tower of Babel, God’s hand on Abram would mean blessing for others, not harm. Abram obeyed God and took his family to Canaan. He stumbled often due to fear (12:13), but he put his future in God’

Genesis 10-11

“Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower ... and let us make a name for ourselves” (11:4). Noah’s descendants, united by one language, came together to make something impressive, lasting, and glorious – to ‘make a name’ for themselves. Their tendency toward sin made this project dangerous, and the Lord recognized that “this is only the beginning of what they will do” (11:6). To stop their ingenuity from producing catastrophic harm, God “confused their language” and

Matthew 5

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven (v44-45)”. Jesus taught his disciples that belonging to the kingdom of heaven meant living in a way radically opposed to what the world considers ‘normal’. Those who are humble and broken, who long for righteousness and actively pursue peace, risk rejection in this world (v11). Yet in the Father’s eyes, they are beloved children and citizens of heaven.

“Blessed a