Author: Pastor Doug

Our scripture today is Genesis 37:28 (NET).

So when the Midianite merchants passed by, Joseph’s brothers pulled him out of the cistern and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. The Ishmaelites then took Joseph to Egypt.

God’s family had spiraled down to this: Joseph, Abraham’s great grandson, is sold into slavery in Egypt by his own brothers. Not exactly the model we expect for God’s chosen people. I have had people ask why does God choose to work through weak and fallible people like those we read about in the bible? The sad answer is we are all He has. God has a unique way of using what seem like the worst possible actors and circumstances to achieve His will. God doesn’t need us to accomplish anything, but He graciously calls us to be part of His work.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for the way we often treat one another. Forgive us and help us to see everyone as Your beloved children. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Genesis 22:12 (NET).

“Do not harm the boy!” the angel said. “Do not do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God because you did not withhold your son, your only son, from me.”

The largest part of God’s blessing to Abraham was the promise of a family, even though he and Sarah were already old. They become impatient and attempt to make this happen themselves with sad results (Genesis 16). However, God is faithful and gives them a son of their own. Now in Genesis 22 God asks that Abraham give back his only son as an offering. As they go, Isaac notices they have no animal to sacrifice with them. Abraham says “God will provide for himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son,” (Genesis 22:8). At the climactic moment God intervenes, providing a ram in Isaac’s place. Abraham had faith that God’s plan was better than any he could put together. God has sent His only Son as a sacrifice for our sin. We need to trust God as fervently as Abraham, knowing He has only good for us.

Loving Lord, help us to trust You even when we don’t see the way, walking by faith and not sight. Bless us to share the joy we find in You with everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Genesis 12:2-3 (NET).

Then I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, so that you will exemplify divine blessing. I will bless those who bless you, but the one who treats you lightly I must curse, and all the families of the earth will bless one another by your name.

God continued to reach out to His people through individuals. In the middle section of Genesis we read of Abraham, who obeyed God by faith. In return God promised him land, descendants, and that through him all people would be blessed (see also Genesis 15 & 17). In academic terms this is known as the Abrahamic Covenant – God’s eternal promise through one who proved faithful. Note however that Abraham and his family were not perfect, they made mistakes and harmed their relationship with God and each other. Through it all God remained faithful to His covenant with His people. From their example of struggle and faith, may we better see ourselves and our connection to God.

Heavenly Father, we are sorry for the times we think of ourselves first and You and all our brothers and sisters later. Forgive our selfish thoughts and help prevent them from becoming miserly actions. Bless us to seek Your truth and share Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Genesis 9:1 (NET).

Then God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.”

Does today’s verse sound familiar? In Genesis 1:28 we read “God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply! Fill the earth and subdue it! Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that moves on the ground.”” God shows His constant and consistent love by giving the same command to Noah and his family as was given to Adam and Eve in the garden. This reboot of creation is different than the original, but God’s love for us is still the same. He wants us to choose a relationship with Him and to be part of what He is doing in our world and our lives.

Heavenly Father, Your mercy exceeds the power of evil and is there for us when we return in repentance. Bless us to stand firm in Your word and share Your love with all. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Genesis 3:9 (NET)

But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”

I think this is one of the saddest verses in all of scripture. God knows where we are and what we have done, but He comes looking for us anyway. It also shows us the futility of hiding from God. It won’t change anything. We need to come to our loving Father admitting what He already knows about us, but by bringing it to Him, we admit it to ourselves. This can lead us to accept His forgiveness and forgive ourselves, which is essential to a right relationship with Him. This is also one of the most joyful verses in scripture: our God comes looking for us because He loves us.

Gracious God, we are sorry for the times we have failed You and each other. Forgive us, strengthen us by faith, and send us to share Your love with the world. Amen.

Friends, I’m trying a new direction for my posts here. I wish I had started at the beginning of the year but at least today begins a new month. What I will try to do is spend a week in each book of the Bible in order, picking verses from various places. For some, like Genesis, this will only be an overview. For some shorter works, it may seem we’ve covered everything. I’m using a translation I have only recently discovered, the New English Translation (NET). The online version contains translator’s notes, explaining their choice of words. I hope this will continue to be a daily devotional, but also perhaps leads to some deeper study – at least for me! 

Our scripture this morning is Genesis 1:1 (NET).

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

“In the beginning” means literally that. There was nothing before God decided to create out of nothing. Some of you know my grandfather was a pastor and he had the best jokes with a lesson. There’s a really good one about a “creating contest” between God and a human. God reaches down for a handful of dirt, so the human does as well. God knocks the dirt out of his hand and says “you have to create your own dirt!” This exposes our hubris in thinking we can be like God! If you want to be objective, we are no better than 3D printers, able only to use the material God gives us. True creation belongs to Him and Him alone.

Gracious God, You created everything that is and gave it to us to use in Your name. Bless us to be better stewards of all You have given us, using it well for all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Hebrews 10:23-24 (NET).

And let us hold unwaveringly to the hope that we confess, for the one who made the promise is trustworthy. And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works.

Being in community with other followers of Jesus was important in the time after His resurrection and return to the Father. It’s still important today. Jesus promised us the coming of the Holy Spirit to guide and encourage us individually. However, as the disciples showed in the second chapter of Acts, sharing that blessing with one another is essential. We all need each other for strength and encouragement. John Wesley writes “there is no such thing as a solitary Christian”, reminding us that God wants us to be part of His family along with all our brothers and sisters. In a world where negativity seems to be the norm, may we be the spark of the Gospel instead.

Loving Lord, You have shown us how to live together but we keep letting our selfish desires impede that. Forgive us and help us to be part of the work You have for all of us. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is James 1:22 (NET).

But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves.

James doesn’t mince words in his letter, but this verse may be one of the most compelling. It reminds us that reading or hearing God’s word is important, but living it is essential. Many people know the words but miss the meaning and the life change that comes from understanding. This is one of the reasons James writes “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17). If we have truly come in repentance, our lives will reflect the forgiveness we have received. Jesus told us “they will know you are My disciples if you love one another (John 13:35). This is the best way to deal with the world, and the only way to be saved.

Heavenly Father, we are grateful for Your word, given to guide and protect us. Help us to be living representatives of the Good News everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Samuel 2:2 (NET).

No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one other than you! There is no rock like our God!

In this passage Hannah, a faithful woman who has waited patiently, gives thanks to God for blessing her with a child. Read her prayer in verses 1-11 here and see how it resembles Mary’s prayer in Luke 1:46-55. While her child Samuel was not the Messiah, he played a pivotal role in history, anointing the first two kings of Israel. Hannah recognizes God’s power and goodness and offers Him praise, saying “There is no rock like our God!” Have you been waiting for an answer to prayer? As it was with Hannah, it will come in God’s timing, if it is in accordance with His will. Our hope is in You, Lord and we await Your return!

Gracious God, thank You for the answers to our prayers. We sometimes don’t understand Your plan or schedule, but we know You are in control of all things. Bless us to be patient but energetic disciples, sharing Your love everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV).

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

In Matthew 6:25 Jesus tells us “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” Paul echoes this here and recommends prayer, not because God doesn’t know what we need but rather by sharing with Him we become part of the process. We are often anxious because we try to control things we can’t and refuse to control things we should. Jesus concludes this teaching with guidance to save us, saying “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34).

Loving Lord, we are sorry for the energy we waste on worry that could be used for Your work here. Help us to recognize that You are in control and follow the path that Jesus taught us. Amen.