Psalm 6

We like battles and struggles to end with banners and celebration, but that is not always our experience. In Psalm 6:1,2 David indicates that whatever he is experiencing, he is at least partially to blame. It is the darkest night of his soul, “Do not rebuke me in your wrath … I am pining away.” His description of his distress, (v 2-7) suggests a multiplicity of problems for which he has no solution. His health is gone, he weeps instead of sleeping. The stress has affected his sight and aged his body. But even during this, faith finds expression.

The Lord had seen his tears, heard his supplication and received his prayer (vs 8,9). He is convinced that God will bring his enemies to shame. There are no banners of celebration, just deep confidence. God sees, hears and acts; sometimes that rest is the best victory we can have.

Genesis 23-24

“See to it that you do not take my son back there” (24:6). After Sarah’s death (ch 23), the future of Abraham’s family lay with the next generation. Abraham commissioned his servant to go back to Mesopotamia – “my country and my kindred” (24:4) – to find Isaac a wife and bring her to Canaan. Abraham was committed to God’s call (to multiply his family in Canaan) and was not willing to compromise. Rebekah was God’s provision.

“The Lord, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and prosper your way” (24:40). As we step out in faith, we can trust that the God who calls us to obedience will provide whatever we need for “life and godliness” (II Peter 1:3).

Genesis 22

“God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son” (v8). Isaac was the child of divine promise, and he was also Abraham’s earthly hope for a family line, generational wealth, help in his old age, and public honor in a family-centric society. God asked Abraham to put all this on the altar as a test. In an unimaginable act of faith, Abraham obeyed. God immediately provided a ram in place of Isaac, demonstrating that He did not want bloodshed. Instead, He was the source of everything Abraham needed and desired.

“The Lord will provide ...” (v14). Faith means we throw ourselves into God’s hands without reservation, trusting Him as Savior, Provider, Redeemer. His blessing changes everything (v17).

Genesis 21

“The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised” (v21). Sarah, who had not born children when she was young, gave birth in her old age. The gift of Isaac was “laughter” (v6); he symbolized grace and favor not just for her and Abraham, but ultimately for the whole world. God did not forget Abraham’s son Ishmael (he would become “a great nation” v18), yet Isaac was the miracle child of promise, foretaste of another promised Child to come.

“Through Isaac your offspring shall be named” (v12). Paul tells us that by faith in Christ we, like Isaac, are “children of promise” (Gal 4:28). When all hope was gone, God sent His Son to save us.

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 intervened to save them all (v3).

“Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech ...” (v17). Through God’s mercy, Abraham still ending up blessing Abimelech’s family. Even when our faith falters, the God who “works all things together for good” looks for ways to bring healing, restoration, and blessing.

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 these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (v24). When we trust Jesus as our Savior-King, we are willing to build our lives on His words.

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 us to initiate the kindness and fairness we hope to receive (v12).

“Enter by the narrow gate” (v13). The way of Jesus does not fit with the norms of society. When we choose His radical, narrow, surprising path, we find life.

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 will bow down toward your holy temple ... make your way straight before me” (v8). In a world that normalizes deceit, violence, and immorality, our heart’s longing is to walk in the straight paths of our Lord.

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 chose Abraham’s family to demonstrate “righteousness and justice” (18:18).

“... All the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him” (18:18). Those who trust and obey God, resisting sin and following Him, shine brightly in a dark world.

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 will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you” (v7). Through His interactions with Abraham’s family, the Lord revealed His goodness to a sinful world. His promises were ultimately fulfilled through Abraham’s descendant, Jesus, whose “new covenant” makes us all “Abraham’s offspring” (Luke 22:20, Gal 3:29).

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” (v13).

“Where are you going?” (v8). As He did with Adam and Eve, and Sarah, Abraham, and Hagar, the Lord “sees” us in our self-created troubles. Instead of turning His back, He reaches out His hand of mercy.

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 am the Lord” (v1,7). Our capacity to follow Jesus obediently, with courage – as Abraham followed God – flows from our trust in His character. He is good, He loves us, and He is trustworthy.

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).

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (v33). Following King Jesus opens the door to a joyful life that goes beyond the daily struggle, now and for eternity.

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).

“Your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (v6). God rejoices when we make steps toward Him. As we pray “your kingdom come” (v10), He helps us become people who genuinely desire His reign in our own lives.

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 sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwellin safety” (v8). The real treasure is the gift of a quiet and peaceful heart, at rest in the care of our Father.

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, Abram tithed to Melchizedek and received blessing (14:17-24).

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High ...” (14:19). God’s hand on Abram mattered more than powerful allies, the best land, or titles. His desire was for Abram to trust Him.

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’s hands.

“In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (v3). Our obedience to God has repercussions beyond ourselves. Our “yes” to Him leads to blessing for others.

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 dispersed them over the earth (11:8).

“These are the generations of the sons of Noah ...” (10:1). Humanity’s attempts to ‘make a name’ for ourselves can be disastrous. God calls us to live for His glory, not our own, putting our lives and ambitions in His hands.

Mattew 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 disciple 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 are the merciful ...” (v7). When we trust Jesus to make us God’s children, we are joining a kingdom of mercy and righteousness. Living by the values of that kingdom brings rewards beyond anything the world offers (v12).

Matthew 4:12-25

“From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (v17). Having defeated the devil’s attacks and temptations, Jesus invited men and women to join Him in God’s kingdom. He was the Light breaking in among those who “dwelled in the region and shadow of death” (v16), the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecies and the world’s hopes. He went around proclaiming “the gospel of the kingdom” to everyone and healing all kinds of diseases (v23).

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (v19). Jesus’ great invitation to God’s kingdom comes to each of us personally. Just as He spoke to Peter and Andrew, He speaks our name and calls us to follow Him.