-
Christian Devotional – January 25, 2016
Read Genesis chapter 40 VERSE: Genesis 40:23–The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him. TRUTH: It’s never good to be forgotten. Someone promises to do something for us and we wait expectantly for that to happen, day after day, but then nothing ever does. There’s that awkward moment of trying to decide if we say something to the other person or just let it go. However, we have all been that other person before as well. We’ve all promised something to another person that we’ve not fulfilled. Today, let’s take that step to be people who keep our promises. Go back and fulfill a promise that may…
-
Christian Devotional – January 24, 2016
We’re going to start a video devotional series on Sundays when I’ll lead you through a devotional that you can watch. We’ll still keep it short, between 5-8 minutes. Our first series will be on life lessons from women in the Bible. Take a look today as we study Deborah from the book of Judges. Deborah was Raised up by God Deborah Recognized and Responded to God Deborah Rallied others to follow God Deborah Rejoiced in God. As we go through our this next week, whatever your career is (student, Mom, McDonald’s cook, or CEO or a company) realize that God has you there for a purpose. Take the…
-
Christian Devotional – January 23, 2016
Read Genesis chapter 39 VERSE: Genesis 39:9–“No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” TRUTH: Joseph understood something very important about temptation. He knew that if he gave in to temptation, he wouldn’t be sinning against Potipher, although it would damage their relationship for sure. He wouldn’t be sinning against the wife, although she is the one begging for him. He wouldn’t even be sinning against himself, although he would most certainly endure the consequences of his actions. Joseph knew that…
-
Christian Devotional – January 22, 2016
Read Genesis chapter 38 VERSE: Genesis 38:7–But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord put him to death. TRUTH: Sin has consequences and as Romans 3:23 says, “the wages of sin is death.” In this case, we don’t know exactly what Er did or didn’t do, we just know that he was wicked. The Lord will always see justice done and while sometimes the timing of the consequences doesn’t make as much sense to us, we still can trust that God will deal with the wicked. Don’t be deceived, you can’t hide your wicked acts from God for just like Er, everything we do is…
-
Christian Devotional – January 21, 2016
Read Genesis chapter 37 VERSE: Genesis 37:5–Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. TRUTH: Following God doesn’t mean you’ll be popular and well liked. In fact, often the exact opposite is true and you’ll be hated and despised because you follow God. Joseph experienced this. He had an experience with God and then went to share it with others and they hated him because of it. We have to realize that we follow God and not others and as a result, we don’t have to worry about the opinions of others. That can still be very difficult, but as…
-
Christian Devotional – January 20, 2016
Read Genesis chapter 36 VERSE: Genesis 36:6–Esau took his wives and sons and daughters and all the members of his household, as well as his livestock and all his other animals and all the goods he had acquired in Canaan, and moved to a land some distance from his brother Jacob. TRUTH: Esau had a very practical reason to move. He had a lot of stuff. He knew that he would not be able to support his livestock when they were so close to all the livestock that his brother had. So, he picked up and moved. Unfortunately, this meant that he moved farther away from his brother and the…
-
Christian Devotional – January 19, 2016
Read Genesis chapter 35 VERSE: Genesis 35:1–The God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.” TRUTH: It had been over 20 years since Jacob had left, running for his life, all alone. Now, God was bringing him back to that place. Jacob had been through a lot and had seen a lot, but he had not stayed as committed to God as he had promised to be. Here, God even has to remind him which God is talking to him as we se later in the chapter that…
-
Christian Devotional – January 18, 2016
Read Genesis chapter 34 VERSE: Genesis 34:23–Won’t their livestock, their property and all their other animals become ours? So, let us agree to their terms, and they will settle among us. TRUTH: This entire chapter deals with lust. Shechem’s lust for Dinah, Hamor’s lust for possessions, and Simeon and Levi’s lust for vengeance. While Shechem’s mind is solely fixed on the beautiful Dinah and doing whatever he needs to in order to get permission to have her legally, his father has been busy eyeing all the animals and possessions of this newcomer Jacob. Instead of just grabbing their swords and heading into battle against them. Hamor proposes a more subtle way…
-
Christian Devotional – January 17, 2016
Read Genesis chapter 33 VERSE: Genesis 33:4–But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. TRUTH: Esau had been wronged and was deceived by Jacob. Esau had every logical reason to be upset and seek revenge from Jacob. Yet, when given the chance, Esau responds with forgiveness. Even while Jacob had been away 20 years, God had been working on Esau as well. Esau had been blessed and was rich himself, but he had been able to let go of the anger and bitterness that accompanies unforgiveness. Are we willing to let it go? Will we make…
-
Christian Devotional – January 16, 2016
Read Genesis chapter 32 VERSE: Genesis 32:26–Then the man said, “Let me go for it is daybreak.” Bu Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” TRUTH: Jacob had wrestled all night. He was tired, worn out, and exhausted both physically and mentally from worry and anxiety about his brother. Yet, he refused to give up or give in. Even when the man from God stated he had to leave, Jacob refused to let him go until the man blessed him. We go through plenty of our share of struggles and worries. We face lots of opportunities to give up and give in each and every…