January 21 Genesis 37:1-38:30 Psalm 12:1-5 Proverbs 3:7-8 Matthew 13:36-58 Prevenient Grace His brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for 20 pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took Joseph to Egypt.—Genesis 37:28 Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God.—Genesis 45:8 SometimesRead More …

January 20 Genesis 36:1-43 Psalm 11:4-7 Proverbs 3:5-6 Matthew 13:10-35 Heart of the Matter Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.—Proverbs 3:5 What is the essential difference between the heart and mind? Many believe there is no difference and that theyRead More …

January 19 Genesis 34:1-35:29 Psalm 11:1-3 Proverbs 3:3-4 Matthew 12:38-13:9 The Mystery Rolled Back Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?—1 Corinthians 15:55 Mark’s observation “that the stone—which was very large—had been rolled away” (Mk 16:4) seems a simple statement, but behind it lies a truth thatRead More …

January 18 Genesis 32:1-33:20 Psalm 10:13-18 Proverbs 3:1-2 Matthew 12:9-37 “What Is Your Name?” Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.—Genesis 32:24 The way in which God helped Jacob to be rid of his spirit of demandingness is revealing—”a man wrestled with him until daybreak.”Read More …

January 17 Genesis 31:1-55 Psalm 10:7-12 Proverbs 2:20-22 Matthew 11:20-12:8 An Island Within I rise before dawn and cry out for help; I put my hope in Your word.—Psalm 119:147 Some Bible teachers say: “If you are filled with the Spirit, then you can draw from God’s resources, not justRead More …

January 16 Genesis 29:13-30:43 Psalm 10:1-6 Proverbs 2:16-19 Matthew 11:1-19 Stop Arguing! He says to himself, “I will never be moved—from generation to generation.”—Psalm 10:6 “At life’s core,” says Dr. Larry Crabb, “the real issues are theological issues.” When life is brought down to its irreducible minimum, the issue alwaysRead More …

January 14 Genesis 26:12-27:29 Psalm 9:7-12 Proverbs 2:9-10 Matthew 10:1-20 A Worldview for Reading and Meditation The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.—Psalm 9:9 Philosophers have said that if we are to live effectively and securely in this world, then we must haveRead More …

January 13 Genesis 24:55-26:11 Psalm 9:1-6 Proverbs 2:6-8 Matthew 9:18-38 Another Kingdom Then Jesus went to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness.—Matthew 9:35 While we focus our thoughts on the kingdom of God,Read More …

January 12 Genesis 24:1-54 Psalm 8:1-9 Proverbs 2:1-5 Matthew 8:28-9:17 Who Can Forgive? The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.—Matthew 9:6 Perhaps one of the most significant ways in which Jesus is unlike anyone else who has ever lived is that He has the ability toRead More …

January 11 Genesis 21:22-23:20 Psalm 7:9-17 Proverbs 1:32-33 Matthew 8:5-27 A Little-Known Sin The One who examines the thoughts and emotions is a righteous God.—Psalm 7:9 Focusing only on correcting obvious sin (sins of behavior) without understanding what it means to deal with the issues of the heart will bringRead More …