Click for a PDF version Monday Read Mark 11:12-14, 20-21; Matthew 21:28-22:14 It’s Holy Week, a.k.a. “Passion (Suffering) Week,” culminating in Jesus’ crucifixion and His miraculous resurrection commemorated by Easter. A common thread throughout last week’s devos: Jesus separating His followers from enemies—the latter facing judgment. That theme intensifies this week as we consider...
Click for a PDF version Monday Read Isaiah 26:19; John 11:1-53 These next two weeks we walk with Jesus toward His mission’s fulfillment at Calvary. We’ll highlight key events and teaching within the estimated (and disputed) chronology for the weeks preceding Palm Sunday and Resurrection Sunday. Today’s featured incident occurred sometime between Hannukah (December)...
Click for a PDF version Monday Read Genesis 50:20; Romans 12:21 God makes something beautiful out of our lives. “All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife, But He made something beautiful out of my life.” —Gaither Trio, “Something Beautiful” When all was said and done, Joseph put it this way: “What...
Click for a PDF version Monday Read Genesis 42:1-28; Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:13-15 Out of Egypt This week’s Genesis readings set the climax to Joseph’s story. Via Joseph’s ordeals God relocated Jacob, Jacob’s twelve sons and their families to Egypt (Genesis 46-47). After Joseph’s death, however, Egypt enslaved the Jews for 400+ years until...
Click for a PDF version Monday Read Genesis 39:20-23; 40:1-5, 23; 41:1 Genesis 41 begins with a simple statement marking the passing of time: “When two full years had passed …” To put this statement in perspective, the story of Joseph begins in chapter 37 when he was 17 years old (v. 2). In...
Click for a PDF version Monday Genesis 39:1 Integrity—Despite Our Past Having read the amazing story of Joseph as a young boy, the hatred of his brothers, the deep love of his father Jacob, and the choice made between death and slavery, this first verse of Genesis 39 appears almost anti-climactic: “Now Joseph had...
Click for a PDF version Monday Genesis 37:1–4 The Danger of Favoritism Genesis 37 returns us to the story of wandering Jacob and his family, now settled in Canaan, the resting place of Abraham and Isaac. For a review of Jacob’s earlier life, the saga of his four wives and first ten sons, read...
Click for a PDF version Monday John 15:1-5 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.” (John 15:1) John presents this last “I AM” statement by Jesus as He declares to His disciples, “I am the true vine.” Vines were visible everywhere in Judea, whether they were decorating the door to...
Click for PDF version Monday John 14:1-7 Jesus tells His disciples that He will be leaving them to prepare a place for them. Thomas responds, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, and how can we know the way?” (v. 5). Jesus answers, “I am the way and the truth and the life”...
Click for a PDF version Monday John 11:1-44 “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.’” (John 11:25a) Scripture gives few details about the relationship between Jesus and the three siblings: Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. We know that Jesus spent time in their home (Luke 10:38-42), was greatly honored by Mary...
