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Day 1  READ   Genesis 46:28-29     28 As they neared their destination, Jacob sent Judah ahead to meet Joseph and get directions to the region of Goshen. And when they finally arrived there, 29 Joseph prepared his chariot and traveled to Goshen to meet his father, Jacob. When Joseph arrived, he embraced his father and wept, holding him for a long time.     Judah was the key person to meet Joseph and ask for directions to Goshen. Joseph met them there and had an emotional mee

Day 1  READ   Genesis 48:1-2     1 One day not long after this, word came to Joseph, “Your father is failing rapidly.” So Joseph went to visit his father, and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 When Joseph arrived, Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to see you.” So Jacob gathered his strength and sat up in his bed.     After Joseph made the oath to carry his father’s remains back to Canaan after his death, this word came to Joseph. As a good son,

Day 1  READ   Genesis 49:13-15     13 “Zebulun will settle by the seashore and will be a harbor for ships; his borders will extend to Sidon. 14 Issachar is a sturdy donkey, resting between two saddlepacks. 15 When he sees how good the countryside is and how pleasant the land, he will bend his shoulder to the load and submit himself to hard labor.”     Jacob continued to tell his sons about what they were doing and what their descendants would be like in the future. In this

Day 1 READ   Genesis 50:10     10 When they arrived at the threshing floor of Atad, near the Jordan River, they held a very great and solemn memorial service, with a seven-day period of mourning for Joseph’s father.     The large group arrived on the east side of the Jordan River. There they held a memorial service and mourned for seven days for Joseph’s father. In each case, it was not as much for Jacob as it was because of their honor of Joseph who had lost his loved one. 

Day 1  READ   Ephesians 1:1-2   This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus. 2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.     Paul was in a Roman prison as he authored Ephesians, one known as the “Prison Epistles” along with Philippians, Colossians and Philemon. He had spent three years ministering in Ephesus. This lett

Day 1  READ   Ephesians 1:11   11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.     Paul continues to tell what believers possess because they are united with Christ. A loving and just God chose them in advance. Paul had mentioned in verse 4 that God has chosen believers before the foundation of the world. Now Paul assures believers they have receive

Day 1  READ   Ephesians 1:19-21   19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.     Paul further describes about God. Having referred to Go

Day 1  READ   Ephesians 2:6-7   6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.     Paul reveals how believers are identified with Jesus in His death, burial and resurrection. Plus, the believers are now

Day 1  READ   Ephesians 2:17-18   17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.     Whereas hostility existed between the Jews and Gentiles, Paul brought believers from both groups a message of peace. It was not for something physical but spiritual. Members of both groups could come to God by mean

Day 1  READ   Ephesians 3:6-7   6 And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. 7 By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.     Although alluding to it previously, Paul now explains what the mystery is. It is that believ

Day 1  READ   Ephesians 3:16-17   16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.     Paul tells believers what he is praying for in their regard. He prayed they would be empowered ”with inner strength through his Spirit.” Paul’s concern was not simply what God would do through th

Day 1  READ   Ephesians 4:5-6   5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all,   who is over all, in all, and living through all.     Paul wrote to the believers about their need for personal unity. Now he expresses the unity in the heavenly realm One Lord Jesus Christ, one faith by which everyone becomes right with God, and one baptism associated with Jesus may be water baptism by which believers identify with Christ and His followers. Paul reveals

Day 1  READ   Ephesians 4:14-15   14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.     When gifted people equip believers to do the work of the ministry, Paul tells of the res

Day 1  READ   Ephesians 4:24-25   24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. 25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.     Believers are to put off characteristics of the old nature and put on the characteristics of the new nature. The new nature is “created to be like God.” To be “righteous” is related to doing right. Being “holy” is being separated to God. Lying should have no part i

Day 1  READ   Ephesians 5:1-2   5 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.     Paul continues telling believers how to live. They are to imitate God in all they do. They do this by having a life filled with love and following Jesus as an example. Even though mankind was not worthy of His love,

Day 1  READ   Ephesians 5:10-11   10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them     Paul wants believers to exercise their knowledge and wisdom to do that which pleases the Lord. Notice what Paul calls the works of evil and darkness—they are “worthless.” Rather than taking part in these useless activities, believers are to use their spiritual insight and energy to expose them. One way to expose

Day 1  READ   Ephesians 5:21-22   21 And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord.     Some are concerned about wives being told to “submit” to their husbands. The word “submit” is not in the original Greek language of verse 22. It is implied from what is said in verse 21—that an evidence of being filled with the Spirit is that believers should submit to each other. Rejecting what verse 22 says

Day 1  READ   Ephesians 5:31   31 As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.”     Here Paul quotes Genesis 2:24. After God had made Eve from Adam’s rib, Adam exclaimed, “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’     because she was taken from ‘man.’” Jesus also referred to this when He said, “Haven’t you read the Scriptures? They record that from the beginning

Day 1  READ   Ephesians 6:7-8   7 Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 8 Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.     Paul continues to tell how Christian slaves/servants should express they are filled with the Spirit. They should focus on pleasing the Lord, not just their earthly masters/bosses. This will be easier to do if they remember the Lord will someday reward t

Day 1  READ   Ephesians 6:15-17   15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.     The Christian soldier is to have the message of peace with God that comes from the gospel. The soldier is also to use faith for protection against the

What really counts when it comes to our salvation? Do we impress God by our religious works and pious actions? Or does salvation come in another way? These are the questions the Galatians believers faced which the apostle Paul addresses in this letter.    In this verse-by-verse study, we’ll read Paul’s direct and often pointed comments to those in Galatia who taught that salvation had to be earned through direct effort. We’ll be reminded of the power in Christ’s blood and the

READ   Galatians 1:13-16   13 You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion—how I violently persecuted God’s church. I did my best to destroy it. 14 I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors. 15 But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him 16 to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out

READ   Galatians 1:17-20   17 Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus.    18 Then three years later I went to Jerusalem to get to know Peter, and I stayed with him for fifteen days. 19 The only other apostle I met at that time was James, the Lord’s brother. 20 I declare before God that what I am writing to you is not a lie.     Paul did not seek counsel fr

READ   Galatians 1:21-24   21 After that visit I went north into the provinces of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And still the churches in Christ that are in Judea didn’t know me personally. 23 All they knew was that people were saying, “The one who used to persecute us is now preaching the very faith he tried to destroy!” 24 And they praised God because of me.     Paul told of those who did not know him personally but had only heard of his reputation. Knowing about his changed life c