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Devotional Reading for February 4, 2026

Genesis 35

We see a spiritual highlight of Jacob’s life when he returns to Bethel. He has the entire household put away their idols to go meet with God, and God confirms His covenant with him. But it’s followed by a time of personal tragedy (you could even say it’s bookmarked by personal tragedy). How often do we find that’s the case in our own lives? Life is a fluctuation of highs and lows. What we need to do is to keep our eyes focused on El Shaddai (“God Almighty”). When we do, we can see the positive (“son of my right hand”) in the midst of the negative (“son of my sorrow”).

How important was the reaffirmation of the covenant with Jacob when Isaac was about to die? And, speaking of that, we’re a long way from Genesis 27:2 (WEB): “See now, I am old. I don’t know the day of my death.” We know that Isaac was basically blind, but we don’t know what else was going on with his health. Was he overly concerned when he called Esau to him, or should we give him credit for making sure things were ready before he died? In our own culture, I think that it’s appropriate to be concerned! It’s good to make arrangements ahead of time, especially if you have a family.

Thought for the day: Are you keeping your eyes on God? In the midst of your tragedy, can you see God at work?

Romans 8:18 (WEB) “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed towards us.”

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Devotional Reading for February 3, 2026

Genesis 34

This issue with Dinah shows that Jacob’s sons have inherited their father’s knack for deception. While they were right to be upset about their sister being raped, they acted in a disproportionate manner, and Jacob understands that it will probably come back to haunt them. It doesn’t, but that’s because of God’s intervention (Genesis 35:5). We need to be careful that our righteous anger is truly righteous, and not just vindictive and destructive, or it will cause us no end of problems.

Thought for the day: What can we do to keep our anger in check?

James 1:19-21 (WEB) “So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God. Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”

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Devotional Reading for February 2, 2026

Genesis 33

We again see the middle eastern negotiation that we’ve seen before. “This is for you!” “But I don’t need it!” “It’s yours anyway!” The language is interesting too. Jacob literally says, “Please accept my blessing.” Does that refer back to the blessing he stole?!?! Esau seems genuine with his welcome. In fact, he runs to meet Jacob and embraces him. Could Jesus have been thinking of this when He told the parable of the prodigal son? This is the parable of the prodigal brother!

Thought for the day: Jacob is terrified of his brother because of the way he mistreated him. Perhaps we should live our lives in such a way that we don’t fear the retaliation of others!

Romans 12:18 (WEB) “If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men.”

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Sermon outline for 2/1/26 (Radio broadcast 2/8/26) — “Jeremiah’s Fifth Confession”

Jeremiah’s Fifth “Confession”
Jeremiah 20:7-18

I) Jeremiah’s _____________

     A) He accuses God of ____________ to him!

     B) Which is __________

     C) But it’s a cry of ___________

          1) The __________ is hard

          2) And people __________ him

     D) He’d like to _________, but he can’t!

     E) He finally returns to God’s promises and ___________

     F) Which results in ___________!

     G) But he ___________ to God again

II) What does ______________ look like?

     A) We are __________

     B) We feel ______________

     C) We may __________

     D) We can experience a loss of ____________

     E) We feel ___________ inside

     F)  We can feel ______________

III) How can we ________ with depression?

     A) We need to ____________ it

     B) We need to embrace getting ___________

     C) We need to remember that it’s _____________

     D) We need to remember that God ________ us

     E) And we need to ________ Him

          1) Through ___________

          2) With ___________
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Devotional Reading for February 1, 2026

Genesis 32

“Four hundred men are with him.” No wonder Jacob is worried! He’s had an encounter with God’s angels that should have assured him that God was indeed with him. But what about his brother? He sends word, but his brother’s response concerns him. He splits up his property. He sends elaborate gifts. He talks to God. But, once again, it’s the “God of my father Abraham.” Perhaps it’s supposed to be respectful, but something does change from this point forward. He ends up wrestling with God all night. Figuratively or literally? With Jacob’s injury, it sure seems to be literal! His name is changed from “supplanter” to “he strives with God.” It seems that his faith has finally become real!

Here we see Jacob doing everything he can from an earthly perspective to soften up his brother Esau, and then we see him do what he can from a spiritual perspective. Was he wrong to not just trust God? Or should he be applauded for doing what he could first, and then asking God to bless his efforts? Perhaps he should have wrestled with God first? Regardless, God does bless him! I think the lesson is that Jacob finally came to the end of himself and realized that none of it was going to work without God’s blessing.

Thought for the day: Is there anything in your life that you need to “wrestle” with God about? Perhaps something you’ve tried to deal with on your own and it isn’t going well?

Philippians 4:6-7 (WEB) “In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.”

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Devotional Reading for January 31, 2026

Genesis 31

What goes around comes around. Fate. Karma. Do we really believe that stuff? We could certainly proclaim that Jacob deserves his father-in-law! But we also realize that mankind is sinful. And we understand that we often end up modeling what we’ve experienced. That’s certainly true with Rachel, who learned theft and deception from her father. Rachel may have even justified her theft to some degree, since both she and Leah felt neglected and abused by Laban (31:14-15).

Let’s remember that Jacob definitely isn’t a paragon of virtue and righteousness. When God is protecting Jacob, God’s doing it because he’s made certain promises and plans. He’s protecting His own name. Jacob certainly isn’t! Not only doesn’t his household follow God, when Jacob swears an oath, he has to do it before the name of his father’s God (31:53). 

Thought for the day: Is your allegiance to God your own, or are you simply going through the motions because of someone else?

Mark 12:30 (WEB) ” ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’ “

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February Newsletter Article

One of our family members posted a comment on Facebook about the recent tragedy in Minneapolis.  She wondered why more ministers weren’t speaking about it.  Unfortunately, what she really wanted was for ministers to speak out about it the way she wants them to speak out about it!  And that’s part of the problem right there.  I ended up speaking about it without speaking about it.  I intentionally altered the order of my series in Jeremiah and the result was the topic at hand said something about current events and our response to them.  Some probably want me to be more “political” with my sermons.  Some probably don’t want me to speak about political topics at all.  Here is my understanding of my role in all of this.

(1) First of all, I probably have a unique perspective.  Some of you remember Jerry Falwall.  My undergraduate was at Liberty University, and I sat under his teaching at Thomas Road Baptist Church.  The bottom line was this: you either loved him or hated him in the community.  He was polarizing, and he was polarizing for much of the country as well.  So much so that (and this is what I believe) some of his opinions, understandings, and interpretations became what people thought the Bible taught.  Sometimes that was okay.  Sometimes it wasn’t!  But that instilled in me a deep-seated desire to make sure that my preaching and teaching was Bible based.  Some may not like the amount of Scripture I use in a sermon, but this is one of the reasons that I do.  If I share my opinion or application, I want it to be backed up with even more Scripture.

(2) Our society tends to reward the hot take.  News wants to report things first.  Influencers want others to hear their opinions first.  Often media, politicians, and even preachers measure their response in sound bites.  How about a 24 hour rule?  Or a 48 hour rule?  Or a one week rule?  Why not make sure we have all the facts before forming an opinion?  I’ve seen two fake pictures from the most recent death in Minneapolis (I guess, unfortunately, that I should say “most recent death at this time”).  Each was produced by AI to present either the ICE agents or the protester in the worst possible light.  This is the society we live in right now.  I’m sorry to say that too many people will just take one of those pictures and use it to inform their opinion, never finding out what is true and right.

(3) And why does that opinion have to be lock step with whatever group we identify with?  I frequently find myself at odds with everyone.  There is very little room for nuance in today’s society.  Sometimes there is no “right” side.  Sometimes things are just a tragic series of events.  Sometimes everyone is wrong.  And pointing that out shouldn’t make you an enemy of one or both sides.

(4) As I said on Sunday, we should pray for God to bring justice and not seek vengeance ourselves.  But whose justice?  Our justice?  Our groups justice?  Or real and true justice?  When we pray for or against somebody, when we pray for evil to be punished, when we pray for one group or another, how do we know we’re praying for the right thing or for the right side?  Maybe there is no right side!  Maybe the side that looks right currently won’t look so good in a week!  Jesus is our model here both in the Lord’s prayer and in the garden prayer.  “Thy will be done.”  “Not my will, but thine be done.”

(5)  And we should always try to be as merciful and compassionate as possible in our own lives.  Even with those we disagree with.  Even those who dislike and hate us.  Because that’s the example Jesus set before us.

Luke 6:27-28 (ESV) “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”

1 Peter 2:21-23 (ESV) “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.”
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Devotional Reading for January 30, 2026

Genesis 30

There are some things that are lost to time. What’s so important about the mandrakes? Was there any supposed husbandry behind Jacob’s use of the rods? We can speculate on both, but we can’t really know. What we do see here in this passage is the underlying sovereignty of God over all things. God is the one who can provide children and wealth. He blesses as He wills. Mankind can plot, plan, deceive, manipulate and barter, but God is the one who is ultimately in control.

Isn’t it amazing what rivalry will do to people? Can kills Abel over an offering. Jacob and Esau at odds over the blessing and birthright. Leah and Rachel in conflict over their husband’s affection and childbearing, even to the point of offering him their servants! And there is not just rivalry here, but greed and manipulation. Jacob probably thinks that he’s just getting back at Laban for his initial deception, but is what he’s trying to do moral and right?

Thought for the day: How should we respond to jealousy and greed within our own hearts?

James 3:16-18 (WEB) “For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

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Devotional Reading for January 29, 2026

Genesis 29

It’s quite illuminating if we stop to catalogue some of the deceptions that occur in Jacob’s life. He lies (with his mother’s help); he in turn gets deceived when he is about to be married; both Jacob and Laban try to one up each other with his wages; we end up with Rachel lying about stealing from her father. While it’s easy to point to Laban as the chief villain in our chapter, Leah and Rachel had to at least be complicit in his plan. Most of us could probably point to ways our families are messed up, but hopefully ours aren’t as bad as Jacobs!

It’s probably not surprising that Jacob didn’t love Leah as much as Rachel, and God blessed Leah as a result.

Thought for the day: Do you value and model honesty and truthfulness the way you should?

Jeremiah 9:2-9 (WEB) ” ‘Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men, that I might leave my people and go from them! For they are all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men. They bend their tongue, as their bow, for falsehood. They have grown strong in the land, but not for truth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they don’t know me,’ says the LORD. ‘Everyone beware of his neighbor, and don’t trust in any brother; for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will go around like a slanderer. Friends deceive each other, and will not speak the truth. They have taught their tongue to speak lies. They weary themselves committing iniquity. Your habitation is in the middle of deceit. Through deceit, they refuse to know me,’ says the LORD. Therefore the LORD of Armies says, ‘Behold, I will melt them and test them; for how should I deal with the daughter of my people? Their tongue is a deadly arrow. It speaks deceit. One speaks peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in his heart, he waits to ambush him. Shouldn’t I punish them for these things?’ says the LORD. ‘Shouldn’t my soul be avenged on a nation such as this?’ “

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Devotional Reading for January 28, 2026

Genesis 28

Jacob encounters God at Bethel, and God reaffirms the covenant He made with Abraham. When God made His promise to Abraham, Abraham believed (Genesis 15:6). Here, Jacob makes His commitment to God conditional (28:20-22). Although his faith journey has started, he still has a long way to go! What’s interesting about this passage is the way it’s referenced in the New Testament.

John 1:47-51 (WEB) “Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, ‘Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!’ Nathanael said to him, ‘How do you know me?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.’ Nathanael answered him, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!’ Jesus answered him, ‘Because I told you, “I saw you underneath the fig tree,” do you believe? You will see greater things than these!’ He said to him, ‘Most certainly, I tell you all, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.’ “

It’s very probable that Jesus was actually speaking to Nathanael in Aramaic here. If so, he basically says, “an Israelite in whom there is no Jacob.” What an indictment! And that’s even more likely because of His last statement. Jesus identifies Himself as the ladder between heaven and earth, foreshadowing the truth that He is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no-one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6)!

Thought for the day: Where would we be without Jesus?

John 3:13-16 (WEB) “No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”