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Monday
Read Genesis 3:8–14; Romans 2:15; Titus 1:2
The First Game of Hide-and-Seek
God’s grace shines for all to see, even in the opening pages of Scripture. God did not cancel Adam and Eve when they defied His one simple prohibition. Instead of abandoning them, He approached them. He came to them sorrowfully, gently, and firmly, not with accusations but with questions.
We can see that the Creator’s intent was to help them, just as He helps us today. He trained them, with questions, to pay attention to the voice of conscience—one of His great gifts to humanity (see Romans 2:15). Our Creator knows we need practice in listening to the voice of right and wrong that He planted within us. He knows we need even more help in responding in obedience to that voice.
God’s first question is recorded in Genesis 3:9: “Where are you?” God asked, knowing Adam was hiding, along with Eve, among the trees. Notice that their conscience had already alerted them that something had shifted, that life had drastically changed. You and I know what they couldn’t explain: human innocence had died.
The radiance that once clothed them was gone. Suddenly they became self-conscious. Then came the painful experience of shame, which led to fear, which led to the impulse to hide and, as we know well, to point the finger of blame.
Do these impulses sound familiar? God’s first Q-and-A session reveals the reality of our “fallen” selves, of our human nature. Even so, our Creator did not bring an end to humanity.
God cursed the serpent (Satan) and explained what Adam and Eve (and we) can expect in this earthly life—ongoing battles with evil, increased pain in childbearing, strife in marriage, and frustration in our efforts to make a living (because Adam’s sin had cursed the ground), BUT …
God also, mercifully, assured them (and us) that ultimate triumph over all these struggles and sorrows will come. Ultimate hope for a life without sins’ consequences would arrive, He said, born of a woman, able to cancel sin’s debt and reverse sin’s damage for all who trust in Him!!! Before He created the world or anything or anyone, He planned for our redemption. He risked giving us the choice to obey or not, knowing what it would cost Him.
Reflective Questions
With this awesome truth in mind, will you take a moment to ponder the magnitude of God’s mercy and grace?
Prayers
South Asia
Pray for Jazlyn, who is heading to South Asia, as she prepares to go overseas. Pray for financial provision and continual guidance from the Lord during her itineration.
Tuesday
Read Genesis 4:6–16
A Question and a Warning
Today let’s ponder the second biblical account of God’s coming to someone with questions. Genesis 4 lets us in on a conversation between God and Adam and Eve’s firstborn son, Cain. Apparently, Cain and his younger brother, Abel, had just offered sacrifices to God.
From the few details given, we can surmise that each had come to God not only with different offerings but also with different motives. God knows what’s in a person’s heart, however pious his/her actions appear. So, God had looked favorably on Abel and his sacrifice, but not on Cain and his.
God asked Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?” (Genesis 4:6). Of course, He already knew, but in His kindness, God invited Cain to acknowledge his emotion. Then God gave Cain a clear warning: he must not give in to the impulse that had gripped him.
Sadly, Cain ignored both of the warnings. He acted in a rage, killing Abel—his younger brother, the companion he was supposed to love and protect. God could have, in justice, imposed the death penalty right then, but He did not.
Instead, God asked another question, giving Cain an opportunity to confess and repent: “Where is your brother Abel?” (v. 9). Cain replied rudely and defiantly. So, God responded by letting him know what the consequences of his actions would be.
Here again, the Scripture reveals important truths—about God’s justice and about human nature. Cain had been a successful cultivator, but this ability was now gone. No longer would he bring good crops from the land that held his brother’s blood. He would become a restless wanderer.
“My punishment is more than I can bear” (v. 13), Cain whined, but God again showed patience, mercifully sending him off with a special mark of protection. In meting out consequences, God demonstrated both His justice and His mercy.
This ancient story reminds us that God is keenly aware of what’s in our heart, even our anger and dangerous impulses. He invites us to speak with Him, honestly.
Reflective Questions
Is there anything God is inviting you to discuss with Him today? Any anger that arises from deep hurt and tempts you to consider hurting someone in return? Now is the best time to talk it through with Him. You may also want to process the matter with a godly counselor.
Prayers
South Asia
Pray that God pours out His peace upon the earth. Lord, heal division, end conflict, and unite hearts in compassion. Guide leaders with wisdom, and let justice and mercy reign. May God’s love shine through it all.
Wednesday
Read Genesis 16:1–15
The God Who Sees Us All!
The Genesis 16 story—the focus of this coming Sunday’s sermon—hinges on two crucial questions in one: Where have you come from, and where are you going? These are God’s queries of an Egyptian servant, Hagar, who’s in the process of running away from a difficult relationship. At times, He may ask these questions of you and me, too.
If we read this story with an eye to today’s culture, we may think Hagar had the right to run away. After all, she was being mistreated, and no one deserves abuse. Let’s pause to consider, however, whether running away from trouble—especially trouble we may have contributed to—is the best response, the one that leads in God’s direction.
Where had Hagar come from? Abram likely acquired her during his travel to Egypt during a famine (see Genesis 12:10). Egypt was a land of capricious gods and arrogant pharaohs, where servants were seen as property, not persons. At this moment, however, she was running from the household of a man who, despite all his frailties, knew and communed with the one true God, a home where she, though still a servant, had special status (see verse 3) as a wife to Abram and the mother of his yet unborn child and heir.
Where was she going? Apparently, back to Egypt, alone, back to her old world, her old life, as if that were even possible now. BUT …
Our Lord intervened. He caught up to her before she had gone dangerously far, approaching her graciously with His crucial questions. He came with exactly what she needed, an opportunity to pause, to think, not just react, to reconsider her impulse to run.
When the Lord counseled her to return to Sarai in submission, He implied without the awful attitude that had contributed to her troubles. Then He blessed her with an astounding promise: descendants too numerous to count!
Hagar is awestruck, and yet the text reveals what impacted Hagar most powerfully—what turned her life around. It was the realization that she was seen and known by the Living God!
Reflective Questions
How does that realization impact you and me today? What if we really allow this truth to sink in? We are personally seen, fully known, and perfectly loved by the God of the universe!
Prayers
South Asia
Pray for unity, peace, and protection over those overseas who are working for God’s Kingdom purposes. Pray that they work together and and that God guides them on every decision to help grow His Kingdom.
Thursday
Read John 10:1–16, 27–28
On Recognizing the Lord’s Voice
These early dialogues between God and people reveal treasures of truth for you and me to ponder and apply in our own walk with Him. Each of us at some time (or times!) must deal with our human nature’s impulse to hide, as Adam and Eve did, to lash out, as Cain did, or to run, as Hagar did, especially when we’re hurting.
We know that allowing the Lord to question us about what’s going on in our hearts is vitally important, as it has been since the beginning. So is answering honestly, whether we’re fearful or wounded, trying to cover these feelings with anger or press them down.
Imagine how wonderful life would be if each of us were to open our hearts every day to the Lord’s questions: Where are you? What do you want? Why are you feeling as you do? Where have you run from? Where are you heading?
What often stops us from listening and responding comes from past experiences with fellow imperfect humans—perhaps childhood clashes with parents, other relatives, teachers, peers, and/or total strangers. The echo of those voices sometimes interferes with hearing the calm, caring, inquiring voice in which God invites us to speak with Him.
God wants us to ponder where we are, body, soul and spirit. He invites us to identify what we’re feeling and why—all this so that we will draw nearer to Him, so that we can receive what we need, so that we can be alert and responsive to the opportunities He gives us to share His love, life, and truth with others.
If you hear a harsh or brutal voice, you can be sure it is not the Lord’s. His voice can be humbling but never accusing. Remember, the Accuser (one of the biblical names for Satan) aims always and only to drive us away from the Lord. Reject that voice, firmly and confidently, in the name of Jesus.
Reflective Questions
How do sheep learn to hear their shepherd’s voice? By listening for His voice every day. Here’s a valuable lesson for the Lord’s sheep: The more we attend to our Shepherd’s voice, the more familiar it becomes. He never runs out of things to ask—or say—to us. How attentive are we? Will you take time today to hear from Him?
Prayers
South Asia
Pray that God brings a spiritual breakthrough among the nations. Lord, shatter strongholds, reveal truth, and ignite a deeper hunger for Your presence. Let healing, clarity, and freedom flow, drawing hearts closer to You and aligning every step with Your divine purpose.
Friday
Read John 16:31–33; Romans 7:24–25; Philippians 4:8
The Voice of Encouragement
As followers of Christ, forever alive in Him, we wake up each day in a world of fallen humans, including our fallen selves. Some days we walk in joy and hope; other days we sit in discouragement. What makes the difference from one day to the next?
Countless books, sermons, articles, podcasts, and more address this question and propose answers—some helpful, some not. We may rightly suggest that the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, holds the best and most complete answer to this question, but that’s a lot of truth to hold in our heads all at once. So, let’s give attention to a few short, incisive passages.
Romans 7:24 shows us the apostle Paul in a moment of despair. He recognizes his utter helplessness to be what he wants to be—a good man, a sinless man. Suddenly, (v. 25), he turns to joyfully thanking God “through Jesus Christ!” His heart shifts 180 degrees, from the realities of his human nature to the realities of our Lord. What follows are some of the most encouraging, hopeful, and glorious words ever written (Romans 8).
A similar transition, just as jolting (in a positive sense) can be seen in John 16. The disciples finally seem to believe (v. 31). However, Jesus offers them a painful dose of reality. They’re all still human, instinctively running for their lives, abandoning Him in the face of deadly danger (v. 32). Nevertheless …
The words of verse 33 speak peace to them—and to us. He wants His followers to remember the truth about our human nature. As long as we’re in this world, we’ll all be subject to its weakness. We’ll face the troubles, trials, and sufferings that human nature causes.
Then He smiles. “… take heart!” Jesus says (NIV), “… be courageous, confident, undaunted, filled with joy” (Amplified Bible). “I have overcome the world!” (v. 33).
With Him, we’ll one day leave all this brokenness behind! We have a hope and a future that exceeds anything we can imagine. We’ll finally be all God created us to be and to experience.
Reflective Questions
Let’s daily attach our hearts more fully to His, to the future He’s preparing us for. Philippians 4:8 offers a few words we can use to describe that future, in case we run out. Will you take a few moments now to “think on these things?”
Prayers
South Asia
Pray that the Lord prepares hearts and creates divine opportunities to share the Gospel. Lord, open doors where truth can be spoken with boldness and love. Let every word planted bear fruit for Your Kingdom and bring light to those in darkness.
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