Through The Bible in a Year - January 29, 2026

“I will be God to you and to your offspring after you.”– Genesis 17:7

“I have no memory of becoming a Christian. I don’t remember when I did not love Jesus. My Christian testimony is downright boring.”

Should I apologize for the lack of drama? No opium dens, no motorcycle gangs, no lightning on the road to Damascus?

While we celebrate those rescued from wayward paths at every stage of life, we must ask: What is the ordinary Christian life? What is the normal path by which most people come to faith?

The answer: By maturing in a Christian family that loves the Lord. Through prayers at the kitchen table, memorizing verses at dinner, regular rhythms of church life. Children grow up understanding, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

This is what God promised Abraham: “I will be God to you and to your offspring after you.” Not a guarantee that children will believe, but a guarantee that God will be there—showing love, showing faithfulness, even to the unfaithful.

When we baptize children, we pray, “May this child never know a day they don’t love Jesus.” That’s not sentiment—it’s trusting God’s covenant promise. Deeper than memory, beyond logical debates, faith is planted in the soil of God’s promise to love our children, as we love them and show them Christ’s love.

Just as children learn red is red without questioning, they learn Jesus loves me in homes where faith is lived and loved. These truths of faith, repeated and lived out in covenant families, shape souls before children can even articulate what they believe – and for eternity.

Respond: If you have a “boring” testimony, thank God for it today. If you’re raising children, consider how you are teaching them before memory, and beyond understanding. We are planting seeds of faith in the soil of God’s covenant promise and we daily love and live for him.

Prayer: Faithful Father, thank You for covenant families where faith is passed from generation to generation. Help me never to apologize for a steady faith planted in good soil. Whether I’m parenting, grandparenting, teaching, or mentoring, use me to point children to Jesus by loving him in such a way that they never remember not loving Him. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 28, 2026

"As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." – Matthew 24:37

First Peter 3 says that as Noah built the ark, Jesus was preaching to a fallen world. What does that mean? Was Jesus physically there? No—but with each hammer blow of Noah and his sons building the ark, God was declaring the gospel that must be believed.

Every time Noah lifted his hammer and struck the nail, the message rang out:

• You must flee the destruction that is coming

• Your hand is not your redemption—you are not your Redeemer

• You must get on this boat if you want to be saved

• You must trust in God’s provision, not in your own hand

The people mocked. They believed they were the way out of their own evil. But God provided the only way of escape—and they had to trust Him, not themselves.

It wasn't the last time the hammer would fall. When Christ put His own right hand on the cross, each hammer blow that nailed him there signaled the same gospel: You must flee the destruction to come. Your hand won't save you. You are not your own redeemer. You must trust Christ's hand to provide the way of escape.

Jesus said the days before His return would be like the days of Noah—people eating, drinking, marrying, unaware until judgment comes. Jesus rose from the dead and he is coming again to reap a harvest of those who put hope in His provision, not in the work of their own hands or the safety they think their works will provide..

Respond: Have you gotten on that boat - The Gospel boat of Jesus Christ? Have you trusted in Christ's provision instead of your own hand? If not, today should be the day. If you have trusted in Jesus, who needs to hear this gospel from you?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being my ark, my refuge, my only hope of salvation. My hand cannot save me—only Your hand can. Thank You for the cross where each hammer blow declared Your love and provision for me. Help me live in light of Your coming return, and give me boldness to point others to You for that same salvation. This I pray in Jesus name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 27, 2026

"The Lord is...patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." – 2 Peter 3:9

People constantly ask: "If God is sovereign and good, why does He allow all this evil? Why doesn't He just wipe it out?"

The biblical answer? Been there, done that. That was the flood.

There was so much evil and God destroyed the evil by the flood. And at the end of the flood, God said, "Never again will I destroy the world by flood." Instead, the way things are now where evil persists through people like us, God has to be very patient. Jesus told a parable about wheat and weeds growing together until harvest. The servant asked, "Should we pull up the weeds?" The master says, "No—if you pull up the weeds, you'll uproot the wheat too. Let them grow together until harvest."

If God destroyed all evil in this moment, not one of us would be here. Our ability to reach others with the gospel would disappear. God is so patient that He's waiting for the harvest—allowing the weeds to continue so the wheat can be gathered in His time as He knows is best..

This is amazing patience. God is allowing time for nations, people, families, and our own sinful souls to claim Jesus Christ before the final judgment. The weeds won't be destroyed by flood next time—they'll be destroyed by fire. But until then, God is gathering His harvest - people like you and me. Sinful though we are, He uses us to tell His gospel to others – sinful though they be. He’ll do this until He has the harvest that is full as He knows is best.

Respond: Who in your life needs God's patience right now? Who seems so far from God that you've almost given up hope? Remember: God is patient, not willing that any should perish. Keep praying. Keep witnessing. Trust His timing for those that He is calling to Himself.

Prayer: Patient Father, thank You for not giving up on me when I was far from You. Thank You for waiting, pursuing, drawing me to Yourself. Give me patience with others who don't yet know You and who haven’t yet responded to your call. Help me trust Your timing as You gather Your harvest as you know is best in the timing that you know is best. Thank you for such patience. Help me to be patient too.. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 26, 2026

"I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood." – Genesis 9:11

Here's what should astound us as we read and hear these words of God - God makes His covenant promise right after Noah's family completely messes up.

They've just survived the flood—this family that's supposed to bring the world into a new creation without violence and evil. And what immediately happens? Noah gets drunk. Ham dishonors his father. There's brokenness, bitterness, addiction, and sexual sin in the very first chapter after their rescue.

If only God had known who He was rescuing. If only He'd known what Noah would do.

He did know. He knows the end from the beginning. And He gave them refuge anyway.

This is a God who establishes a covenant with His people, not on the condition that they, or we, measure up, but because He says: "I will be faithful even to a faithless people. I will make a prior commitment to people I know will mess up."

Why do we need to know this? Because we mess up. We come through the crisis thinking, "If God just brings me through this, I'll never sin like that again." And then we do. The struggle returns. We fall again.

But God says, "I will not fail you. I am a covenant-keeping God."

Respond: What sin or failure are you convinced disqualifies you from God's love? Hear this today: God knew about it before He saved you, and He chose to make a covenant with you anyway. His covenant is not based upon your qualification, but upon His mercy. His faithfulness doesn't depend on your performance.

Prayer: Covenant-keeping God, I am amazed that You knew everything I would do—every failure, every sin, every broken promise—and You chose to save me anyway. Thank You for Your faithfulness when I am faithless. Help me to rest in Your covenant love, not my wavering performance. Help me to believe this because of Jesus. He came for me when I was a sinner. So, I pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 23, 2026

"Out of the ground that the LORD has cursed, this one shall bring us relief." – Genesis 5:29

When Noah was born, his father named him "comfort" or "relief," saying, "This one shall bring us relief from our work and painful toil." Those who heard must have wondered: Is this the one? Is this the promised seed who will crush Satan's head and fix this broken world?

They quickly learned Noah was not that one. But their question reveals what they desperately needed—what we all desperately need:

• A God who brings relief after ruin

• A God who makes provision for sinful, broken people

• A God who brings peace after pain

• A God who brings divine provision for human failure

• A God who brings rainbows after rain

Some of you know about rainbow babies—the child born after a mother's pregnancy loss. That baby is never a replacement, never a reason to avoid grief. But a new baby is new life, new purpose, some means to deal with the grief and recreate joy again.

This is what God offers all of us. Whatever your loss—a child, a marriage, a job, your health, even losses caused by your own mistakes—God says that when the teardrops fall like raindrops, they can be preparation for the rainbows. They can bring restoration, relief, fresh hope, a clean slate, new life, new purpose.

Respond: What loss are you grieving today? Bring it honestly to God. Don't rush past the tears, but don't camp in hopelessness either. Ask God to prepare your heart for the rainbow that He's bringing.

Prayer: Father, I'm grieving. The loss can feel overwhelming, and sometimes the pain feels endless. But I believe You are a God who brings relief after ruin, who makes provision for broken people like me. Help me trace the rainbow through the rain. Give me hope that this is not the end of my story because you are my God and I am your child. I pray this in Jesus' name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 22, 2026

"The LORD said to Noah, 'Go into the ark, you and all your household...And the LORD shut him in.'" – Genesis 7:1, 16

When skeptics demand naturalistic explanations for the supernatural flood, there's only one honest response: God put His hand into that the event. This was a miracle-working God doing something for a profound purpose.

And here's why that matters for your life today: If God doesn't put His hand into this world—with all its disorder, violence, and evil—we have no basis for our hope.

We can debate the logistics of the ark all we want. How did it hold so many animals? How did the penguins get there? How did the lions and sheep coexist? But ultimately, God says, "I shut the door." He put His hand into that experience.

This isn't about explaining away miracles—it's about believing in a God who intervenes. A God who brings rainbows after the rain. A God who creates restoration from ruin. A God who can make new worlds even for people who have messed it up so terribly.

You need to know that God is willing to put His hand into your world—for your life, for your good, for your refuge. When everything is falling apart, when the violence and chaos feel overwhelming, you serve a God who doesn't just observe from a distance. He steps in. He shuts the door. He provides the way of escape. He puts His hand into that experience for our good.

Respond: What situation in your life right now feels impossible without God's intervention? Stop trying to explain it away or fix it yourself. Instead, ask God to put His hand in—to do what only He can do.

Prayer: Lord, I need You to put Your hand into my life. I can't fix this mess on my own. I can't explain my way out of it or work my way through it. I need a miracle-working God who intervenes, who provides, and who rescues. Put Your hand in my situation today. Be my refuge you’ve promised. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 21, 2026

"Behold, I am making all things new." – Revelation 21:5

Think of the hard news we hear. Twenty-one deaths from a polar vortex. Twenty-three from tornadoes. Six hundred thousand from civil war. Forty active conflicts worldwide. Babies die. Diagnoses startle us. Lives get upended in a moment that is totally unexpected.

How do we rejoice in a world this broken?

The answer is in the structure of Scripture itself: This brokenness, this hurt, this mess, is not the final chapter.

Yes, Genesis 3 tells us everything went bad. Our whole nature is fallen—physically, emotionally, relationally, spiritually. We face pain in childbirth, pain in relationships, pain in work, pain in the wars we face, pain in living. Creation and creature are both broken.

But Genesis 3:15 also tells us God has a plan, right from the start. Between everything going bad and everything being made perfect at the end of all time, God is unfolding His message of redemption. He's pursuing His plan. He's pursuing His people.

God is not content to leave us in the mess. He's been working, since the fall, to show us His grace is greater than our sin. And one day, He will make everything perfect—which is even better than good.

So when disaster strikes, when suffering overwhelms, when the brokenness of this world threatens to crush your joy—remember that this is a fallen world, but it’s also a world being redeemed. This is a broken world, but not a forgotten one. This is not the final chapter.

Respond: What broken situation in your life or in the world feels overwhelming today? Bring it to God and ask Him to help you see it through the lens of Scripture: fallen, yes—but it is being redeemed and it will be restored.

Prayer: Father, this world is so broken, and sometimes my heart breaks with it. Thank You that You haven't abandoned us in the mess. Thank You that You're working out Your plan of redemption, that Jesus has crushed Satan's head, and that one day You will make all things new. Until then, give me hope to endure and joy to rejoice even in this fallen world, because Jesus will have the victory. So, I pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 20, 2026

"Everything written in the past was written for us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." – Romans 15:4

A father stands in his kitchen early in the morning, pouring milk into his daughter's cereal bowl. And he thinks: "What's my job as a Christian parent?" The answer: Just as I'm filling up this bowl with milk, my goal is to fill up her heart with love for Jesus.

Because if her heart is full of love for her Savior, she cannot be more safe or more strong spiritually.

This isn't just true for children. It's true for every child of God. When hearts are full of love for Jesus, we cannot be more safe or more strong.

This is why we keep unfolding the beauty of God's grace throughout all of the Bible—not to earn brownie points with God, not to bribe Him with good behavior, but because the gospel of God’s goodness is fuel for our souls. When we see how great God's love is for us, how unrelenting His pardon, how He provides for people who can't provide for themselves—our hearts respond with love.

And when God says, "Will you walk with Me?" our hearts can only say, "Yes! How could I not walk with You when I've seen how beautiful and good You are?"

Respond: Who in your life needs their heart filled with love for Jesus today? A child? A spouse? A friend? A coworker? How can you point them to the beauty of Christ's love?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, make me an instrument of Your love. Help me fill others' hearts with the gospel—not just with rules and obligations, but with the stunning beauty of Your grace for people like me. Use me to point people to You, that they might be as safe and strong as possible because of the love that you have for them. Despite our sin and weakness, you have provided grace. In this reality, we know we are safe, secure and made strong for your purposes. Teach me this everyday. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 19, 2026

"Sin shall no longer have dominion over you." – Romans 6:14

Yes, “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” but God sent a redeemer.

Here's what Satan tends to whisper in your ear: "You're a mess and you can't be fixed. This is part of your genetics. This is your family background. This is your habit for decades. You can't change."

That is a lie.

If you are in Christ, you are a new creature. Greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world. The Holy Spirit is greater than Satan’s influence in the world. You are no longer a slave—sin no longer has dominion over you. You have been given power you never had before, because you're not just fallen. If you are a child of God, through the work of Jesus Christ, you are redeemed.

Now, if you don't believe you can have victory, you've already lost the battle. But when you believe what God says—that He's provided His people, His Word, His Spirit, and resources you need to have spiritual victory—then you begin to have hope. And the joy of the Lord is your strength.

So why do we still sin? Because we love the sin. If sin didn't attract us, it would have no power over you. We love the lust, the control, the reputation, the position. And so we give sin power over us that it wouldn’t have if we weren’t longing for those things that God doesn’t mean for us to have.

But here's the beautiful truth: We can displace love for sin with a greater love. We love because He first loved us. When our hearts are filled with love for Christ, we want to walk with Him.

Respond: What sin has held power in your life because you've believed the lie that you can't change? Today, declare the truth: "I am no longer a slave. Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world."

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I reject the lie that I'm stuck, that I can't change, that sin will always have dominion over me. Thank You that in Christ, I am a new creature with new power. Fill my heart with love for Jesus—a love so great it displaces my love for sin. I am no longer a slave. In Jesus' name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 19, 2026

"Sin shall no longer have dominion over you." – Romans 6:14

Yes, “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” but God sent a redeemer.

Here's what Satan tends to whisper in your ear: "You're a mess and you can't be fixed. This is part of your genetics. This is your family background. This is your habit for decades. You can't change."

That is a lie.

If you are in Christ, you are a new creature. Greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world. The Holy Spirit is greater than Satan’s influence in the world. You are no longer a slave—sin no longer has dominion over you. You have been given power you never had before, because you're not just fallen. If you are a child of God, through the work of Jesus Christ, you are redeemed.

Now, if you don't believe you can have victory, you've already lost the battle. But when you believe what God says—that He's provided His people, His Word, His Spirit, and resources you need to have spiritual victory—then you begin to have hope. And the joy of the Lord is your strength.

So why do we still sin? Because we love the sin. If sin didn't attract us, it would have no power over you. We love the lust, the control, the reputation, the position. And so we give sin power over us that it wouldn’t have if we weren’t longing for those things that God doesn’t mean for us to have.

But here's the beautiful truth: We can displace love for sin with a greater love. We love because He first loved us. When our hearts are filled with love for Christ, we want to walk with Him.

Respond: What sin has held power in your life because you've believed the lie that you can't change? Today, declare the truth: "I am no longer a slave. Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world."

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I reject the lie that I'm stuck, that I can't change, that sin will always have dominion over me. Thank You that in Christ, I am a new creature with new power. Fill my heart with love for Jesus—a love so great it displaces my love for sin. I am no longer a slave. In Jesus' name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 19, 2026

"Sin shall no longer have dominion over you." – Romans 6:14

Yes, “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” but God sent a redeemer.

Here's what Satan tends to whisper in your ear: "You're a mess and you can't be fixed. This is part of your genetics. This is your family background. This is your habit for decades. You can't change."

That is a lie.

If you are in Christ, you are a new creature. Greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world. The Holy Spirit is greater than Satan’s influence in the world. You are no longer a slave—sin no longer has dominion over you. You have been given power you never had before, because you're not just fallen. If you are a child of God, through the work of Jesus Christ, you are redeemed.

Now, if you don't believe you can have victory, you've already lost the battle. But when you believe what God says—that He's provided His people, His Word, His Spirit, and resources you need to have spiritual victory—then you begin to have hope. And the joy of the Lord is your strength.

So why do we still sin? Because we love the sin. If sin didn't attract us, it would have no power over you. We love the lust, the control, the reputation, the position. And so we give sin power over us that it wouldn’t have if we weren’t longing for those things that God doesn’t mean for us to have.

But here's the beautiful truth: We can displace love for sin with a greater love. We love because He first loved us. When our hearts are filled with love for Christ, we want to walk with Him.

Respond: What sin has held power in your life because you've believed the lie that you can't change? Today, declare the truth: "I am no longer a slave. Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world."

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I reject the lie that I'm stuck, that I can't change, that sin will always have dominion over me. Thank You that in Christ, I am a new creature with new power. Fill my heart with love for Jesus—a love so great it displaces my love for sin. I am no longer a slave. In Jesus' name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 16, 2026

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." – Romans 3:23

Here's what we learn when we put on our gospel glasses and read all of Scripture: We are fallen creatures in a fallen world. Our whole nature is undone—physically, emotionally, relationally, spiritually. Everything is broken in every dimension.

This isn't just about being a little flawed or needing some improvement. The Bible is clear: we are not our own redeemers. We cannot make a way out of this mess of the world we are in and the world we make.

For 1,500 years, God demonstrated this to His people. He says, “Pick the strongest, handsomest king.” That doesn’t work to redeem God’s people. “Send prophets to instruct the kings.” The people kill the prophets. “Establish a priesthood and sacrifices.” The priests steal the sacrifices. “Give the law.” Does that help? No, the people don't obey the law.

Over and over, God says: "You need a better king, a better prophet, a better priest, a better sacrifice, a better law-keeper." It’s not your strength, cleverness, or your best effort that makes you right with God. You need someone else.

This isn't depressing news—it's liberating news. Because once you stop trying to be your own savior, you're finally ready to receive the Savior God has been providing all along.

Respond: What area of your life are you still trying to fix on your own? What sin, struggle, or situation are you treating as if you're strong enough, clever enough, or good enough to handle it by yourself? Today, admit: "I am not my own redeemer. I need Jesus."

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I confess I keep trying to save myself. I act like I'm strong enough, wise enough, good enough to fix my own mess. Forgive me. Thank You that You came to be the Redeemer I desperately need. Help me rest in Your finished work, not my failing efforts. In Your name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 15, 2026

"I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." – Genesis 3:15

At the battlefield of Waterloo, where Napoleon once was defeated by the armies of Europe, there's a massive earthen mound with an observation deck on top. From that vantage point, you can see the entire battlefield—where the infantry met, where the cavalry waited, where the artillery was positioned. Every piece of the battle makes sense when you see it from above.

Genesis 3:15 is the observation deck over the rest of Scripture. It's the first gospel promise, right in the middle of humanity's greatest mess. God looks at fallen creation and fallen creatures and says, "This is not the end of the story. One will come from the woman's offspring. He will crush the serpent's head, though Satan will wound His heel."

This is the promise that helps everything else make sense. From this vantage point, you can look across all of Scripture and see God's unfolding plan of redemption. Creation—everything is good. Fall—everything is broken. Redemption—God is pursuing His plan to restore. Consummation—God makes everything right.

Between the fall and the final consummation, when everything is restored and made better, God spends the entire Bible showing us that we need a Redeemer. Kings don't work. Prophets get killed. Priests fail. Sacrifices aren't enough. The law can't be kept. For 1,500 years, God keeps signaling: "Not this, not this, not this—but THIS." So when Jesus comes, we know who He is and what He must do.

Respond: When you read Scripture, are you looking for random moral tales, or are you standing on the observation deck seeing God's unfolding grace? Today, read one complete Bible story with your "gospel glasses" on, Ask the question, "What in this text is God revealing about Himself, and what am I learning about my need for a Redeemer?" We should pray in the reality that God is using the whole of scripture to reveal our need of Him, and his provision of Jesus.

Prayer: Father, thank You for not leaving us in the mess of Genesis 3. From the very beginning, You promised a Redeemer. Help me see all of Scripture as Your relentless pursuit of Your people. Give me gospel glasses to see Your grace unfolding in every passage. I pray this In Jesus' name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 14, 2026

"Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven." – 1 Corinthians 15:49

We are all "glorious ruins." Like ancient Roman colonnades covered in vines—still beautiful, but clearly damaged. God looks at humanity in our fallen, broken state and says, "You’re not a mistake. You are mine" He says, "You are made in my image. There may be much ruined in you and about you, but you are still glorious to me. "

This is a most profound truth? Damage does not mean done.

Your psychological struggles don't disqualify you. Your aging body doesn't diminish your worth. Your past sins don't erase God's image in you. The ways you've been hurt or broken don't make you disposable. You are still precious to God.

Why? Because God's image in you is indestructible. It cannot be erased by sin, diminished by disability, or destroyed by disease. And more than that, you are destined for glorious restoration.

The Bible promises that when Christ returns, "we shall be like Him." What you shall be has not yet been fully revealed, but this we know: you will bear the image of the man of heaven. Perfect. Redeemed. Restored. Whole.

So when you look at yourself with all your damage and difficulty, remember: this is not the final chapter. There is glory to come. For a glorious ruin like me and you, that is a wonderful assurance.

Respond: What part of your life feels like a ruin right now? Your health? Your mind? Your relationships? Your past? Bring it to God and hear Him say: "You're mine. Damage does not mean done. I have a plan for your glorious restoration. You are made in my image and I will perfect that in you, in my time."

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for seeing me as a glorious ruin—broken but beautiful, damaged but destined for restoration. When I despair over what's been lost or broken in my life, remind me that You are not finished with me. You're making all things new, and that includes me. Help me live with hope until Jesus returns. I pray this is His name, Amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 13, 2026

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you?" – 1 Corinthians 6:19

In Flannery O'Connor's short story, a nun warns her students: "Girls, your bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit." Most of the girls mock and laugh as they leave. But one young woman—already used and hurt by boys—walks apart from the others with tears of joy and whispers, "My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. I have been designed by God to receive and to reflect His glory."

Our secular culture says, "Fate, not God, has given us this flesh, so we may do with it as we see fit." It sounds freeing, but it leads to endless questioning: Am I okay? Do I measure up? The comparison game never ends.

But God has a different message: Your body is not raw material to use, abuse, or neglect as you see fit. You are designed with purpose, with order, with intention. You are made in God's image to reflect His glory.

This doesn't mean you're perfect or that your body won't face challenges in a fallen world. But it does mean you are precious, purposeful, and designed to be a dwelling place for God's Spirit.

Respond: How do you view your body? As something to criticize and fix? As a tool to gain approval? Or as a temple designed by God? Today, thank God for creating you with purpose and ask Him to help you steward your body as something sacred.

Prayer: Father, forgive me for the ways I've mistreated, neglected, or despised the body You gave me. Thank You that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, designed to be Your temple. Help me honor You with my body—not from shame or comparison, but from gratitude and worship. In Jesus' name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 12, 2026

"God created man in his own image...male and female he created them." – Genesis 1:27

Notice what God establishes first: His image. Notice what comes later: everything else.

Image comes before gender — either male or female. Both equally bear God's image. Image comes before marriage. That means you are whole and complete, whether single or married. Image comes before age, weight, or appearance. God never tells us Adam's perfect age or size. Image comes before jobs and careers. Occupations don't appear until Genesis 4. Image comes before race and ethnicity. Nationalities aren't mentioned until Genesis 10.

What does this order mean and why does it matter? It means that God is establishing what determines value before anything else: simply being human. It’s not your marital status, appearance, career success, or ethnic background. Just your humanity is what establishes you as one made in God’s image.

In a world that constantly tells you to prove your worth through performance, appearance, relationships, or achievements, God says: "You're valuable because you're made in my image. Period. I made you to reflect my glory, my nature and character, and because that is true of you, you are precious to me."

This means singles are whole, not incomplete. The elderly are precious, not disposable. Those with disabilities are image-bearers, not broken mistakes. Every race and ethnicity reflects God's glory. Your job title doesn't determine your worth. God’s image determines your worth, and you are precious to Him.

Respond: Which cultural message about worth have you believed instead? That you need the right appearance, relationship status, career, or achievement to matter? Today, reject that lie and embrace this truth: you are made in God's image, and that alone establishes your value.

Prayer: Creator God, thank You for establishing my worth before I did anything, achieved anything, or became anything. Help me stop chasing the world's standards for value and rest in Your design. I am made in Your image—that is enough. Teach me to see others this way too. In Jesus' name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 9, 2026

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."– Genesis 1:27

This is perhaps the hardest application of Genesis 1:26-27: seeing God's image in people who hurt you.

When someone criticizes you unfairly, speaks sarcastically, or bludgeons you with words—it's incredibly difficult to remember they're made in God's image. Behind the accusing eyes, beneath the ugly words, there remains the image of God that you are called to regard with dignity and respect.

Not because you like their words. Not because you think they're right. But because being human means being made in God's image—and that's inseparable from their existence.

This is true in marriage when your spouse wounds you. It's true in church when someone attacks your character. It's true in your neighborhood with difficult people. There's no reason to regard them with respect or care except this one thing: they are made in God's image.

God may even be speaking truth to you through them, however imperfectly delivered. In their brokenness and blame, God might be saying, "I'm in this person. Listen. Remember what I have made and value my image in them."

Respond: Who in your life is hardest to see as made in God's image right now? Ask God to help you see past the behavior to the image-bearer beneath—and to show you if there's any truth you need to hear.

Prayer: Lord, this is so hard. Help me see Your image in people who hurt me, who criticize me, who treat me unkindly. Give me the grace to respond with dignity even when I don't receive it. Show me how to love my enemies and pray for those who use me despitefully, because they too are made in Your image. In Jesus' name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 8, 2026

"Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.'" – Genesis 1:26

When NFL kicker, Cody Parkey, missed the game-winning field goal, sports talk radio exploded in rage when he said, "Football is what I do. It is not who I am." How dare he separate his performance from his identity!

But Parkey understood what the radio commentators did not: what you do doesn't define who you are as a Christian. Your success or failure, your career accomplishments, others' opinions of your performance—none of these determine your value.

You are made in the image of God. That reality is inseparable from your humanity. It doesn't change when you succeed, and it doesn't disappear when you fail. When circumstances abandon you, when success eludes you, when people criticize or reject you, this remains true: you bear God's image.

This isn't just helpful theology for a sermon—it's soul health for your hardest moments. When people think you're foolish, wrong, or a failure, when they're ready to write you off, you can stand firm saying, "My identity is not in my job, my performance, or others' opinions. It is in Jesus Christ. I am made in God's image."

Respond: What area of your life are you allowing to define you? Your career? Your relationships? Your accomplishments? Others' opinions? Today, with the authority of scripture, declare: "This is what I do. It is not who I am. I am made in God's image."

Prayer: Father, forgive me for finding my identity in what I do rather than who You've made me to be. When success abandons me and opinions assault me, anchor me in this truth: I am made in Your image, precious to You regardless of performance. Help me live from this secure identity today. I pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 7, 2026

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." – Genesis 1:1
"Behold, I am making all things new." – Revelation 21:5

If you can accept Genesis 1:1—that there was a first creation—then you can accept Revelation 21 – that there will be a second creation, a new heaven and a new earth where death is no more, where tears are wiped away, where pain is gone forever.

This is the hope that sets Christianity apart from every other worldview. Without a Creator, this creation is all there is. You're confined by physics, biology, and chance until whatever your end may be. But with a Creator who makes things out of nothing, everything changes.

When you cry, "God, I need forgiveness," He says, "I'm the Creator. I can grant that."
When you plead, "Lord, I need help with my weakness," He says, "I'm the Creator. I can do that."
When you ask, "God, is there hope beyond death?" He says, "I'm the Creator. I can do that."

He proved it by raising Jesus from the dead. The same creative power that spoke galaxies into existence, can and will, make you new, as He did Jesus.

Respond: Bring your biggest need to the Creator today. Whatever seems impossible, remember: He specializes in making something out of nothing. He will make all things new.

Prayer: Creator God, I come to You with all my impossibilities. You made the universe from nothing; You raised Jesus from death. I believe You can handle what I'm facing. Make me and my circumstances new. Give me hope. Show me that nothing is too hard for You. Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly to make everything new again, as you know is best. I pray this is in Your name, amen.

Through The Bible in a Year - January 6, 2026

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." – Genesis 1:1
"What is man that you are mindful of him?" – Psalm 8:4

Here's what should absolutely astound us: the God of millions of galaxies and billions of stars chose to reveal Himself to us. He did not have to. He could hide behind the cosmos. He could play in another universe. But instead, He says, "Let me tell you about myself."

When you consider the magnitude of what we know about the universe, the psalmist's question becomes even more profound: "When I look at the heavens, Lord, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him?"

Who are you that the Creator of supernovas and spiral galaxies pays attention to you? Yet, despite your thinking that you are nothing in comparison to such grand things, God thinks of you. He reveals Himself through His Word. He sent His Son. He knows your name, your fears, and your needs. This is not a distant, indifferent deity—this is a caring Father.

Respond: The God who set the stars in place is mindful of you today. What do you need to tell Him? He’s your father and He's listening.

Prayer: Caring Father, I am amazed that You notice me. Among billions of galaxies and billions of people, You know my name and my heart. Thank You for not hiding behind Your creation but revealing Yourself to me. Help me know You more deeply. In Jesus' name, amen.