The Start of the Story – Monday 2/23
“Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.” Genesis 2:7
Every story has a sequence: a beginning, a middle, and an end. The beginning of the story is referred to as the exposition. The exposition introduces the main characters and the setting. The characters in this story, God’s story, are God and mankind. The setting is earth.
The story began when God created us and endowed us with the breath of life. Interesting to note - we are formed of dust and at the end of our story on this earth, we will return to dust.
At the start of the story, God and mankind live in perfect harmony and communion. Mankind also lives in perfect harmony and communion with all of God’s creation. This is the story as God intended, His story and our story in perfect sync.
Father God, can I say today that my story and Your story are in sync? Help me to be part of Your story in my thoughts, words, and actions. I desire to live in perfect harmony and communion with Your Holy Spirit.
In Jesus name, Amen.
The Distortion of the Story – Tuesday 2/24
“The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, ‘Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?’ ‘Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,’ the woman replied. ‘It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’
‘You won’t die!’ the serpent replied to the woman. ‘God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.’ The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful, and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.” Genesis 3:1-10
At this point in the story, another character enters the story, the antagonist, Who actively opposes the main characters of the story. The antagonist is the deceiver, Satan come to the story in the guise of a serpent. The antagonist deceives the woman by “twisting their understanding of God (and His intentions) in order to distort their image of Him” (Lectio 365 2 July 2024). The intended story of harmony and communion between God and mankind has now become distorted.
However, a new story plot has begun; the story of God’s pursuit of reconciling mankind to Himself.
Father God, thank you that our story with you did not end with the disobedience of Adam and Eve. I am so grateful and awed that you initiated a new story of grace and reconciliation. Help me to meld my story once again with Your story. In Jesus name, Amen.
The Promise of the Story – Wednesday 2/25
“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘I will give this land to your descendants.” Genesis 12:1-3, 7
“And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.” Genesis 15:6
God promised to make Abram (later renamed Abraham) a great nation. These descendants of Abraham would become the nation of Israel, God’s people. God also promised to give Abraham’s descendants the land, later referred to as the Promised Land. This promise was the prologue to the story of the nation of Israel. Abraham’s story intersected with God’s story when Abraham believed God’s promise ‘and the Lord “counted him as righteous because of his faith”. This is the same point where our personal story intersects with God’s story, when we believe the promises of God and come to Him in faith through Jesus.
Father God, thank You that our story intersects with your story when we come to faith in Jesus. How marvelous that You make us part of Your story. Let our story bring light and hope to those around us. In Jesus name, Amen.
The People of the Story – Thursday 2/26
“One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. ‘This is amazing,’ Moses said to himself. ‘Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.’ When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’ ‘Here I am!’ Moses replied.” Exodus 3:1-4
“Then the Lord told him, ‘I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land.” Exodus 3:7-8a
The Israelites went to Egypt to escape famine and were originally welcomed. However, when a new Pharaoh came into power, he enslaved the people fearing that they were becoming too numerous and would rise up against him. At the time that God called Moses, His people lived as slaves in Egypt for 430 years. They had limited personal freedom, were subject to heavy taxes and the men were forced into harsh labor. The Israelites continually cried out to God for deliverance from their bondage.
God used Moses to deliver His people from their enslavement in Egypt. God brought His people out of Egypt as a cohesive nation. Though their doubt and disobedience caused them to wander in the wilderness for the next 40 years. They finally entered the “fertile and spacious” land that God had promised them as His favored people.
God, thank You that we are Your favored people through Jesus. Deliver us from any doubt or disobedience that may keep us in bondage. Thank You that we are part of Your ongoing story of deliverance and promise. In Jesus name, Amen.
The Place of Prayer in the Story – Friday 2/27
“Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. And she made this vow: ‘O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut.’
As she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her. Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. ‘Must you come here drunk?’ he demanded. ‘Throw away your wine!’ ‘Oh no, sir!’ she replied. ‘I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord. Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.’
‘In that case,’ Eli said, ‘go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.’ ‘Oh, thank you, sir!’ she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad.” 1 Samuel 1:10-18
God answered Hannah’s prayer. Hannah gave birth to Samuel and dedicated him to Lord as she vowed. Samuel became the first prophet and the last judge in Israel. He also served as spiritual advisor to King David.
Prayer is a big part of our story intersecting with God’s story. Prayer is how we communicate and commune with our heavenly Father. Our prayers, like Hannah’s, should always be authentic and heartfelt. And, like Hannah, we can be assured that our prayers are heard and answered.
Heavenly Father, we are so grateful that you hear and answer our prayers. Holy Spirit, teach us to pray authentically and wholeheartedly. Give us the same assurance that Hannah had in her prayers. In Jesus name, Amen.
The Place of Worship in the Story – Saturday 2/28
“Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth! And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past, starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people, Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies.”
“‘Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings! For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do.” 2 Samuel 7:8-14a
The nation of Israel prospered under King David. David led his people to numerous victories in battle. After a time, God gave Israel a period of rest. During this time, David established Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and positioned the ark of the covenant at the center of the nation’s civic and religious life. Now that God’s people had a permanent city to live in, David desired to build a permanent place for God in their midst. However, God gave his son Solomon the honor of building His temple.
Individually, we can worship God anytime and anywhere. We never want to limit our worship of God to a church or a temple. However, there is a something special and powerful about coming together as a body of believers to worship God. As written in the book of Hebrews 10:25 “and let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near”.
Father God, we want to worship you daily in our hearts and in our homes. And let us not neglect coming together to worship You in the fellowship of believers. Thank you for giving us a place where we can come together to worship You. In Jesus name, Amen.
The Intent of the Story – Sunday 3/01
“Now I want to say something more about this city. You have been saying, ‘It will fall to the king of Babylon through war, famine, and disease.’ But this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I will certainly bring my people back again from all the countries where I will scatter them in my fury. I will bring them back to this very city and let them live in peace and safety. They will be my people, and I will be their God. And I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me. I will find joy doing good for them and will faithfully and wholeheartedly replant them in this land.” Jeremiah 32:36-41
God’s intent was, and is, for His people to worship Him and be in relationship with Him. He also meant for His people Israel to continue to possess the promised land. As a result of the people’s disobedience and following after the ways of their pagan neighbor nations, Judah, the southern kingdom, lost their land and independence. Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians and much of the population was sent into exile. The northern kingdom, Israel, continued to exist within the reduced territory for a time. However, they were eventually invaded by Assyria and the remainder of the population was sent into exile.
It seems that the Story is unraveling. But God is faithful and merciful. He will see that the Story continues to reach its apex.
Father God, we need Your mercy and faithfulness. We so often stray from the path that You have prepared for us. Thank you that the story, Your story, will reach the apex of what You have planned and intended from the beginning. In Jesus name, Amen.
“Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.” Genesis 2:7
Every story has a sequence: a beginning, a middle, and an end. The beginning of the story is referred to as the exposition. The exposition introduces the main characters and the setting. The characters in this story, God’s story, are God and mankind. The setting is earth.
The story began when God created us and endowed us with the breath of life. Interesting to note - we are formed of dust and at the end of our story on this earth, we will return to dust.
At the start of the story, God and mankind live in perfect harmony and communion. Mankind also lives in perfect harmony and communion with all of God’s creation. This is the story as God intended, His story and our story in perfect sync.
Father God, can I say today that my story and Your story are in sync? Help me to be part of Your story in my thoughts, words, and actions. I desire to live in perfect harmony and communion with Your Holy Spirit.
In Jesus name, Amen.
The Distortion of the Story – Tuesday 2/24
“The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, ‘Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?’ ‘Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,’ the woman replied. ‘It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’
‘You won’t die!’ the serpent replied to the woman. ‘God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.’ The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful, and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.” Genesis 3:1-10
At this point in the story, another character enters the story, the antagonist, Who actively opposes the main characters of the story. The antagonist is the deceiver, Satan come to the story in the guise of a serpent. The antagonist deceives the woman by “twisting their understanding of God (and His intentions) in order to distort their image of Him” (Lectio 365 2 July 2024). The intended story of harmony and communion between God and mankind has now become distorted.
However, a new story plot has begun; the story of God’s pursuit of reconciling mankind to Himself.
Father God, thank you that our story with you did not end with the disobedience of Adam and Eve. I am so grateful and awed that you initiated a new story of grace and reconciliation. Help me to meld my story once again with Your story. In Jesus name, Amen.
The Promise of the Story – Wednesday 2/25
“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘I will give this land to your descendants.” Genesis 12:1-3, 7
“And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.” Genesis 15:6
God promised to make Abram (later renamed Abraham) a great nation. These descendants of Abraham would become the nation of Israel, God’s people. God also promised to give Abraham’s descendants the land, later referred to as the Promised Land. This promise was the prologue to the story of the nation of Israel. Abraham’s story intersected with God’s story when Abraham believed God’s promise ‘and the Lord “counted him as righteous because of his faith”. This is the same point where our personal story intersects with God’s story, when we believe the promises of God and come to Him in faith through Jesus.
Father God, thank You that our story intersects with your story when we come to faith in Jesus. How marvelous that You make us part of Your story. Let our story bring light and hope to those around us. In Jesus name, Amen.
The People of the Story – Thursday 2/26
“One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. ‘This is amazing,’ Moses said to himself. ‘Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.’ When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’ ‘Here I am!’ Moses replied.” Exodus 3:1-4
“Then the Lord told him, ‘I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land.” Exodus 3:7-8a
The Israelites went to Egypt to escape famine and were originally welcomed. However, when a new Pharaoh came into power, he enslaved the people fearing that they were becoming too numerous and would rise up against him. At the time that God called Moses, His people lived as slaves in Egypt for 430 years. They had limited personal freedom, were subject to heavy taxes and the men were forced into harsh labor. The Israelites continually cried out to God for deliverance from their bondage.
God used Moses to deliver His people from their enslavement in Egypt. God brought His people out of Egypt as a cohesive nation. Though their doubt and disobedience caused them to wander in the wilderness for the next 40 years. They finally entered the “fertile and spacious” land that God had promised them as His favored people.
God, thank You that we are Your favored people through Jesus. Deliver us from any doubt or disobedience that may keep us in bondage. Thank You that we are part of Your ongoing story of deliverance and promise. In Jesus name, Amen.
The Place of Prayer in the Story – Friday 2/27
“Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. And she made this vow: ‘O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut.’
As she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her. Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. ‘Must you come here drunk?’ he demanded. ‘Throw away your wine!’ ‘Oh no, sir!’ she replied. ‘I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord. Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.’
‘In that case,’ Eli said, ‘go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.’ ‘Oh, thank you, sir!’ she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad.” 1 Samuel 1:10-18
God answered Hannah’s prayer. Hannah gave birth to Samuel and dedicated him to Lord as she vowed. Samuel became the first prophet and the last judge in Israel. He also served as spiritual advisor to King David.
Prayer is a big part of our story intersecting with God’s story. Prayer is how we communicate and commune with our heavenly Father. Our prayers, like Hannah’s, should always be authentic and heartfelt. And, like Hannah, we can be assured that our prayers are heard and answered.
Heavenly Father, we are so grateful that you hear and answer our prayers. Holy Spirit, teach us to pray authentically and wholeheartedly. Give us the same assurance that Hannah had in her prayers. In Jesus name, Amen.
The Place of Worship in the Story – Saturday 2/28
“Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth! And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past, starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people, Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies.”
“‘Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings! For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do.” 2 Samuel 7:8-14a
The nation of Israel prospered under King David. David led his people to numerous victories in battle. After a time, God gave Israel a period of rest. During this time, David established Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and positioned the ark of the covenant at the center of the nation’s civic and religious life. Now that God’s people had a permanent city to live in, David desired to build a permanent place for God in their midst. However, God gave his son Solomon the honor of building His temple.
Individually, we can worship God anytime and anywhere. We never want to limit our worship of God to a church or a temple. However, there is a something special and powerful about coming together as a body of believers to worship God. As written in the book of Hebrews 10:25 “and let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near”.
Father God, we want to worship you daily in our hearts and in our homes. And let us not neglect coming together to worship You in the fellowship of believers. Thank you for giving us a place where we can come together to worship You. In Jesus name, Amen.
The Intent of the Story – Sunday 3/01
“Now I want to say something more about this city. You have been saying, ‘It will fall to the king of Babylon through war, famine, and disease.’ But this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I will certainly bring my people back again from all the countries where I will scatter them in my fury. I will bring them back to this very city and let them live in peace and safety. They will be my people, and I will be their God. And I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me. I will find joy doing good for them and will faithfully and wholeheartedly replant them in this land.” Jeremiah 32:36-41
God’s intent was, and is, for His people to worship Him and be in relationship with Him. He also meant for His people Israel to continue to possess the promised land. As a result of the people’s disobedience and following after the ways of their pagan neighbor nations, Judah, the southern kingdom, lost their land and independence. Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians and much of the population was sent into exile. The northern kingdom, Israel, continued to exist within the reduced territory for a time. However, they were eventually invaded by Assyria and the remainder of the population was sent into exile.
It seems that the Story is unraveling. But God is faithful and merciful. He will see that the Story continues to reach its apex.
Father God, we need Your mercy and faithfulness. We so often stray from the path that You have prepared for us. Thank you that the story, Your story, will reach the apex of what You have planned and intended from the beginning. In Jesus name, Amen.