The covenant offered to the children of Israel at Mount Sinai was based on actual obedience and not just lip service. God was presenting them with a particular way of life and character that He wanted for His people. To know and possess this life and character, one must be taught and follow the teachings. While the terms of God’s covenants have changed with each dispensation, the desire for this kind of relationship has remained the same. This relationship is expressed in the Bible as “I will be your God, and you shall be my people.” Peter’s statement that Christians are to be “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people” corresponds to this point (1 Peter 2:9). Christians are those who have accepted the new covenant offered by Christ (Jeremiah 31:31-32; Hebrews 7:12; 8:8-9).

3 And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: 

4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. 

5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 

6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

7 So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the Lord commanded him. 

8 Then all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” So Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord. 

9 And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever.”

~ Exodus 19:3-9

Holy God and Father in heaven. Great is Your faithfulness! Thank You for sending Your Son to die for my sins. I want to become a part of Your covenant, Your royal priesthood, Your holy nation, and Your special people (2 Peter 2:9). I wish to live my life fully devoted to You (Romans 12:1-2). Through Jesus’ teachings and example, You have shown me the kind of character You want me to have. I pray that I will be obedient to You in all things and not just provide lip service (John 14:15). I resolve now to do everything that You have spoken! Please grant me wisdom and strength!! Moreover, guide me along the path that You have for me with mercy and grace!!! Amen.

Many believe and do things in the name of religion without having proper authority. For instance, some believe that baptism is merely an outward sign of one’s inward faith. However, where is this even mentioned in the Bible? Another example could be the use of the sinner’s prayer. Can we even find the sinner’s prayer in Scripture? If not, then we must ask ourselves whether it is from heaven or men. If we do not have heavenly authority to do something in the name of religion, then we are acting under the authority of men alone, which is dangerous territory. Therefore, if we want to do anything in the name of Jesus, we should ask ourselves: “Is this from heaven or men?” This question could help us evaluate whether our actions are in line with the teaching of Jesus.

27 Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him. 

28 And they said to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?”

29 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: 

30 The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.”

31 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 

32 But if we say, ‘From men’”—they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed. 

33 So they answered and said to Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus answered and said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

~ Mark 11:27-33

Holy Father in Heaven. You are the one and only true God. You alone are wise, and I desire to always do what is right in Your sight. I understand that man’s ways cannot direct his steps (Jeremiah 10:23). I am also aware that You desire for me to walk in sincerity and truth (Joshua 24:14-15). So, I humbly ask that You sanctify me and all those who seek to follow You in Your truth (John 17:17). At times, I may be tempted to do things that seem noble but may not align with Your will. I trust in Your abundant mercy and grace for the humble. However, I also understand that Your word is meant to guide me to do things the right way – that is, Your way (Matthew 7:21-27). Therefore, I ask for Your guidance in seeking authority in all the things I say and do. I pray all of this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“We all have our cross to bear.” This is an idiomatic expression that refers to an unpleasant or painful situation that one must accept and deal with. However, in the first century, the people in Palestine would have understood this illustration in a completely different way. Even a twelve-year-old child, upon observing a man being forced to carry his cross, driven by Roman soldiers, would have known that the man was going to face his death, and no one would ever see that man again. 

“They sold their soul to the devil!” Another expression that we do not give much thought to. People often joke about doing such things. Would you be willing to “sell your soul to the devil” to receive fame and fortune? Would you compromise your godly morals and spiritual wellness, just to increase your worldly pleasures? Jesus was not casual with His words, but rather, He was very specific when inferring that one man’s soul is worth more than the whole world! 

“I hate it, but that’s what Jesus said.” Do we ever say anything like that to soothe one’s emotional response to the word of God? For instance, if someone is in an adulterous marriage, do we read Matthew 19:1-12 only to add, “I hate it, but that’s what Jesus says”? If so, we are distancing ourselves from the words of Jesus, which means we are also distancing ourselves from Him. May that never be the case! Instead, let us be sorrowful that someone has found themselves to be in sin and prayerfully help them to see God’s remedy for the situation.

34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 

36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 

37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 

38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

~ Mark 8:34-38

Dear God and Father, I pray to You to help me put an end to old habits that sometimes cause me to stumble. I know it’s what You want from me. Please guide me to renew my mind every day and bring me closer to You (Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 15:31). I desire this more than anything. I don’t want to trade my integrity for worldly pleasures, either. Instead, I want to live a life of sacrifice that pleases You. Help me to embrace Your ways as You have revealed them in Your word. May I always hold tightly to You and your Son, Jesus; and may I never be ashamed of my faith. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

Joseph faced many challenges that could have led him to abandon his faith and become a pessimistic person. However, he persevered and remained a faithful servant of God! Joseph’s unwavering commitment and hard work are a great inspiration, particularly to young people who are often confronted with trials and temptations. He serves as an excellent role model for young people to demonstrate that even in the face of adversity, one can remain steadfast and strong.

20 Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. 

21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 

22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. 

23 The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.

~ Genesis 39:20-23

Holy God, I thank You for Your mercy and grace that are in Jesus. I also thank You for the example of Joseph. There have been times in my life when false accusations against my integrity have made me discouraged and tempted to give up. But Joseph’s story inspires me to persevere with faith and hard work. Despite being mistreated by his brothers, enslaved, and wrongfully accused of crimes he did not commit, he remained faithful to You and committed to doing his best. Please grant me the strength to emulate his example. May You be with me, and WHATEVER I DO, I ask that You make it prosper… Please, Lord. All to Your Glory. Amen.   

In Exodus 21:32, it is mentioned that the price set by Moses to redeem a slave who had been killed or disabled was thirty pieces of silver. This implies that the price for a strong young man should have been much higher. The traders who bought Joseph for twenty pieces of silver could make a profit on the deal. However, by selling Joseph for such a low price, the brothers demonstrated just how much they hated Joseph. We can only imagine the horror that Joseph faced when he was taken away from his father, who loved him, only to face the hatred of his brothers. He was then sold as a slave into a foreign land, as documented in Genesis 42:21.

23 So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him. 

24 Then they took him and cast him into a pit. And the pit was empty; there was no water in it.

25 And they sat down to eat a meal. Then they lifted their eyes and looked, and there was a company of Ishmaelites, coming from Gilead with their camels, bearing spices, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt. 

26 So Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 

27 Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.” And his brothers listened. 

28 Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.

~ Genesis 37:23-28

Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. I’ve noticed that sometimes when people within a group dislike each other, they try to keep their animosity and actions hidden from those in positions of authority. However, they don’t usually hide their actions from those who share their feelings and plans with them. I hope to always have a pure heart and be wise enough to avoid sinning by hating, let alone conspiring against, anyone. Moreover, when others sin against me, may I have the mind of Christ in praying for their soul, and not harbor any bitterness against them (Matthew 5:43-48; Hebrews 12:15-16). Please help me to be complete in these things. It is in Jesus’ name that I pray. Amen. 

The modern definition of the word “hypocrite” refers to someone who says one thing but does another. For example, a person who tells others not to smoke – but is a chain smoker themselves. Jesus warned against hypocritical judging in Matthew 7:1-6, but the original meaning of the word hypocrite was “an actor under an assumed character.” This means that some people may seem to be living by God’s will, yet inwardly harbor traits that God despises. Jesus wants Christians to be GENUINE in their faith and NOT TO PRETEND to be someone they are not. He wants us to BEAR GOOD FRUIT from our actions, WITH PURE MOTIVES. 

25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.

26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.

27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.

28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

~ Matthew 23:25-28

Holy God and Father: Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom? Who can fathom the depth of Your love? Unfortunately, hypocrites have given Your people a bad name over the years, and religious pretenders angered Jesus even in the first century. Please guide us in our efforts to please You, and may we look to Jesus as the perfect example of sincerity. Mold our character in His image! Please guide us also in correcting others with a pretender’s spirit. We need wisdom, conviction, and courage to do so correctly. Please help us in these things, and it is in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.  

In Hebrew, the term used for “sister” also refers to other close relatives. This means that Isaac’s deception was like his father Abraham’s (Genesis 12:10-20; 20:11-8). In those cases, what they didn’t say was more important than what they did say. Although the wives were related to their husbands, the most significant fact was that they were their wives. It is interesting to note that a pagan king of the Philistines once believed that it would be wrong if one of his men had taken Isaac’s wife. Despite not worshipping the true God, the Philistines had a moral code that deemed fornication a severe sin (In today’s world, fornication is widely accepted as a norm in the lives of most people, but it is certainly not acceptable to God, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Hebrews 13:4-6).

6 So Isaac dwelt in Gerar. 

7 And the men of the place asked about his wife. And he said, “She is my sister”; for he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” because he thought, “lest the men of the place kill me for Rebekah, because she is beautiful to behold.” 

8 Now it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked through a window, and saw, and there was Isaac, showing endearment to Rebekah his wife. 

9 Then Abimelech called Isaac and said, “Quite obviously she is your wife; so how could you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac said to him, “Because I said, ‘Lest I die on account of her.’ ”

10 And Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might soon have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us.” 

11 So Abimelech charged all his people, saying, “He who touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.”

~ Genesis 26:6-11

Holy God and Father in heaven, You are worthy to receive honor and praise. Thank You for Your grace, mercy, and peace. I am grateful for these examples described and desire to be an honest man who prioritizes integrity in all my dealings. Lord, sometimes I see non-Christians living lives of sin, and that is disheartening. But there are other times that I observe non-Christians doing good deeds, such as helping the poor, serving others, and comforting those in need. I can learn from those good examples in how I should be. Please grant me the courage to speak what is true; give me the courage to do what is right. May I take the initiative in doing well, no matter any potential outcome(s) that I perceive will be hurtful to me, personally. Help me to do all things for Your glory, while also benefiting my community. Thank You for hearing my prayers. Amen.  

According to the Bible, Esau was considered a profane man because he despised his birthright (Hebrews 12:16). The term “profane” refers to someone who doesn’t have a proper regard for important things. Later, when Jacob tricked their father into giving him the blessing that rightfully belonged to the firstborn, Esau was willing to accept the inheritance (Genesis 27). This shows that he didn’t take the matter seriously, prior (Genesis 25). Even though the birthright would have made Esau the head of the tribe and entitled him to a larger share of his father’s wealth, he treated it with little respect. Jacob didn’t act righteously either because he should have been willing to feed a hungry brother. Nevertheless, regarding the birthright itself, Jacob valued it much more than Esau did.

29 Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. 

30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom.

31 But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.”

32 And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?”

33 Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 

34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

~ Genesis 24:29-34

Holy God in heaven. I want to express gratitude for everything You have provided for my family, though I have not always shown my appreciation. Our world is full of distractions, and it is easy to be sidetracked by frivolous things. I, too, sometimes struggle with being slow to recognize and address important concerns. However, I understand that Your values, such as truth and righteousness, require careful consideration and discipline on my part. Therefore, I resolve to move forward with a clearer mind and a hardworking spirit. Please grant me the necessary wisdom to grow in properly regarding important things! Help me in this way, Father, to be more like You and Your Son, Jesus. Amen.

The story of Rebekah and Isaac is a fascinating one. After Sarah’s death, Abraham wanted to ensure that his son would marry someone who worshipped the one true God, Jehovah. To accomplish this, Abraham sent his servant to Nahor in Mesopotamia to find a bride among his relatives. After praying for guidance, the servant found Rebekah and received confirmation that she was the one chosen by God to marry Isaac. Rebekah was willing, and the beginnings of their marriage became a wonderful story of faith, adventure, and romance in Genesis chapter twenty-four.

1 Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.

2 So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please, put your hand under my thigh, 

3 and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell; 

4 but you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”

5 And the servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I take your son back to the land from which you came?” 

6 But Abraham said to him, “Beware that you do not take my son back there. 

7 The Lord God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my family, and who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, ‘To your descendants I give this land,’ He will send His angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.

~ Genesis 24:1-7

Our Father in heaven, there is no one like You. Thank You for all Your provisions, especially Jesus, who sacrificed His life for my sins. Holy God, I am certain that meeting my wife was a providential blessing from You. She is a faithful Christian and has brought many blessings to me, spiritually and physically. I thank You, God, for bringing Keri into my life, and pray that You will continue to bless our marriage and help it grow stronger. Furthermore, I pray for Your guidance and care for my three daughters. They are godly young women, and I understand that choosing the right partner will be one of the most important decisions of their lives. I pray that You will guide them and help them to make wise choices in choosing a husband. May they be directed by You in all things, and may they especially choose to marry the one You have approved for them. All of this I pray, for the betterment of our lives, spiritually. Amen.    

God was with Abram, guiding and blessing him, as Abram proved himself to be a faithful worshiper of God. However, Abram had his weaknesses, which were reflected in his lying to Pharaoh about Sarai. Despite his flaws, God bestowed grace upon Abram (Genesis 12:1-20). Abram’s wisdom was evident in his conflict resolution with Lot and their herdsmen. Additionally, Abram demonstrated his willingness and ability to fight for the safety of his nephew, after Lot was taken captive (Genesis 13:1-18). Furthermore, we see Abram’s strength of conviction in his refusal to accept goods as a reward from pagan neighbors, after he honored the priest Melchizedek (Genesis 14:1-24). Ultimately, Abram’s exemplary faith and character were the result of his trust in God.

4 So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 

5 Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan. 

6 Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. And the Canaanites were then in the land.

7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

~ Genesis 12:4-7

Holy God in heaven. I want to be faithful to You in all things. May I worship You as a faithful man, and may You have mercy on me when I succumb to weaknesses. I do not want to continue making the same mistakes because of weakness, though. I want to take every opportunity to grow, and at times when conflicts arise, I want to be a stable force in bringing about peace, especially when it comes to family disputes. Enable me the strength to stand up for what is right, and even fight for the physical and spiritual well-being of my loved ones. Give me the courage of conviction to not only do what is right in honoring spiritual leaders but also refuse fellowship with those who reject Your ways. Increase our faith, and please let these things be, O God.