Week 7 Monday
Today we watch Judah's remarkable transformation as Joseph's brothers unknowingly fulfil his boyhood dream, stand in awe of God's voice thundering in power through Psalm 29, and hear Jesus tell three parables of the lost being found.
Genesis 44
📖 What are we reading?: Joseph tests his brothers one last time, planting his cup in Benjamin's sack - and Judah offers himself in Benjamin's place, while, unknowingly, the brothers bow before Joseph and fulfil his boyhood dream once more.
✞ What does this passage say about God?: He is patiently at work over years to change a person's heart - look how far Judah has come since chapter 38!
🛐 How does this passage teach us to live?: It's a joy to see the progress in Judah's life by the end of this chapter. May we too grow into people marked by sacrificial love for our family, however far we've come from.
Psalm 29
📖 What are we reading?: A magnificent psalm of praise, picturing the voice of the Lord thundering in power over the waters.
✞ What does this passage say about God?: He is glorious and strong, enthroned over the flood as King forever.
🛐 How does this passage teach us to live?: Stand in awe of our God as you read - and let His strength become your peace (verse 11).
Looking for some extra info?
➡️ The bigger picture: The Psalms is a collection of 150 poems and songs, written by David and others, expressing the full range of human emotion in response to God and to life.
♫ Worship through Psalm 29 with Luke.
Luke 15:1-32
📖 What are we reading?: Jesus tells three parables of the lost being found - a sheep, a coin, and a son - to answer the Pharisees' grumbling that He welcomes sinners.
✞ What does this passage say about God?: He is the shepherd who searches and the father who runs to meet his returning son. Remember too that in the story of the lost son, both sons were lost - the Father is, in the end, the truly "prodigal" one, excessive in His love and grace.
🛐 How does this passage teach us to live?: These stories have given life and hope to many people over the centuries. Read them carefully today and ask: do I need to come home to the Father? Or do I need to quit being an older-brother type?
Looking for some extra info?
➡️ The bigger picture: Luke's Gospel was written by Luke, a Greek physician and companion of Paul, around AD 60-62. It is the most detailed account of Jesus' life, and is especially attentive to the poor, to women, and to outcasts.
🎤 A sermon by Luke on the parable of the prodigal son.
📝 A devotional on one of South Africa's own "prodigal sons".
A Prayer for the Day
🙏 Lord, thank You that You patiently transform flawed people like Judah, that You reign in power over all creation, and that You run to meet us in our sin as a father runs to his lost son. Amen.
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