Listen Now

It's helpful to put on our SPECS when reading the Bible. Is there a sin to avoid? A promise to claim? An example to follow? A command to obey? Do you see the Savior? In today's passage, we see Jesus as our brother who allows us to approach the King. Devotionables #431 - I See My Brother Jesus in Genesis 43 Genesis 43:1-5 F260

For the second time, Joseph finds himself in the pit. It would have been easy for him to be bitter, give up, or blame others when sitting in this Egyptian prison. But Joseph seems to have a different heart now. Devotionables #430 - Life in the Pits Genesis 40:15 F260

The narrator of Genesis now turns his attention to Joseph. Nearly all of the rest of Genesis is written with the spotlight fixed on him. But as we read through this portion of the book, we'll see that, per usual, it is God who is the main character. He is behind the scenes working to protect this family, to protect his promise, to bless them and the entire world through them. Devotionables #429 - Joseph Genesis 37 F260

God is working in and through even some of our messiest situations. He blesses us in unexpected ways at different times. He is faithful despite our unfaithfulness. Devotionables #428 - Two Brothers Genesis 27 F260

Isaac and Rebekah have twins! In a plot twist, God tells Rebekah that Jacob, the youngest of the two, will be the one whom the promises of God will be bestowed and, through him, be a blessing to the world. Esau, for his part, despises his birthright. Devotionables #427 - Price of Lunch Genesis 25:34 F260

The Lord providentially leads and provides. He answers prayers. In these situations, we often continue through life without stopping to worship or give thanks. In today's devotionable, we are encouraged by the worship of Abraham's servant, who glorifies the Lord for his faithfulness. Devotionables #426 - A Lesson in Gratitude Genesis 24:26-27 F260

The Bible is God's story. In these early pages of Genesis, we learn much about God and the world he has made. We are learning about God's character. He is good, wise, loving, and strong. Everything he does is for his glory and our ultimate good. We can trust him even in the hard times. Devotionables #425 - Trusting God with Hard Things Genesis 18:16-25 F260

God's promises sometimes appear too good to be true because God specializes in the impossible. One example in the Bible is when he gives a son to Abraham and Sarah. Their son's name is Isaac, which means he laughs. Abraham and Sarah both laughed, but God has the last word and fulfills his word always, for nothing is too hard for the Lord. Devotionables #424 - He Who Laughs Last Laughs Best Genesis 18:14, Luke 1:37 F260

In God's economy, faith is that which is rewarded with righteousness. There is no amount of good work that you and I can do to be in the right standing before God. How can we be righteous before God? The answer is faith. The poster person for this theological truth is Abraham. We learn that God credited it to him as righteousness because of his faith. The Apostle Paul teaches us in Galatians that it is the same for all who place their faith in Yahweh. Devotionables #423 - God's Accounting Principles Genesis 15:6 F260

Genesis 12 is a turning point in the Bible. The story of Abraham, still Abram in this passage, begins to come into focus. God tells him to follow after him and makes some astonishing promises. Again, the early chapters of the Bible paint Yahweh as the promise-making God. As we continue reading, we will also see that he is the promise-keeping God. Devotionables #422 - Yahweh's Promises Genesis 12:1-7 F260

The Tower of Babel is a fascinating story. It advances themes from the garden and will come up in the Scripture again. No matter how we try to build or even how high we can attain for ourselves, God is still in the heavens. Devotionables #421 - The Tower and City Genesis 11:1-9 F260

Job is a fascinating story in the heart of the Old Testament. Our Bible reading plan has us reading a few chapters and what a blessing they are to us. Job pulls back the curtain on the nature of God's good, wise, and loving providence. The book is entitled Job, but we learn much about God. Devotionables #420 - Job: Behind the Curtain of God's Providence Job 1-2, 38-42 F260

The story of Noah and the flood is a fantastic story about God. We learn in Genesis 6-9 that God will not ignore sin. Sin must be punished. Yet a pattern begins to emerge in the early pages of Scripture that even amid judgment, there is mercy and salvation for those who walk with God by faith. More promises come, and God is becoming known as the promise maker early on in Genesis. Devotionables #419 - Noah, the Flood, and More Promises Genesis 6-9 F260

What is wrong with the world is a quintessential question for everyone alive. All religions and philosophies deal with the problem. The Bible tells us what's wrong with God's good creation in Genesis chapter 3. In a word, the answer is sin. Adam and Eve fell prey to the serpent's temptation, ate the fruit God had commanded them not to eat, and ushered sin and death into God's world. That is the fundamental issue with why this world is broken. Thankfully, God gives hope in that dark moment that he would do something to fix what we have broken. Devotionables #418 - Hope in the Ashes Genesis 3 F260

How a story begins is almost as important as how the story ends. The Bible starts before the beginning, with God. It introduces us to the hero and main character of Scripture. Who is God? God is the Creator and Ruler of EVERYTHING. Devotionables #417 - Let's Get Started! Genesis 1:1-5 F260

Jesus has just fed thousands with a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish. The next day, he delivers a long sermon called the Bread of Life discourse. After discussing with the crowd, many of his followers leave after his "hard sayings." When asking the remaining disciples if they would also like to leave, Peter answers, "To whom shall we go? You alone have the words of eternal life." Devotionables: #416: To Whom Shall We Go? John 6:68 naobc.org/discipleship

Jesus calls his disciples to abide in him, knowing that he is our source of life and growth. Through him, we bear abiding fruit, but apart from him, we can do nothing. Thankfully he tells us how we can abide in him. Devotionables: #415: Abide in Christ John 15:1-7 naobc.org/discipleship

Christmas is not something about which only the gospel authors wrote. The Apostle Paul talks about the incarnation of Jesus, too! It was all according to God's plan and was at the right time. Devotionables: #414: Just in Time! Galatians 4, Philippians 2

We often see Jesus confronting and correcting the expectations of his followers and opponents regarding the Messiah in the gospels. Jesus is so much better than our wildest dreams. He's the Christ we need. He is the one who will set us free from sin. Devotionables: #413: This is the Christ Matthew 1:21, Gen 3:15 Christmas Songs

Mary's "Magnificat" is one of four songs in Luke's infancy narrative. It's a God-exalting, Scripture-saturated prose of the overflow of the mother of Jesus's heart. Recently, Sovereign Grace Music released a modern hymn based on Mary's song, "He Who is Mighty." Matthew Walden uses this new hymn and Luke 1 to direct our attention to Jesus this Christmas. Devotionables: #412: He is Mighty Luke 1 Christmas Songs