[From the original version]

Through all the intrigue and dishonesty in this part of the Bible, the Lord is dealing with you and me. Jacob and Rachel secretly escape from Laban, Rachel’s father. She has secretly stowed away the small figurines, which are the household gods of her family’s religion. The couple set out with their entourage and cross the Euphrates River.

As Laban pursues Jacob, Laban is warned by God not to threaten Jacob. Within each of us, the Holy Spirit warns us not only to avoid thinking harm of anyone, but also to pray for those who have wronged us. We need to be guided by the awesome power of God.

Today’s verse, the covenant between Jacob and Laban, is worthy to be engraved in wood and in your heart.

Genesis 31:17—32:3

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The Saturday passages follow the reading list that Jewish people use in their synagogue worship
throughout the world. They are taken from
“The Torah,” the first five books of the Bible from Genesis to Deuteronomy
that are read each year beginning with autumn.

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information

[From the original version]

The silence between Pilate and Jesus is awesome. Jesus refuses to defend himself or negotiate his outcome with this spineless man. Pilate is nothing but a puppet administrator, a lackey for the Roman emperor in this distant province.

Jesus’s hour has come—humiliating, painful, and overwhelmingly sad. Yet his hour moves closer to death and resurrection; Jesus surrenders himself for your salvation.

When you experience injustice, mockery, and suffering, may you discover a unique joy in Jesus and love for him, for being found more like him; so was Jesus treated out of love for you. When you come away from suffering with more union with your Lord, how can you lose?

Mark 15:1–20

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Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels. This year, we generally read
from the Gospel of Mark, this season, chapters 10 to 16.

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.

 “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes
and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 7:14

[From the version for families with children]

Let your imagination go and slowly look at the wonderful picture that the sacred writer is painting for you. Notice how symmetrical are the images; they are mirrored in units of four, like a kaleidoscope—one of those tubes you look through that has mirrors reflecting the colored stones in all kinds of star-like shapes.

Imagine: clothing becoming white when it is drenched in blood!  What’s amazing is that blood-stains are very hard to get out of clothing. In this case, the blood of Jesus poured out upon us inside and out makes us white.  Jesus’s blood flowed so that we could become pure white; how’s that for a miracle!    Verses 10 and 12 contain refrains that must have been really sung in the first years of the church, right after Jesus’s death and Resurrection.  Sing them to yourself—even out loud!  You are singing verses that have been sung down through the ages—right up to do today, if you’re singing them!  

[Final paragraph from the original version]

The chapter begins with an awesome stillness as the winds of strife and evil are held in check. The tribulation for God’s servants comes only after they have been sealed. Nothing can harm them; nothing can harm you, if you are sealed by the blood of the Lamb.

Revelation 7

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Thursdays are dedicated to the letters of Paul, other letters,
the Book of Acts, and the Book of Revelation.
In season of Kingdomtide this year,
we read 1 and 2 Thessalonians; Revelation 4—11.

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.