Daily Devotion

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The One Drawn from Water

Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and Exodus 2:1-10.

The Book of Exodus is called Shemoth In Hebrew, meaning “The Names,” due to the Twelve Tribes, which link the history of the book of Genesis with the beginning of Exodus. Continuity was broken; there arose a king of Egypt who did not know Joseph.

The mounting slavery of the Hebrews is bitter. God raises up a new leader for new circumstances—Moses. He is saved at birth from an evil king, as was Jesus.

Moses’s name means “The One drawn from water.” He would be the one to lead God’s people through water, prefiguring the One who came from the water of Mary’s womb, the waters of the Jordan, and who let flow the saving water and blood from his open side. Spend time praising God for the wondrous intervention God makes in history.

I welcome your response to these daily Firestarters and Bible readings 
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Exodus 1—2

This is the first of three parts of the Torah Portion Shemoth (Names)
Conservative and Reform Jewish congregations read only this part this year,
as also in this Bible plan.
Here is the entire portion in all three parts.
Exodus 1:1—6:1

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: When I’m down, You lift me up 1:12

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

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Abuse of the Innocent

Massacre of the Innocent by Leon Cogniet

Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and Matthew 2:13-23.

The readings for this week mingle marvelously with each other in Epiphany themes. Today, return to the Magi story, this time linking it with the tragedy in the reaction of Herod. Evil resists God outlandishly, always harming the innocent. Consider the children who are victims of abuse, murder, and genocide.

As we begin reading Exodus as the Sabbath readings about this time, Matthew sees Jesus as a New Moses who will lead us out of the bondage in the “Egypts” of our lives. God’s eternal plan is that we be free from all “Pharaohs” or “Herods” who scramble to protect their power by destroying ours.

Matthew 2

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Opening my gifts for You v. 11

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In the seasons of Advent to Epiphany this year we read Luke 1 2; Matthew 1 7.

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.

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Jolted into Inwardness

Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and Galatians 1:1-11.

Paul in Galatians will help you ponder in your heart as Mary did. The credentials he offers come from the decisive move of God upon his life on the road to Damascus. Paul first goes to the Arabian Desert, then on to a three-year period in Damascus. God gave the Gospel to Paul, unmediated by anyone else. Damascus was the jolt to Paul; later came the deep, inner preparation of the wondrous Apostle to come. Paul too, has his desert, just as John the Baptist, Jesus, and God’s people in the wilderness.

God’s unique intervention in history through Jesus breaks all the assumptions about how we think God is going to act. God wants to do great things in you by grace. Let God shake you. However, you receive your “wakeup call,” get busy with the daily, inner work of responding to God’s Word … for three years, as in this Bible plan, like Paul!

Galatians 1

Find out all about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: God be glorified in me. v. 24

Thursdays are dedicated to the letters of Paul, other letters,
the Book of Acts, and the Book of Revelation.
In the seasons of Advent to Epiphany this year we read Titus, Philemon, Galatians and Philippians.

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