Today’s readings reveal profound moments of faith, covenant, and miracles. In Genesis 15-16, we witness God’s covenant with Abram and Hagar’s encounter with the Angel of the Lord. In Matthew 8, Jesus demonstrates His authority through miraculous healings and His command over nature. Let’s explore these powerful passages together.
📖 Today’s Readings:
- Genesis 15-16 – God’s covenant with Abram and Hagar’s encounter with the Lord.
- Matthew 8 – Jesus heals the sick, calms the storm, and casts out demons.
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🙏 Challenge of the Day:
- Reflect on God’s covenant with Abram and how His promises remain true today. Where do you need to trust in God’s timing?
- Consider Jesus’ authority over sickness and nature. How can you strengthen your faith in His power?
- Share today’s readings with someone who may need encouragement in trusting God’s plan.
📌 Tip: Take a few moments today to write down a promise from Scripture that speaks to you. Keep it visible as a daily reminder of God’s faithfulness.
🌍 Genesis 15-16: God’s Covenant and Hagar’s Encounter
In Genesis 15, God makes a covenant with Abram, promising descendants as numerous as the stars. Despite his doubts, Abram’s faith is counted as righteousness. In Genesis 16, we see Sarai and Abram take matters into their own hands, leading to Hagar’s pregnancy and her encounter with the Angel of the Lord.
👉 Reflection: What does Abram’s faith teach us about trusting God’s promises? How does Hagar’s story remind us that God sees and cares for those in distress?
Genesis 15
- After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
- And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
- And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
- And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
- And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
- And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
- And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.
- And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?
- And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.
- And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.
- And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.
- And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.
- And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
- And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
- And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.
- But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.
- And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.
- In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
- The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,
- And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,
- And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.
Genesis 16
- Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
- And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
- And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.
- And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
- And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.
- But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
- And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
- And he said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.
- And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
- And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
- And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
- And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
- And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?
- Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
- And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.
- And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.
✝️ Matthew 8: Jesus’ Miracles and Authority
Matthew 8 showcases Jesus’ power through miracles—healing a leper, calming a storm, and casting out demons. Each act demonstrates His authority over illness, nature, and spiritual forces.
👉 Reflection: How do these miracles strengthen your faith in Jesus’ power? What area of your life needs His healing or intervention today?
Matthew 8
- When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
- And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
- And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
- And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
- And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
- And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
- And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
- The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
- For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
- When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
- And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
- But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
- And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
- And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.
- And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.
- When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:
- That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
- Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.
- And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
- And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
- And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
- But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
- And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
- And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
- And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
- And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
- But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
- And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.
- And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
- And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.
- So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.
- And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.
- And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.
- And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.
🌟 Final Thought
Today’s readings highlight God’s faithfulness in His covenant with Abram and Jesus’ divine authority over all creation. As we reflect on these passages, let’s trust God’s timing, embrace His promises, and turn to Jesus for healing and strength.
👉 Are you ready to live out these teachings? Share your reflections in the comments, invite someone to join the challenge, and let’s continue growing in faith together.
See you tomorrow for another day of reading! May God bless and guide your journey. 🙌✨
