This week, we will be focusing on Genesis 5:1-32, Death According to God.
Genesis 5 isn't the most encouraging chapter, at least on the surface. The refrain that is repeated over and over in this chapter is "and he died...and he died...and he died...and he died..."
One Bible teacher compared reading Genesis 5 to walking through a cemetery.
But even in the so-called "death chapter" there is hope.
And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. (5:24)
Walking with God.
Step by step.
Being faithful each day.
That is what God calls us to. Not the "big things." Not the social media "like" posts. Not the Billy Graham-type evangelistic crusades. Not the incredible "miracles," amazing "prophetic words," or "change the world" mission testimonies.
God can certainly do big things through us for His glory.
But what He asks us to do is to walk with Him.
To know Him...to love Him...to commune with Him...to talk with Him...to learn from Him...to journey through life with Him always at our side.
Even in the craziest, busiest, most stressful times of life...and even in a world that is filled with sin, division, and death...God just asks us to walk with Him and to trust Him.
Enoch walked with God.
That is his testimony. Nothing else is mentioned. No miracles. No great acts. No big victories. No incredible feats of faith.
Just a simple, faithful, daily, consistent, loving walk with the Lord.
A walk so close to God that eventually Enoch walked straight into the Lord's presence. The transition was instant...and apparently as natural as any other day in Enoch's life.
Enoch died to himself, walked with the Lord, and found life in a world of death.
May the Lord capture our hearts with His grace and His love and may each day be filled with joyful communion with Him!

This week, we will be focusing on Genesis 4:1-26, Anger According to God.
We all get angry. It's a common emotion.
We get angry at traffic...at politics...at our sports team...at people.
Oftentimes our anger feels justified...even comforting. We hold onto it. We nurse it. We let it simmer and grow. We justify it. And then we act on it in ways that we may have never expected.
Anger in itself is not a sin. In a sin-cursed world, it would be odd if we never felt anger at the unjust and unfair things that happen to us or to others. But there is a serious danger to anger, especially when we let it reside in our hearts over time...and when we never stop to think about what's driving our anger nor allow the Lord to search our hearts and expose the fear, envy, selfishness, and pride that often lie at the root of our bitterness.
The story of Cain and Abel is well-known.
But there is much truth in this story that needs to be explored and applied to our daily lives.
Sin is crouching at the door of our hearts, eager to attack, waiting to consume us.
When we ignore God's Word and choose to act on our own impulses, we experience the consequences...and others suffer the collateral damage.
May the Lord deliver us from our own sinful desires, strengthen us inwardly, and call us to a deeper love and trust in His goodness and grace!

This week, we will be focusing on Genesis 3:14-15, The Real Battle According to God.
We are going to spend an extra week in Genesis 3. The topic is too important, especially with the election coming up on Tuesday.
Our nation seems to be in the balance. Emotions are high. Anxiety is even higher. Based on surveys, this is one of the most frustrating, divisive, expensive, and nerve-racking elections in recent history.
24/7 news...social media...YouTube videos...only amplify the anger and the angst.
So how do we live in this present generation? How do we think? How do we respond?
Genesis 3:15 is one of the most important verses in all of Scripture.
It is the first prophecy, the first promise, the "first gospel."
And it reminds us that we are part of a bigger story.
There is bigger conflict going on in the world.
The seed of the woman and the serpent.
And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.
All of history...all of Scripture...is the playing out of this one cosmic conflict.
Earth is the stage. And we are in the middle of it.
As believers, the seed of the Messiah, citizens of His kingdom, we are to think differently, see differently, live differently.
Our weapon is truth. Our motivation is love. Our hope is Christ.
There is no reason to fear. There is every reason to rest in God's sovereignty and to rejoice in His final victory. This is what it means to live by faith and not by sight.
May God open our eyes to His truth and empower us through His Spirit so that we can live faithfully for Him in this present generation!This week, we will be focusing on Genesis 3:14-15, The Real Battle According to God.
We are going to spend an extra week in Genesis 3. The topic is too important, especially with the election coming up on Tuesday.
Our nation seems to be in the balance. Emotions are high. Anxiety is even higher. Based on surveys, this is one of the most frustrating, divisive, expensive, and nerve-racking elections in recent history.
24/7 news...social media...YouTube videos...only amplify the anger and the angst.
So how do we live in this present generation? How do we think? How do we respond?
Genesis 3:15 is one of the most important verses in all of Scripture.
It is the first prophecy, the first promise, the "first gospel."
And it reminds us that we are part of a bigger story.
There is bigger conflict going on in the world.
The seed of the woman and the serpent.
And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.
All of history...all of Scripture...is the playing out of this one cosmic conflict.
Earth is the stage. And we are in the middle of it.
As believers, the seed of the Messiah, citizens of His kingdom, we are to think differently, see differently, live differently.
Our weapon is truth. Our motivation is love. Our hope is Christ.
There is no reason to fear. There is every reason to rest in God's sovereignty and to rejoice in His final victory. This is what it means to live by faith and not by sight.
May God open our eyes to His truth and empower us through His Spirit so that we can live faithfully for Him in this present generation!