Tag: Bible

Welcome to the “But first, Bible.” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.

Today’s readings are Genesis 38-40 and Matthew 12:22-50.

I’m getting ready to preach at a youth conference from the book of Jonah, so thought I’d focus in on the paragraph in Matthew 12 where Jesus refers to the sign of Jonah.

Let me read it first,

Matthew 12:38–41

[38] Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” [39] But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. [40] For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. [41] The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. (ESV)

The religious leaders are demanding a sign from Jesus to prove his credentials. But Jesus responds sharply to their request condemning their generation. You want a sign? You’ve already been given signs, including the sign of Jonah.

What’s the sign of Jonah? Jesus says a couple things.

Continue reading “Jan 16 – Genesis 38-40; Matthew 12:22-50 – THE SIGN OF JONAH”

Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.

Today we are hearing God speak to us from Genesis 36-37 and Matthew 12:1-21.

Back in Genesis 25 we were first introduced to Jacob and Esau.

Twins born to Isaac and Rebekah. Esau was the first one out of the womb, and yet he ended up selling all the benefits that come with being the first born to his brother Jacob for a bowl of stew. It was always part of God’s plans that his promises would be fulfilled through Jacob and not Esau.

Genesis 36 lists the descendants of Esau in a fairly non-eventful way. We don’t know too much about most of the names listed in his family. His descendants – the Edomites – will make further appearances through the Old Testament and the Prophets… but for the sake of God fulfilling his promises, we are going to zoom right in on the action with Jacob’s family tree.

By the time we arrive in Genesis 37, Jacob is now getting on in years, and the narrative will slow down on his 12 sons who become the 12 tribes of Israel.

Continue reading “Jan 15 – Genesis 36-37; Matthew 12:1-21 – JOSEPH & HIS BROTHERS”

Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.

Our readings today come from Genesis 33-35 and Matthew 11. If you haven’t had a chance to read/listen to these chapters yet, pause this podcast, read, pray, reflect, and then come back here for some of my reflections.

Okay, welcome back.

Tidying Up with Marie Kondo is a new TV show on Netflix. I haven’t seen it, but most of my friends on facebook seem to have! Marie Kondo is an expert’s at tidying up and clearing our clutter. Many people are successfully following through on their New Years Resolutions to be neat and tidy.

The history we are currently reading in Genesis is far from neat, and certainly not tidy.

Genesis 34 is actually a disturbing chapter to read. It told the story of Jacob and Leah’s daughter: Dinah. Tragically she was kidnapped and raped by Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite. After Dinah was defiled, Hamor then tries to negotiate for Dinah to become Shechem’s wife.

Jacob’s brothers are angry for the way that their sister has been treated. So they deceitfully agreed to this, but only on the condition that all the men of their tribe were circumcised.

Continue reading “Jan 14 – Genesis 33-35; Matthew 11 – GOD BLESSES JACOB”

Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.

Happy Sunday to you all!

I hope you’re able to be part of a church gathering somewhere in the world today. Haven’t been to church for a while? Find a church that teaches the Bible, proclaims the gospel of Jesus’ death & resurrection, and loves people well. If you don’t know of any churches in your area, contact me and I’ll help you to find one.

Today’s readings come from Genesis 31-32 and Matthew 10:24-42.

Continue reading “Jan 13 – Genesis 31-32; Matthew 10:24-42 – WEEKEND EDITION”

Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.

Today’s readings come from Genesis 29-30 and Matthew 10:1-23.

This is my stripped-back weekend edition of the podcast. What’s that you ask? Good question, thanks for asking.

Two things:

• Any reflections I share will be short and to the point.
• I want you to answer four basic questions of the passage.

This stripped-back weekend edition will help me to keep production of the podcast sustainable. But it will also help you in digging into God’s word for yourself.

I want you to ask 4 simple questions of one of the bible passages from today.

Continue reading “Jan 12 – Genesis 29-30; Matthew 10:1-23 – WEEKEND EDITION”

Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.

Our Old Testament reading for today is from Genesis 27-28 and our New Testament reading is from Matthew 9:18-38.

I want to focus particularly on the final paragraph in Matthew 9. Let me read from verse 35,

[35] And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. [36] When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. [37] Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; [38] therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (ESV)

I love that description of Jesus being moved to compassion when he sees the crowds of people in need. The idea behind the word compassion is to be deeply moved in your inner being. Jesus sees beyond just their physical needs and knows their greatest need is to know and be known by the shepherd.

Continue reading “Jan 11 – Genesis 27-28; Matthew 9:18-38 – THE LORD OF THE HARVEST”