Bible Study

Today we read Genesis 15. God credits righteousness to Abram simply on the basis of His covenant promise and faith. (Genesis 15:6 is an extremely important Bible verse because it teaches that Abram was saved by *faith* in God’s promise, not by *doing* things to please God). To the promise, God adds the visible sign of the slaughtered animals, the fire pot, and the torch by which God shows Abram that He is committed. Today, rest in God’s promises given to you in Jesus and delivered to you in His Word and Sacraments. They are enough, because Jesus was enough. • Dear Father, rescue us from our enemies by Your promise made sure in Your Son, who delivers our inheritance to us in the New Testament of His blood. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Various Authors. The Lutheran Study Bible (p. 660). (Function). Kindle Edition.

Today we read Genesis 14. The Lord fulfills His promise to bless Abram, doing so through the ministry of Melchizedek, the priest of God Most High, who presents him with a feast. The Lord’s blessings come through His gifts, His means, His ministers. The Lord confirmed this ultimately by sending His Son, who gave the eternal sacrifice, once for all, of His body and His blood on the cross. He continues to bless us, even setting a feast before us as He gives His body and His blood in bread and wine. • Lord, bless us daily to live in Your pleasure, which is ours for the sake of Jesus, our great High Priest. Amen.

Various Authors. The Lutheran Study Bible (pp. 656-657). (Function). Kindle Edition.

Today we read Genesis 13. Conflict arises between Abram’s and Lot’s herdsmen. Abram—for the sake of peace within the clan—decides they need to part and relinquishes to Lot the right of first choice. What an example Abram sets for true, godly living, an example Christ Himself shows. Though Christ was God, He counted humanity better than Himself, taking the form of a servant that we might be treated like kings and queens! By His self-sacrificing, humble service in our place, we are reconciled with God. • Lord God, teach us, by Abram’s example, how to love as we have been loved and how to serve as we have been served. Amen.

Various Authors. The Lutheran Study Bible (p. 653). (Function). Kindle Edition.

Today we read Genesis 12. Although God promises Abram that he will possess the land that God will give him, Abram still finds no secure place in which to dwell. At times, we also find ourselves in circumstances that show the opposite of what God says. In Abram’s case, he went forth—even out of the land of promise—trusting that God would fulfill His Word. God returned Abram and Sarai, in time, to Canaan, and there kept all that He had promised to them. In the fullness of time, He even brought forth the Son by whom all nations would be blessed. Though the hour of Jesus’ agony and death was dark, God was keeping His promise. • Lord God, when all we see appears to contradict what You have promised, teach us to rely on Your unfailing Word. Defend us in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

Various Authors. The Lutheran Study Bible (p. 651). (Function). Kindle Edition.