Day 5 - The One Year Adventure with the God of Your Story

Genesis 11:1–13:4; Matthew 5:1-26; Psalm 5:1-12; Proverbs 1:24-28

IN OUR READING from Genesis, humankind planned to build a tower to the heavens as a memorial to themselves. But again, God intervened. We were never intended to be sovereign unto ourselves. Self-sufficiency is contrary to our true nature, which is to be intimately connected with God. So God disrupted the plans at Babel—He confused the language of the people, and humans spread across the earth as a result.

In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus began to teach one of His foundational messages, known as the Sermon on the Mount. This disruptive message describes a world that we long for but have no idea how to achieve—which may be the point. Like the people at the tower of Babel, we cannot achieve the life we long for by our own cunning and ingenuity. We may accomplish marvelous things, but without a total dependence on God, we are completely unable to fill the void within ourselves. Jesus spoke of the countless blessings for those who reach the end of their own strength and ability, only to find God there. We are happiest when we depend on God for everything we are and everything we ever will be.

May we truly depend on God today in every choice we make and word we speak, knowing that we are safe in His care when we live in the light and walk in truth. It’s our choice.

In Proverbs today, we see that this choice has always been before us:

I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention. You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered.

These words resonate because we know we’ve been that person. But this is a new day. May we pay vigilant attention to the voice of Wisdom as we move forward. We’ll be surprised at how often it will snap us awake and clearly speak clarity into immediate situations.

PRAYER:

Let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy.