The Books · January

January

Welcome — In the Beginning

Days 1–31 of the 365-day journey · It All Points to Jesus — A 365-Day Bible Companion

IT ALL POINTS TO JESUS

THE DANCE OF THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT

Before there was a world, there was a rhythm of love. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit moving together in perfect joy, each delighting in the others. When the Bible opens, the Spirit of God is hovering over the waters. God says, “Let us make man in our image.” And John tells us the Word was there from the beginning, that all things were made through him, and the Word became flesh. That is the dance underneath everything you are about to read. Day by day, through the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Psalms, and the Proverbs, you will see the Father speaking and sending, the Son revealing and redeeming, and the Spirit opening eyes and hearts. We encourage you to read the Scripture first. Then let this companion help you hear the music. You are not reading alone. The moment you open the Word, you step into a rhythm that began before time itself, and you are invited to join the dance. Scripture calls Him the head of the church, the head of the body (Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18), and in Him all things hold together (Colossians 1:17). Jesus is that spine. We must never forget it.

“Holy Spirit, open our hearts to see Christ in all of Scripture.”

Welcome

Welcome to It ALL Points to Jesus for January. Read the assigned Scripture first. Then use the companion to summarize the day’s readings, trace how the passages fit together, see how they lead to Jesus, and respond in prayer and conversation. Each day includes one Old Testament reading, one New Testament reading, one Psalm, and one Proverbs reading.

How To Use This Booklet

Read the biblical text first. Read the four summaries slowly. Use “ “Discover Jesus Today” ” to connect the day to Christ. Discuss the fellowship questions with family, friends, or a small group. Pray briefly and practice the day’s “ “Live Today” ” response.

January 1 — Day 1

Read First: Genesis 1:1-2:25 • Matthew 1:1-2:12 • Psalm 1:1-1:6 • Proverbs 1:1-1:6

Old Testament Summary

God speaks the world into being, and puts order into chaos, fills creation with life, and forms humanity in his image to know him, rule under him, and flourish in Eden. Creation begins not with chance but with the sovereign goodness of God.

New Testament Summary

Matthew opens with Jesus’ genealogy, showing him as the promised Son of David and Son of Abraham. His birth fulfills prophecy, draws humble worshipers from afar, and reveals the King whom even powerful rulers fear.

Psalm Summary

Psalm 1 contrasts the rooted, fruitful life of the righteous with the unstable way of the wicked. Blessing belongs to the one who delights in God’s instruction.

Proverbs Summary

Proverbs introduces the book’s purpose: wisdom, discipline, insight, and skill for godly living. Wisdom begins as a gift to be received with a teachable heart.

Discover Jesus Today

Jesus is present both at creation and at the new creation. The Word through whom all things were made enters history as the promised Messiah to restore what sin will later ruin.

Heart Reflection

The Bible’s story begins with God, not with us. When life feels fragmented, today’s readings call us back to the God who creates with purpose and leads history toward Christ.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

Father, thank you for creating me with purpose and for sending Jesus, the promised King. Root me in your Word and make my life fruitful.

Live Today

Begin this journey by setting aside a consistent place and time to meet with God every day this month.

January 2 — Day 2

Read First: Genesis 3:1-4:26 • Matthew 2:13-3:6 • Psalm 2:1-2:12 • Proverbs 1:7-1:9

Old Testament Summary

The serpent tempts Eve, Adam joins in rebellion, and sin fractures humanity’s fellowship with God, one another, and creation. Cain then murders Abel, and violence spreads, yet God still marks out a line of worshipers who call on his name.

New Testament Summary

Joseph protects Jesus by fleeing to Egypt, and God brings his Son back in fulfillment of Scripture. John the Baptist then appears in the wilderness, preparing hearts for the coming kingdom through repentance.

Psalm Summary

Psalm 2 declares that earthly rebellion cannot overturn God’s rule. He has installed his King, and wisdom is found in taking refuge in him.

Proverbs Summary

Proverbs teaches that the fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge. Reverence, not self-confidence, is the beginning of wisdom.

Discover Jesus Today

Where Adam failed in a garden and Cain deepened humanity’s ruin, Jesus comes as the true Son who will defeat the serpent and gather the nations under God’s reign.

Heart Reflection

Sin falsely promises freedom but yields shame, blame, exile, and death. Yet even in judgment God preserves hope, and that hope reaches its fulfillment in Christ.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

Lord, expose every place where I hide, excuse, or resist you. Lead me into honest repentance and joyful refuge in your Son.

Live Today

Confess one specific sin to God today without blaming anyone else, and ask for grace to walk in a new direction.

January 3 — Day 3

Read First: Genesis 5:1-7:24 • Matthew 3:7-4:11 • Psalm 3:1-8 • Proverbs 1:10-19

Old Testament Summary

Genesis traces the spread of corruption from Adam to Noah until the earth is filled with violence. God judges the world by the flood, preserves Noah in the ark, and shows both his holiness against sin and his mercy toward those he saves.

New Testament Summary

John warns the religious proud to bear fruit in keeping with repentance, and Jesus triumphs over Satan’s temptations in the wilderness. The obedient Son stands where Israel and Adam failed.

Psalm Summary

David cries to the Lord from distress and finds rest because God sustains him. Trust allows him to sleep even while enemies surround him.

Proverbs Summary

Wisdom warns against joining sinners in greedy schemes. A quick profit can become a trap that takes life rather than gives it.

Discover Jesus Today

Jesus is the faithful Son who overcomes the tempter and becomes the ark of safety for sinners under judgment. In him, God provides rescue through obedience, grace, and mercy.

Heart Reflection

God is patient, but he is never indifferent to evil. Today’s readings invite you to turn from compromise and to trust the One who conquered temptation on your behalf.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

Holy Father, keep me from the path of sin and anchor me in Jesus, the faithful Son. Teach me to trust you in every trial.

Live Today

Identify one recurring temptation and prepare a Scripture-based response before it comes again.

January 4 — Day 4

Read First: Genesis 8:1-10:32 • Matthew 4:12-25 • Psalm 4:1-8 • Proverbs 1:20-23

Old Testament Summary

God remembers Noah, dries the earth, and renews his blessing after the flood. Yet even after judgment, sin survives in Noah’s family, and the nations spread across the earth, setting the stage for God’s redemptive plan.

New Testament Summary

Jesus begins his public ministry, calls disciples, announces the kingdom, and heals the sick. Light dawns in Galilee as Isaiah’s promise comes alive in him.

Psalm Summary

Psalm 4 moves from anguish to peace. God hears the righteous when they call and gives deeper joy than earthly abundance can offer.

Proverbs Summary

Wisdom stands in public and calls simple people to turn. God’s truth is not hidden from the world; the question is whether we will listen.

Discover Jesus Today

Jesus is the great light who steps into a darkened world and calls ordinary people to follow him. He is not merely a teacher of truth but the very light of life.

Heart Reflection

After the flood, the world still needs more than a fresh start; it needs a Savior. Jesus enters that broken world and brings the kingdom near.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

Lord Jesus, shine your light into every dark place in me. Give me a ready heart to follow where you lead.

Live Today

Respond quickly to one clear prompting from God today instead of delaying obedience.

January 5 — Day 5

Read First: Genesis 11:1-13:4 • Matthew 5:1-26 • Psalm 5:1-12 • Proverbs 1:24-28

Old Testament Summary

Humanity gathers at Babel to make a name for itself, but God scatters proud ambition. He then calls Abram out of idolatry, promising land, blessing, and a worldwide mission through his offspring.

New Testament Summary

Jesus opens the Sermon on the Mount with kingdom blessings, calling his people to be salt and light and to practice a righteousness deeper than outward religion. God values relationships over religious rituals.

Psalm Summary

David brings his desires, fears, and expectation before God each morning. The Lord is holy, welcomes the upright, and shields his people with favor.

Proverbs Summary

Wisdom warns that those who reject her call will eventually face the consequences of their refusal. Delay in listening to God is never neutral.

Discover Jesus Today

Jesus is the true seed of Abraham through whom all nations are blessed. He also embodies the righteousness he commands and forms a people who display God’s kingdom in the world.

Heart Reflection

The contrast is sharp: Babel seeks a name by pride; Abram receives a name by grace. God’s kingdom is built not by self-exaltation but by surrendered obedience.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

God of grace, call me away from self-made towers and into obedient faith. Make me a witness to the blessing found in Christ.

Live Today

Take one step toward reconciliation today - send a message, make a call, or begin a humble conversation.

January 6 — Day 6

Read First: Genesis 13:5-15:21 • Matthew 5:27-48 • Psalm 6:1-10 • Proverbs 1:29-33

Old Testament Summary

Abram and Lot separate, Abram rescues Lot, and God seals his covenant with a solemn promise. The Lord alone passes between the pieces, showing that the covenant’s fulfillment rests finally on God’s faithfulness.

New Testament Summary

Jesus presses beyond external rule-keeping to the heart, addressing lust, marriage, truthfulness, revenge, and love for enemies. Kingdom righteousness reflects the Father’s perfect love.

Psalm Summary

Psalm 6 is a cry of weakness, suffering, and tears. David pleads for mercy and finds confidence that the Lord has heard his prayer.

Proverbs Summary

Those who reject wisdom ultimately eat the fruit of their own way, but those who listen dwell secure. Fools often build the very misery they later lament.

Discover Jesus Today

Jesus fulfills the covenant promise to Abram and shows what God’s holy love looks like in human flesh. In him, grace and truth meet without compromise.

Heart Reflection

God’s promises are steady even when our hearts are not. Because he is faithful, he can call us into deeper holiness than rule-keeping ever reaches.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

Faithful Lord, thank you that your promises do not depend on my strength. Purify my heart and teach me to love like Jesus.

Live Today

Invite God to search your motives today, not just your actions, and repent where the heart is divided.

January 7 — Day 7

Read First: Genesis 16:1-18:15 • Matthew 6:1-24 • Psalm 7:1-17 • Proverbs 2:1-5

Old Testament Summary

Sarai’s impatience produces conflict through Hagar, but God still sees the afflicted and keeps his covenant with Abram. Later he renews his promise and announces that Sarah will bear the son of promise despite her barrenness and age.

New Testament Summary

Jesus warns against using worship, generosity, prayer, and fasting to impress people. He teaches his disciples to seek the Father, treasure heaven, and serve God rather than money.

Psalm Summary

David asks God to judge him according to truth and to rescue him from violent enemies. God is both righteous judge and shield for the upright.

Proverbs Summary

Proverbs urges the pursuit of wisdom like hidden treasure. The one who seeks with humility finds the knowledge of God.

Discover Jesus Today

The Father we are taught to pray to, and Jesus teaches us how to pray to the Father through his prayer shared with his disciples. He is the promised Son through whom God’s covenant with Abraham reaches fulfillment. In Christ, what seems impossible becomes certain by grace.

Heart Reflection

God sees the wounded, hears the unheard, and remains faithful when people fail one another. Real devotion begins in secret before the Father who knows and cares.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

Father, teach me to live before your eyes rather than before the applause of others. Help me seek your kingdom first.

Live Today

Pray the Lord’s Prayer slowly today and pause at each line to make it personal.

Week 1 Review

The Big Story

Creation, fall, flood, Babel, and Abram’s call establish the Bible’s opening movement: the world is good, humanity rebels, judgment falls, and grace begins a redemptive line.

How the Old and New Testaments Connect

Genesis shows the need for rescue; Matthew answers by presenting Jesus as the promised King and righteous Son. The God who made the world is already moving to redeem it through Christ.

How Christ Is Revealed

Jesus appears as the Creator’s eternal Word, Abraham’s promised offspring, the true Son who resists temptation, and the teacher of kingdom righteousness.

Psalm and Proverbs Themes

Psalms 1-7 move from delight in God’s law to cries for refuge, while Proverbs 1-2 lays the foundation that wisdom begins with fearing the Lord and listening to his instruction.

Memory Verse Focus

Memory verse: Genesis 12:2-3. God’s promise to bless all nations through Abram becomes a key lens for the whole Bible.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

Lord, thank you that where sin increased, your saving purpose did not stop. Root us in your Word and anchor us in Christ.

Looking Ahead

Next week the story moves deeper into Abraham’s family, and Jesus continues to teach kingdom life with searching clarity.

January 8 — Day 8

Read First: Genesis 18:16-19:38 • Matthew 6:25-7:14 • Psalm 8:1-9 • Proverbs 2:6-15

Old Testament Summary

Abraham intercedes for Sodom, but the city’s wickedness ripens into judgment. Lot is rescued by mercy, yet compromise leaves deep scars, and the chapter ends with the sobering fruit of a life lived too close to corruption.

New Testament Summary

Jesus calls us from anxiety to trust, calling his disciples to seek first God’s kingdom, judge themselves before judging others, ask boldly, and enter by the narrow gate. The life of faith is both rested and rigorous.

Psalm Summary

Psalm 8 marvels that the majestic Creator is mindful of frail humanity and has crowned people with honor. Human dignity is grounded in God’s attentive care.

Proverbs Summary

Wisdom, knowledge, and discernment are God’s gifts that protect us from crooked paths. True understanding guards both belief and behavior.

Discover Jesus Today

Jesus is the greater righteous One who not only intercedes, as Abraham did, but actually saves his people from judgment. He also restores the true dignity of humanity celebrated in Psalm 8.

Heart Reflection

Today holds together tenderness and warning: God invites trust, prayer, and humble dependence, yet he also exposes the danger of drifting near sin. Mercy should not make us casual about holiness.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

Merciful God, keep me from growing comfortable with what grieves you. Teach me to trust you, seek you first, and walk the narrow way with joy.

Live Today

Act on one anxiety by turning it into a specific prayer and an act of trust rather than a cycle of worry.

January 9 — Day 9

Read First: Genesis 20:1-22:24 • Matthew 7:15-29 • Psalm 9:1-12 • Proverbs 2:16-22

Old Testament Summary

God protects Sarah from Abimelech, gives Abraham and Sarah Isaac in fulfillment of promise, and then tests Abraham by commanding him to sacrifice the son he loves. At the crucial moment God provides a substitute, revealing both Abraham’s faith and God’s provision.

New Testament Summary

Jesus warns that false prophets are known by their fruit and that lives built on his words will stand. The Sermon on the Mount ends with authority that astonishes the crowds.

Psalm Summary

David praises God for justice, protection, and remembrance of the oppressed. The Lord is a refuge for those who know his name.

Proverbs Summary

Wisdom delivers from seductive paths that lead away from covenant faithfulness and into ruin. God’s way preserves both purity and peace.

Discover Jesus Today

On Mount Moriah God spares Abraham’s son and provides another sacrifice, pointing ahead to the Father who will not spare his own Son. Jesus is the true Lamb God provides.

Heart Reflection

Faith is proven not only in what we sing but in what we surrender. God’s tests are never cruel; they uncover whether we trust his character above his gifts.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

Provider God, teach me to trust you more than the blessings you place in my hands. Build my life on the rock of Christ’s words.

Live Today

Name one gift from God that you are clinging to too tightly, and release it back to him in prayer.

January 10 — Day 10

Read First: Genesis 23:1-24:51 • Matthew 8:1-17 • Psalm 9:13-20 • Proverbs 3:1-6

Old Testament Summary

Sarah dies, Abraham secures a burial place in the land of promise, and his servant is led to Rebekah for Isaac. God’s covenant advances not by accident but by providence that guides ordinary decisions and long journeys.

New Testament Summary

Jesus touches and heals a leper, heals a centurion’s servant, restores Peter’s mother-in-law, and bears the needs of the crowds. His authority reaches across sickness, distance, and social boundaries.

Psalm Summary

David moves from lament to confidence that God sees and will judge the proud. The needy are not forgotten forever.

Proverbs Summary

Trusting the Lord with all your heart begins with refusing self-reliance and acknowledging him in every path. Wisdom and guidance are inseparable from surrender.

Discover Jesus Today

Jesus is the compassionate Lord who touches the unclean and welcomes outsider faith. He is also the promised Bridegroom toward whom God’s faithful leading in Isaac’s marriage quietly points.

Heart Reflection

Providence is often quiet, but it is never absent. God directs lives, families, and futures while Jesus reveals the tender authority of the kingdom.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

Guiding Lord, direct my steps and deepen my trust. Thank you that Jesus is strong enough to heal and gentle enough to touch.

Live Today

Before making an important decision today, stop and consciously acknowledge the Lord in prayer.

January 11 — Day 11

Read First: Genesis 24:52-26:16 • Matthew 8:18-34 • Psalm 10:1-15 • Proverbs 3:7-8

Old Testament Summary

Rebekah enters Isaac’s life, Abraham dies, and the narrative turns toward Isaac amid conflict over wells and territory. God’s promise continues through ordinary family transitions and tensions.

New Testament Summary

Jesus calls disciples to costly allegiance, stills a storm, and delivers two demon-oppressed men. His authority extends over nature, darkness, and every claim that competes with his lordship.

Psalm Summary

Psalm 10 asks why God seems distant while the wicked prey on the vulnerable. Even in unresolved pain, the psalm keeps moving toward trust that God sees.

Proverbs Summary

Fearing the Lord and turning from evil bring life and healing. Wisdom is never detached from reverence and repentance.

Discover Jesus Today

Jesus is Lord over wind, waves, and demons, proving that no chaos is beyond his command. The One who sleeps in the boat is also the sovereign ruler over the storm.

Heart Reflection

Following Jesus is not convenient discipleship; it is surrendered discipleship. Yet the One who calls you is fully able to carry you through every storm and spiritual battle.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

Mighty Savior, rule over every fear in me and teach me to follow you without reservation. Help me trust that nothing is outside your authority.

Live Today

Bring one persistent fear to Jesus by naming it honestly and entrusting it to his rule.

January 12 — Day 12

Read First: Genesis 26:17-27:46 • Matthew 9:1-17 • Psalm 10:16-18 • Proverbs 3:9-10

Old Testament Summary

Isaac prospers, conflict intensifies, and Rebekah and Jacob secure the blessing through deceit. The chapter exposes a fractured family in which favoritism, appetite, fear, and manipulation all do damage.

New Testament Summary

Jesus forgives and heals a paralyzed man, calls Matthew, and explains that he came not for the righteous in their own eyes but for sinners. The kingdom brings mercy, restoration, and newness that old forms alone cannot contain.

Psalm Summary

Though the wicked seem to prevail for a time, Psalm 10 ends by confessing that the Lord is King forever and hears the cry of the helpless. God’s justice may be delayed, but it is not absent.

Proverbs Summary

Honor the Lord with your wealth and firstfruits. Worship is expressed not only in words but in stewardship.

Discover Jesus Today

Jesus has authority to forgive sins, not merely relieve symptoms. He is the physician our sinful, disordered families and hearts most deeply need.

Heart Reflection

Today’s readings dismantle the illusion that external respectability equals spiritual health. Jesus comes for the needy, and grace begins where pretense ends.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

Merciful Christ, forgive my sin, heal what is disordered in me, and make my life an offering that honors you.

Live Today

Give something first to the Lord today - your time, your money, or your attention - before spending it elsewhere.

January 13 — Day 13

Read First: Genesis 28:1-29:35 • Matthew 9:18-38 • Psalm 11:1-7 • Proverbs 3:11-12

Old Testament Summary

Jacob flees, encounters God at Bethel, and receives covenant promises he did not earn. In Haran, his love for Rachel begins amid the tangled beginnings of a family through whom God will build Israel.

New Testament Summary

Jesus raises a girl, heals a woman, opens blind eyes, and sends his disciples to pray for laborers because the harvest is plentiful. Compassion and mission flow together in the heart of Christ.

Psalm Summary

The righteous find refuge in the Lord even when foundations seem shaken. God remains on his throne when earthly stability collapses.

Proverbs Summary

The Lord’s discipline is a sign of his love, not his rejection. Correction is one of the Father’s gifts to those he claims as his own.

Discover Jesus Today

Jesus is the ladder between heaven and earth in whom God comes near to undeserving people. He is also the compassionate Shepherd who sees crowds as helpless sheep and acts to save.

Heart Reflection

God often meets us when we are tired, displaced, and exposed. Grace finds Jacob on the run and the crowds in their helplessness - where divine mercy moves toward need.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

God of Bethel, meet me in my weakness and remind me of your faithful presence. Send me into your harvest with compassion like Christ’s.

Live Today

Pray for one worker in the harvest and ask God whether you need to be that worker for someone near you.

January 14 — Day 14

Read First: Genesis 30:1-31:16 • Matthew 10:1-23 • Psalm 12:1-8 • Proverbs 3:13-15

Old Testament Summary

Jacob’s household grows through rivalry, longing, and labor, while God blesses him even under Laban’s manipulation. The chapter shows God’s steady faithfulness in the middle of messy family systems and difficult work.

New Testament Summary

Jesus commissions the Twelve and sends them first to the lost sheep of Israel with the message of the kingdom. Their mission requires dependence, courage, and readiness for opposition.

Psalm Summary

Psalm 12 laments a world where truthful speech disappears, yet God’s words remain pure and trustworthy. Human talk may fail, but the Lord’s speech does not.

Proverbs Summary

Wisdom is more valuable than silver or gold. Better than quick gain is the slow treasure of understanding.

Discover Jesus Today

Jesus is the good Shepherd who sends under-shepherds to gather the lost. His mission continues through ordinary disciples empowered by his authority.

Heart Reflection

God works through imperfect homes and hostile environments, and he sends imperfect people to bear a perfect message. The success of the mission rests finally in the Lord who speaks truth and gives authority.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

Lord of the harvest, make me faithful in both my home and my witness. Teach me to treasure your pure words above every lesser gain.

Live Today

Speak one plain, truthful, grace-filled word today where exaggeration or flattery would be easier.

Week 2 Review

The Big Story

God continues his covenant through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob despite fear, conflict, barrenness, deceit, and family tension. Grace remains stronger than human weakness.

How the Old and New Testaments Connect

As Genesis reveals God’s faithfulness in messy family history, Matthew’s Jesus teaches the heart of kingdom life and demonstrates authority over disease, demons, nature, and death.

How Christ Is Revealed

Jesus is the promised Son, the compassionate healer, the true ladder between heaven and earth, and the Shepherd who sees helpless crowds.

Psalm and Proverbs Themes

Psalms 8-12 celebrate God’s majesty, expose human pride, and cry for justice. Proverbs 2-3 keeps pressing the value of wisdom, trust, generosity, discipline, and guarding the heart.

Memory Verse Focus

Memory verse: Proverbs 3:5-6. Trustful dependence is the proper posture for a life under God’s covenant care.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

Faithful God, thank you for staying true in the middle of our weakness. Teach us to trust you with our homes, decisions, and fears.

Looking Ahead

Week three moves into Jacob’s return, renewed worship, Joseph’s suffering, and Jesus’ kingdom parables and invitations to rest.

January 15 — Day 15

Read First: Genesis 31:17-32:12 • Matthew 10:24-11:6 • Psalm 13:1-6 • Proverbs 3:16-18

Old Testament Summary

Jacob secretly leaves Laban, faces pursuit, and then prepares to meet Esau with fear and prayer. He cannot manage the future by skill alone; he must ask God to deliver him according to covenant mercy.

New Testament Summary

Jesus warns disciples not to fear people more than God, promises rest to the weary, and answers John the Baptist’s questions by revealing the kingdom of God. Opposition is real, but so is Christ’s welcome.

Psalm Summary

Psalm 13 gives voice to the ache of waiting: “How long?” Yet lament ends in trust, because God’s steadfast love is stronger than present silence.

Proverbs Summary

Wisdom brings long life, honor, peace, and delight. Its treasure is not shallow success but a rich, God-shaped life.

Discover Jesus Today

Jesus is the greater Jacob who meets our fear with peace and the greater answer to every “How long?” In him, the weary truly find rest.

Heart Reflection

Faith does not deny fear; it carries fear into prayer. When the future feels threatening, God invites honest dependence rather than frantic control.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

Compassionate Savior, I bring you my fears and unanswered questions. Teach me to rest in your love and trust your deliverance.

Live Today

When anxiety rises today, pause and pray before planning your next response.

January 16 — Day 16

Read First: Genesis 32:13-34:31 • Matthew 11:7-30 • Psalm 14:1-7 • Proverbs 3:19-20

Old Testament Summary

Jacob wrestles through the night, receives a new name, and then meets Esau in surprising peace. Yet the chapters also include Dinah’s violation and the violent revenge of Simeon and Levi, reminding us that human brokenness lingers even after grace encounters us.

New Testament Summary

Jesus honors John, rebukes unresponsive cities, and invites the weary to take his yoke. His kingdom is revealed not to the self-satisfied but to the humble.

Psalm Summary

Psalm 14 exposes universal human corruption: no one naturally seeks God as they should. The world’s deepest problem is not merely social but spiritual.

Proverbs Summary

The Lord founded the earth by wisdom. The same wisdom that shaped creation is available for godly living.

Discover Jesus Today

Jesus gives a new identity, as God did for Jacob, but in a deeper and lasting way. He also answers Psalm 14’s diagnosis by becoming the righteous one who rescues fools and makes them new.

Heart Reflection

Transformation is real, but it is often partial and unfolding. God changes names and futures, yet he continues to sanctify people who still live in a wounded world.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

God of grace, meet me in my struggle and shape me through it. Give me the humility to receive the rest and instruction of Jesus.

Live Today

Ask God to reveal one place where you still resist surrender, then entrust it to him.

January 17 — Day 17

Read First: Genesis 35:1-36:43 • Matthew 12:1-21 • Psalm 15:1-5 • Proverbs 3:21-26

Old Testament Summary

God calls Jacob back to Bethel, where idols are buried and worship is renewed. Esau’s line is also recorded, showing that God continues to govern many nations while preserving the covenant line through Jacob.

New Testament Summary

Jesus declares himself Lord of the Sabbath, restores a man’s withered hand, and fulfills Isaiah’s picture of the gentle Servant. He does not crush the weak; he brings justice with tenderness.

Psalm Summary

Psalm 15 describes the kind of life that fits the presence of God: integrity, truth, faithfulness, and reverence. Holiness is profoundly practical.

Proverbs Summary

Guard sound judgment and discretion, and they will preserve your way. Wisdom is a daily protection, not only a lofty ideal.

Discover Jesus Today

Jesus is the true Lord of the Sabbath and the gentle Servant who restores what is withered. In him, God’s holy presence comes near without destroying the weak.

Heart Reflection

Revival often begins with burial - putting away idols and returning to worship. Christ then meets us not with harshness but with restoring authority.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

Holy Lord, lead me back to wholehearted worship. Remove every idol and restore what has withered in my life.

Live Today

Put away one practical idol today - an unhealthy habit, a divided loyalty, or a sinful comfort.

January 18 — Day 18

Read First: Genesis 37:1-38:30 • Matthew 12:22-45 • Psalm 16:1-11 • Proverbs 3:27-32

Old Testament Summary

Joseph’s favored status breeds jealousy, and his brothers sell him into slavery while Judah descends into sexual compromise. God’s covenant family is clearly flawed, yet God’s purposes continue through and beyond their sin.

New Testament Summary

Jesus casts out demons, exposes the danger of hardened unbelief, and teaches that true kinship with him is marked by obedience to the Father. Neutrality toward Jesus is impossible.

Psalm Summary

Psalm 16 rejoices in God as the believer’s secure portion, counselor, and path to life. In God’s presence there is lasting joy.

Proverbs Summary

Do not withhold good when it is in your power to act. Love is demonstrated through timely justice and generous action.

Discover Jesus Today

Joseph’s humiliation and later exaltation foreshadow Christ, the beloved Son rejected by his own and yet used by God for salvation. Jesus also redefines family around obedience born of faith.

Heart Reflection

God’s plan is not threatened by human betrayal, though betrayal always carries real sorrow and guilt. The safest place for the heart is near the Lord, our true portion and joy.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

Father, keep my heart soft toward Jesus and quick to do good. Be my portion, my joy, and my security.

Live Today

Do one concrete good today that you already know is in your power to do.

January 19 — Day 19

Read First: Genesis 39:1-41:16 • Matthew 12:46-13:23 • Psalm 17:1-15 • Proverbs 3:33-35

Old Testament Summary

Joseph serves faithfully in Potiphar’s house and in prison, resists temptation, suffers unjustly, and is then summoned before Pharaoh because God has given him the ability to interpret dreams. The hidden years are not wasted years in God’s hands.

New Testament Summary

Jesus teaches that true family is formed by doing the Father’s will and then explains the parable of the sower. The issue is not whether the seed is good but whether hearts are receptive.

Psalm Summary

Psalm 17 is a prayer for vindication and refuge, asking God to guard the believer as the apple of his eye. David wants not only protection now but satisfaction in God’s presence.

Proverbs Summary

The Lord’s curse rests on the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. Humility and teachability open the way to grace.

Discover Jesus Today

Joseph points toward Jesus in faithful suffering, false accusation, and eventual exaltation for the saving of many. Jesus is also the sower whose word exposes every kind of heart.

Heart Reflection

God often prepares his servants in obscurity before placing them in visibility. The deeper question is whether we will be faithful in hidden places and receptive to his word.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

Lord, make my heart good soil for your Word. Sustain me in hidden faithfulness and keep me humble before you.

Live Today

Tend the soil of your heart today by removing one distraction that regularly chokes God’s Word.

January 20 — Day 20

Read First: Genesis 41:17-42:17 • Matthew 13:24-46 • Psalm 18:1-15 • Proverbs 4:1-6

Old Testament Summary

Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams, is elevated to leadership, and begins storing grain for the famine. When his brothers arrive, the one they betrayed now holds the power to test and eventually save them.

New Testament Summary

Jesus compares the kingdom to seed, yeast, treasure, and a pearl of great price. God’s reign may begin quietly, but it is of immeasurable worth and unstoppable growth.

Psalm Summary

Psalm 18 opens in praise to the Lord as rock, fortress, and deliverer. God thunders on behalf of his servant and rescues from overwhelming danger.

Proverbs Summary

A father calls his children to receive instruction and prize wisdom above everything else. True wisdom is both inherited and personally embraced.

Discover Jesus Today

Joseph’s exaltation after suffering again foreshadows Christ, who is raised and enthroned to provide life for those who once rejected him. Jesus himself is the treasure worth surrendering everything to gain.

Heart Reflection

The kingdom often looks small before it looks glorious. God teaches us to prize what heaven prizes and to trust his timing in both provision and promotion.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

King Jesus, help me value your kingdom above every rival treasure. Be my rock, my refuge, and my joy.

Live Today

Choose one sacrifice today that reflects the greater worth of Christ over comfort, money, or status.

January 21 — Day 21

Read First: Genesis 42:18-43:34 • Matthew 13:47-14:12 • Psalm 18:16-36 • Proverbs 4:7-10

Old Testament Summary

Joseph’s brothers begin to change as famine presses them toward honesty, responsibility, and sorrow over old sin. Judah especially starts to emerge with a more sacrificial posture toward Benjamin and their father.

New Testament Summary

Jesus teaches about the final separation of the righteous and wicked, then grieves the death of John the Baptist. The kingdom is both glorious and costly in a world that resists truth.

Psalm Summary

Psalm 18 continues in gratitude for strength, training, and victory given by God. David confesses that his ability to stand came from the Lord’s empowering hand.

Proverbs Summary

Wisdom is supreme; get wisdom, and whatever it costs, get understanding. It exalts those who embrace it.

Discover Jesus Today

Jesus is the righteous Judge who will sort the nations and the faithful prophet greater than John whose truth will not be silenced forever. In him, grace and accountability meet.

Heart Reflection

Repentance often unfolds over time as pressure brings hidden wrong into the light. God uses both sorrow and grace to reshape hearts for truth and sacrifice.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

Righteous Lord, bring hidden sin into the light and remake my heart through grace. Strengthen me to value wisdom and truth above ease.

Live Today

Take responsibility for one wrong today without minimizing it or shifting blame.

Week 3 Review

The Big Story

Jacob returns and is renamed, idols are buried, Joseph is rejected, and God silently prepares salvation through hidden suffering. Repentance, identity, and providence dominate the week.

How the Old and New Testaments Connect

Genesis shows God shaping a family through struggle and injustice, while Matthew highlights Jesus as the one who gives rest, restores the weak, sows the Word, and reveals the hidden worth of the kingdom.

How Christ Is Revealed

Jesus is the giver of new names and true rest, the gentle Servant, the rejected beloved Son foreshadowed in Joseph, and the treasure of the kingdom itself.

Psalm and Proverbs Themes

Psalms 13-18 teach lament, integrity, refuge, and praise for God’s deliverance. Proverbs 3-4 urges us to prize wisdom, humility, and moral clarity above every rival voice.

Memory Verse Focus

Memory verse: Matthew 11:28-30. Christ’s invitation to the weary is one of the sweetest calls in January.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you that you meet the weary with rest and the broken with mercy. Give us eyes to see your providence in hidden places.

Looking Ahead

Next week Joseph’s family is reconciled, Israel descends to Egypt, and the Bible turns from Genesis to Exodus as God prepares an exodus through judgment and mercy.

January 22 — Day 22

Read First: Genesis 44:1-45:28 • Matthew 14:13-36 • Psalm 18:37-50 • Proverbs 4:11-13

Old Testament Summary

Joseph tests his brothers one last time, then reveals himself in tears and forgiveness. What they meant for harm, God has bent toward preservation and future blessing.

New Testament Summary

Jesus feeds the five thousand, walks on the sea, and heals all who touch him. His compassion multiplies provision and his authority transcends natural limits.

Psalm Summary

Psalm 18 ends in praise for victory, steadfast love, and the Lord’s faithfulness to his anointed king. Deliverance leads to worship among the nations.

Proverbs Summary

Stay on the path of wisdom and do not turn aside. Guidance matters not only at the beginning of faith but at every step.

Discover Jesus Today

Joseph’s forgiving revelation points to Christ, who reveals himself not to destroy his guilty brothers but to save them. Jesus also proves himself the bread-giving, sea-ruling Lord of abundance and peace.

Heart Reflection

One of God’s most beautiful works is the redemption of what seemed irreparably broken. Forgiveness does not call evil good; it confesses that God is greater than evil.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

Redeeming God, thank you that you can bring good out of what was meant for harm. Teach me the forgiving heart of Christ.

Live Today

Extend one undeserved kindness today to someone who cannot repay you.

January 23 — Day 23

Read First: Genesis 46:1-47:31 • Matthew 15:1-28 • Psalm 19:1-14 • Proverbs 4:14-19

Old Testament Summary

Jacob descends to Egypt under God’s reassurance, Joseph settles the family in Goshen, and wisdom guides Egypt through famine. God’s covenant people sojourn in a foreign land, yet his promise travels with them.

New Testament Summary

Jesus confronts traditions that bypass the heart and then commends the persistent faith of a Canaanite woman. External religion is exposed while humble faith is welcomed.

Psalm Summary

Psalm 19 celebrates both general revelation in creation and special revelation in God’s perfect law. The God who speaks through the skies also speaks through Scripture to restore the soul.

Proverbs Summary

Do not walk in the path of the wicked or envy their way. The road you admire shapes the life you become.

Discover Jesus Today

Jesus is the true revelation of God, greater than creation’s witness and the law’s testimony. He also gathers outsiders by faith, showing that God’s mercy reaches beyond every boundary.

Heart Reflection

God is present in foreign places, quiet seasons, and difficult provisions. What he asks is not polished religion but a clean heart and persevering trust.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

Speaking God, cleanse my heart and give me the humble faith that keeps coming to Jesus. Let your Word restore my soul.

Live Today

Read Scripture slowly today and ask not only, “What does it say?” but also, “What is it exposing in my heart?”

January 24 — Day 24

Read First: Genesis 48:1-49:33 • Matthew 15:29-16:12 • Psalm 20:1-9 • Proverbs 4:20-27

Old Testament Summary

Jacob blesses Ephraim and Manasseh in surprising reversal, then blesses his sons with prophetic insight before dying. God’s covenant purposes advance by election and promise rather than cultural expectation.

New Testament Summary

Jesus heals many, feeds four thousand, warns against the yeast of false teaching, and again shows how spiritually slow his disciples can be. The danger is not only open unbelief but dullness near Jesus.

Psalm Summary

Psalm 20 asks God to answer, defend, remember offerings, and grant victory to his anointed. Confidence rests not in horses and chariots but in the name of the Lord.

Proverbs Summary

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Inner formation shapes outward direction.

Discover Jesus Today

Jacob’s blessing over Judah points ahead to the royal line fulfilled in Christ, the Lion who receives the obedience of the peoples. Jesus is also the true bread for the hungry and the true King in whom we trust rather than human power.

Heart Reflection

God often works through surprising reversals, and spiritual nearness does not automatically produce spiritual alertness. Guarding the heart means staying awake to Jesus and watchful against corrupting influence.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

King Jesus, keep my heart awake, soft, and guarded in truth. Teach me to trust your name above every worldly strength.

Live Today

Refuse one corrupting influence today - something you consume, repeat, or entertain that slowly shapes your heart.

January 25 — Day 25

Read First: Genesis 50:1-26; Exodus 1:1-2:10 • Matthew 16:13-17:9 • Psalm 21:1-13 • Proverbs 5:1-6

Old Testament Summary

Jacob is buried, Joseph forgives his fearful brothers, and Genesis closes with hope that God will surely come to his people. Then Exodus opens under oppression as a deliverer is preserved through the courage of unexpected women and the providence of God.

New Testament Summary

Peter confesses Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus foretells his death, and the Transfiguration reveals his glory. The way of the Christ leads through the cross before the crown.

Psalm Summary

Psalm 21 rejoices in the king’s strength, salvation, and God-given victory. Blessing and power belong to the one the Lord upholds.

Proverbs Summary

The fatherly warning against sexual folly begins with an appeal to attentive listening. Wisdom is protective before temptation becomes destructive.

Discover Jesus Today

Jesus is the confessed Messiah, the glorious Son on the mountain, and the greater deliverer toward whom both Joseph and Moses point. He saves not merely from famine or Pharaoh but from sin and death.

Heart Reflection

Today the Bible turns from promises carried in one family to bondage requiring redemption. Right at that turning point, Jesus stands revealed in glory as the One who will lead the true exodus through his death and resurrection.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

Glorious Christ, keep me near your cross and your glory. Strengthen me to trust your saving purpose in every season.

Live Today

When tempted today, remember the true identity of Jesus and choose obedience in light of his glory.

January 26 — Day 26

Read First: Exodus 2:11-3:22 • Matthew 17:10-27 • Psalm 22:1-18 • Proverbs 5:7-14

Old Testament Summary

Moses attempts deliverance in his own strength, flees to Midian, and then meets God at the burning bush. The Lord reveals his holy name, remembers his covenant, and sends Moses as his chosen instrument.

New Testament Summary

Jesus explains Elijah’s role, heals a demon-oppressed boy, foretells his death, and humbly provides the temple tax. Power and humility dwell together in him.

Psalm Summary

Psalm 22 begins with anguish so deep it feels like abandonment. Yet even in distress the psalmist remembers God’s past faithfulness and keeps praying.

Proverbs Summary

Wisdom warns against joining those headed toward ruin. Sin often invites us into company and patterns that promise belonging while delivering shame.

Discover Jesus Today

The “I Am” who speaks from the bush points forward to Jesus, who bears the divine identity and brings the ultimate deliverance. Psalm 22 also prepares us to see him as the suffering Savior.

Heart Reflection

God’s call often comes after years of obscurity and broken self-reliance. He is holy, personal, covenant-faithful, and fully aware of his people’s suffering.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

I Am, holy and merciful, call me out of self-reliance into humble obedience. Help me trust your presence when suffering feels heavy.

Live Today

Take off your “sandals” today in a reverent sense - slow down, worship, and listen before rushing to act.

January 27 — Day 27

Read First: Exodus 4:1-5:21 • Matthew 18:1-20 • Psalm 22:19-31 • Proverbs 5:15-21

Old Testament Summary

God equips Moses with signs, Aaron joins the mission, and Pharaoh responds to God’s demand with harsher oppression. Obedience does not immediately relieve suffering, but it places God’s servants inside his unfolding deliverance.

New Testament Summary

Jesus teaches that greatness in the kingdom looks like humility, care for little ones, relentless pursuit of straying sheep, and restorative discipline within the body. Heaven’s values overturn status-seeking.

Psalm Summary

Psalm 22 turns from plea to praise as the sufferer anticipates rescue and worldwide worship. God’s salvation will be told to future generations.

Proverbs Summary

Drink water from your own cistern; covenant faithfulness is the wise and joyful path. Wisdom protects intimacy by guarding loyalty.

Discover Jesus Today

Jesus is the humble King who comes not to be served, but to serve and sacrifice his life. The movement of Psalm 22 from suffering to praise reaches its fullest expression in his death and resurrection.

Heart Reflection

Difficult circumstances after obedience do not mean God has failed. Often they mean the battle has been joined and the kingdom is being revealed through humble faithfulness.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

Lord, keep me humble, faithful, and unshaken when obedience becomes costly. Lead straying hearts back to yourself through your grace.

Live Today

Choose the humble place today - serve quietly, yield recognition, or care for someone with little status.

January 28 — Day 28

Read First: Exodus 5:22-7:25 • Matthew 18:21-19:12 • Psalm 23:1-6 • Proverbs 5:22-23

Old Testament Summary

Moses brings Israel’s complaint to God, and the Lord responds by declaring again who he is and by striking Egypt with the first plagues. God’s deliverance unfolds according to his word, even when hardened hearts resist.

New Testament Summary

Jesus teaches radical forgiveness, the sanctity of marriage, and the seriousness of receiving the kingdom like a child. Grace never trivializes truth; it empowers faithful relationships and soft hearts.

Psalm Summary

Psalm 23 portrays the Lord as shepherd, guide, provider, defender, and host. Life with God is not free from dark valleys, but it is full of his presence.

Proverbs Summary

The wicked are trapped by their own sin, but discipline and wisdom preserve life. Sin’s cords tighten gradually until they hold fast.

Discover Jesus Today

Jesus is the Good Shepherd of Psalm 23 who leads, protects, and brings his people home. He is also the one who teaches forgiveness because he himself will bear sin’s debt.

Heart Reflection

God is neither rushed by resistance nor defeated by it. In the meantime, he shepherds his people with patient care and teaches them the kind of mercy that reflects his own heart.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

Shepherd King, lead me through every valley and soften my heart toward forgiveness, purity, and childlike trust.

Live Today

Forgive one offense today in prayer, even if reconciliation will take more time and wisdom.

Week 4 Review

The Big Story

Joseph’s story turns toward reconciliation, Jacob’s household moves to Egypt, and the book of Exodus begins with oppression, calling, plagues, and the approach of Passover. God remembers, reveals himself, and acts.

How the Old and New Testaments Connect

As Exodus reveals the Lord as covenant Redeemer, Matthew presents Jesus as the confessed Messiah, glorious Son, humble Shepherd, and servant King who will lead the greater exodus through the cross.

How Christ Is Revealed

Jesus is the forgiving greater Joseph, the radiant Son at the Transfiguration, the Lord who says more about himself than Moses ever could, the Good Shepherd, and the coming Passover Lamb.

Psalm and Proverbs Themes

Psalms 18-23 celebrate deliverance, creation’s witness, confidence in God, and the Shepherd’s care. Proverbs 4-5 emphasizes guarding the heart, walking straight paths, purity, and perseverance in wisdom.

Memory Verse Focus

Memory verse: Exodus 3:14-15 or Psalm 23. God’s revealed name and shepherding care anchor the believer’s confidence.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

Redeeming Lord, thank you for remembering your people and revealing your name. Lead us by your mercy and prepare our hearts for the Lamb.

Looking Ahead

The final days of January center on Passover, deliverance, consecration, and Jesus’ march toward Jerusalem.

January 29 — Day 29

Read First: Exodus 8:1-9:35 • Matthew 19:13-30 • Psalm 24:1-10 • Proverbs 6:1-5

Old Testament Summary

The plagues intensify, yet Pharaoh hardens his heart again and again. The contest is never really between Moses and Pharaoh but between the Lord and every false claim to sovereignty.

New Testament Summary

Jesus welcomes children, challenges the rich young ruler, and promises great reward to those who leave all for his sake. Entrance into the kingdom depends on grace, not achievement or wealth.

Psalm Summary

Psalm 24 announces that the earth belongs to the Lord and asks who may ascend his hill. Clean hands, a pure heart, and joyful welcome for the King of glory are the marks of God’s people.

Proverbs Summary

Wisdom counsels carefulness in promises and financial entanglements. Prudence is part of righteousness.

Discover Jesus Today

Jesus is the King of glory who has rightful claim over every life and every treasure. He does what human effort cannot do by making the impossible possible with God.

Heart Reflection

Hardness of heart shows up in Pharaoh’s palace and in affluent respectability alike. The kingdom is entered not by control but by surrender, trust, and grace.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

King of glory, reign over every corner of my heart. Save me from hardness, pride, and divided loyalties.

Live Today

Open your hands to God today regarding a possession, plan, or status marker that competes with full surrender.

January 30 — Day 30

Read First: Exodus 10:1-12:13 • Matthew 20:1-28 • Psalm 25:1-15 • Proverbs 6:6-11

Old Testament Summary

Darkness falls over Egypt, and the Lord institutes Passover on the eve of final judgment. The lamb’s blood marks out a redeemed people who will live because another dies in their place.

New Testament Summary

Jesus tells a parable in which latecomers receive the master’s generosity, then predicts his suffering and teaches that greatness means servanthood. His kingdom runs on grace, not comparison.

Psalm Summary

Psalm 25 begins with trust, repentance, and dependence on God’s guidance. The humble are taught his way.

Proverbs Summary

The ant exposes the folly of laziness by embodying foresight, diligence, and quiet wisdom. Small disciplines shape the future.

Discover Jesus Today

Jesus is the true Passover Lamb whose blood shelters his people from judgment. He is also the servant King who gives his life as a ransom for many.

Heart Reflection

Grace offends the entitled but comforts the empty-handed. Passover and the parable both teach that salvation is received, not earned - and that redeemed people are called to humble service.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

Redeeming Lord, thank you for the blood of the Lamb and the grace of your kingdom. Teach me humility, gratitude, and diligent obedience.

Live Today

Do one small task today with full diligence as an act of worship rather than delay.

January 31 — Day 31

Read First: Exodus 12:14-13:16 • Matthew 20:29-21:22 • Psalm 25:16-22 • Proverbs 6:12-15

Old Testament Summary

Israel begins to leave Egypt under God’s redemptive ownership, and the memorial of unleavened bread is established so future generations will remember the Lord’s mighty salvation. Redemption is not only rescue from bondage but consecration to God.

New Testament Summary

Jesus opens blind eyes, receives royal praise on his entry into Jerusalem, cleanses the temple, withers the fig tree, and teaches about believing prayer. The King comes to judge false fruit and restore true worship.

Psalm Summary

Psalm 25 closes with a plea for mercy, protection, and redemption out of troubles. The life of faith ends where it began: in God’s faithful help.

Proverbs Summary

Worthlessness shows itself in deceitful speech, corrupt intent, and troublemaking. Sin is not merely private weakness; it spills harm into community.

Discover Jesus Today

Jesus enters Jerusalem as the promised King and true firstborn Son who leads the greater exodus. He frees his people to become a holy people devoted to God’s worship and glory.

Heart Reflection

God does not redeem people so they can drift; he redeems them so they can belong. The proper response to deliverance is remembrance, worship, holiness, and trusting prayer.

Fellowship Questions

Prayer

Saving King, thank you for bringing me out of bondage to belong to you. Cleanse my worship, bear fruit in my life, and keep me near your mercy.

Live Today

Mark God’s faithfulness today in writing so you can remember and retell what he has done.

January Monthly Review

January has carried us from Genesis 1 to Exodus 13 and from Matthew 1 to Matthew 21, alongside Psalms 1-25 and Proverbs 1-6.

January In One Page

January begins with creation and ends with redemption underway. We move from Eden to Egypt, from humanity’s fall to God’s covenant with Abraham, from Joseph’s preservation to the threshold of Israel’s exodus, while Matthew moves from Jesus’ birth to his royal entry toward the cross.

How the Readings Fit Together

The Old Testament establishes the need, the promise, and the pattern of redemption. The New Testament reveals Jesus as the promised Seed, Son, King, Servant, Shepherd, and Lamb. Psalms teach us to pray the journey; Proverbs trains us to walk it wisely.

Where We See Jesus

Throughout January, Jesus is seen as the Creator’s promised Redeemer, Abraham’s offspring, the true and obedient Son, the healer and teacher of the kingdom, the greater Joseph, the greater Moses, the Good Shepherd, and the coming Passover Lamb.

Key Passages to Revisit

Key texts for the month include Genesis 1; Genesis 12:2-3; Matthew 5-7; Matthew 11:28-30; Psalm 19; Psalm 23; Exodus 3; and Exodus 12. Together they frame creation, covenant, kingdom, rest, revelation, shepherding, divine name, and redemption.

Major People and Events

Major figures include Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Hagar, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob, Esau, Joseph, Judah, Moses, Pharaoh, John the Baptist, the disciples, and above all Jesus.

Life Application

January teaches that the Bible is one story and that every major turn presses us toward Christ. The right response is to read prayerfully, repent honestly, trust deeply, obey promptly, and remember that God redeems people to belong wholly to him.

Prayer

Father, thank you for carrying us from the opening lines of Scripture to the threshold of the exodus and the road toward Calvary. Keep our hearts fixed on Jesus and continue your good work in us through your Word.

Looking Toward February

February will move further into the exodus, covenant law, worship, and the advancing ministry of Jesus. The themes of holiness, redemption, trust, and true discipleship will only deepen.

ABOUT IT ALL POINTS TO JESUS

After two and a half years of reading the Bible every day together, a husband and wife felt the Holy Spirit speak a simple vision: everyone in the world reading the same portion of Scripture on the same day: Old Testament, New Testament, Psalm, and Proverbs— and seeing how it all points to Jesus.

These little monthly volumes are companions for that journey. Read the Word first in your own Bible; then let the summaries, reflections, and questions help you see Christ on every page.

They are written for groups gathering around the table and just as much for the one who is alone. If you are by yourself today, you still have a friend in Jesus.

Watch the daily reading videos:

https://www.youtube.com/@EntireBibleIn12Months

Come and see. Bring a friend.

HELP NEXT YEAR’S EDITION

This booklet was written for groups like yours: Sunday classes, Bible studies, circles of friends before prayer. You know things we don’t — what opened hearts in your room, what confused people, what you’d change. Write to [email protected] with ‘Booklet ideas’ in the subject line, and tell us. Every fall, the best suggestions from teachers and leaders go into the next edition. Its readers will be learning from you. Thank you — and may every page point your group to Jesus.