Weekly Devotion

We were rewarded with panoramic views of Zion Canyon, towering cliffs, and an adrenaline-fueled ridge unlike anything I’d experienced. It was one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen.

Like many of His instructions, it’s not about following rigid rules. It’s about what is ultimately good for us. God’s guidance often sounds like this: do this because it’s better for you now, it will matter later, and one day, you’ll be grateful you listened.

Jesus redefines a neighbor not as someone we already relate to, but as someone we choose to become.

We all want to do our own thing. Most of us don’t like being told what to do, but freedom doesn’t always lead to flourishing.

Nothing is more absolute than the opening words: “In the beginning, God.” The story of everything doesn’t begin with us or with chaos—it begins with Him. Genesis 1:1 makes the first absolute truth claim: before time, space, or matter existed, God already was.

So, does this Godly command from the Old Testament mean nothing else could be added to Scripture? Not so fast, Sparky. This verse is best understood in its immediate context—Moses was speaking to the Israelites about the law God gave them at Mount Sinai.

This weekend holds extremes: sacrifice and fulfillment. In the beginning in Genesis, neither sacrificial offerings nor covenant fulfillments were necessary. Adam and Eve were naked and unashamed, walking freely with God in the Garden. No altars. No offerings. No need for Jesus to provide substitutionary atonement—yet.

Early on, I had a heart for the Bible, but I was like a blank slate from my Jewish background. I thought, I have to learn this. Interestingly, my Jewish background didn’t provide a lot of insight into the Old Testament, just some stories and a little bit of Hebrew.

Pastor Andrew Taylor writes, “I like how this passage captures forgiveness both vertically and horizontally.” Paul’s word for “kind” (Greek: chrēstoi) in “Be kind and compassionate to one another…” goes beyond being “nice,” encompassing genuine concern, gentleness, and grace.

As believers, we are grafted into the family of Christ. Whether symbolized by the vine and branches or the concept of grafting, the underlying principle remains the same: believers are joined to Christ and receive life and blessings through that connection.