This episode looks at Proverbs 12:11, “The one who works his field will have plenty of food, but whoever chases daydreams lacks wisdom.” We can dream big, but we should do so in the context of what God has set before us to work after for today. God help us.

This episode looks at Proverbs 12:10, “The righteous person cares for the life of his animal, but even the most compassionate acts of the wicked are cruel.” The righteous person loves animals — but not for the animal’s sake alone. The righteous person shows compassion to all that God has made, humans especially, and leverages all the resources under his command in order to serve the humans around him.

This episode looks at Proverbs 12:9, “Better is a person of humble standing who nevertheless has a servant, than one who pretends to be somebody important yet has no food.” Reality matters more than appearance. We should care less about our self-presentation, and more about actually pursuing success and walking (speaking) in wisdom. God help us.

This episode looks at Proverbs 12:8, “A person is praised in accordance with his wisdom, but the one who has a twisted mind is despised.” We should actually desire praise from others, but only in right relationship to God and in accord with praiseworthy wisdom. May God help us to acquire wisdom and to speak it at the right moments.

This episode looks at Proverbs 12:7, “The wicked are overthrown and perish, but the righteous household will stand.” The house built on the firm foundation of Christ — thinking thoughts of justice, speaking words uprightly, living in nobility and strength — will leave a lasting legacy. The wicked, on the contrary, will come to nothing in the end. May we be counted among the righteous.

This episode looks at Proverbs 12:6, “The words of the wicked lie in wait to shed innocent blood, but the words of the upright will deliver them.” The wicked kill with their words, but the upright are delivered — if not now, then certainly when God reveals all things. May we be found in the right with our speech.

This episode looks at Proverbs 12:5, “The plans of the righteous are just; the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.” The thought-life of the righteous and the wicked is on two polar opposites: making sure all receive what is due to them versus making sure to trick others for the sake of shallow gain. May we pursue a righteous thought-life by God’s grace.

This episode looks at Proverbs 12:4, “A noble wife is the crown of her husband, but the wife who acts shamefully is like rottenness in his bones.” The strength of the household rises and falls on the nobility [valor, strength, etc.] of the wife. May God help us all to walk in nobility, especially in marital relationships.

This episode looks at Proverbs 12:3, “No one can be established through wickedness, but a righteous root cannot be moved.” Only righteousness can provide true, lasting roots. May God grant us grace to live into Christ’s righteousness.

This episode looks at Proverbs 12:2, “A good person obtains favor from the LORD, but the LORD condemns a person with wicked schemes.” God wants to bestow blessings on his obedient children. The truly good one, Jesus, obtained the favor of God and grants it by extension to all who have faith in him.

This episode looks at Proverbs 12:1, “The one who loves discipline loves knowledge, but the one who hates reproof is stupid.” In order to grow, we will need correction — from God and from others. To reject loving reproof is foolish.

This episode looks at Luke 3:38, “the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.” Whereas Matthew presents his genealogy as promise-fulfillment, Luke presents his genealogy in a way that introduces a solution and then traces back to the problem that needed a remedy. Praise God for undoing the curse on mankind and saving us in Christ.

This episode looks at Luke 3:37, “the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan.” Enoch walked with God and was spared from death. In the line of Jesus, he is a foretaste of God repairing the breach between him and humanity, walking once again with us and sparing us all from death if we have faith in Christ.

This episode looks at Luke 3:36, “the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech.” Looking at Noah, we see a shining example of God’s patience and grace, and that patience and grace culminates in the person of Jesus Christ.

This episode looks at Luke 3:35, “the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah.” This is the generation post-babel, a time where there was a lot of hopelessness until Abraham comes and receives a promise of blessing for the nations. God worked good in the face of great rebellion.

This episode looks at Luke 3:34, “the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor.” The names of the great patriarchs bring about memories of God’s universal promises accomplished through his chosen people. Jesus is the ultimate instance of God blessing the nations.

This episode looks at Luke 3:33, “the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah.” Jesus comes as the fulfillment of Jacob’s blessing in Genesis 49, as the lion of the tribe of Judah who will rule the nations with an iron scepter. This king is worthy of our praise!

This episode looks at Luke 3:32, “the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon.” The name Boaz should remind us of how God works Hope even into seemingly hopeless situations. What a God we serve!

This episode looks at Luke 3:31, “the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David.” David represents the high point of promise in Israel’s kingdom, but after him the kingdom divides. We thank God for Jesus, the eternal king who unites all of God’s people under his rule and reign.

This episode looks at Luke 3:30, “the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim.” Another list of relative nobodies should help us recognize even deeper the humility Christ embodied for us and for our salvation. May we learn a similar humility in our own lives.

This episode looks at Luke 3:29, “the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi.” More names in this genealogy that we may recognize, but we don’t know these people. What can they teach us? Patience and endurance in the midst of seemingly hopeless circumstances. May God do that work in us.

This episode looks at Luke 3:28, “the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er.” These names appear during years of exile for Israel. Even in dark times, God was still working. May God help us to remember this truth when we face similar times.

This episode looks at Luke 3:27, “the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri.” Way back in the times of Ezra–Nehemiah, God made a promise to Zerubbabel and Israel: a greater glory than the OT temple and peace. Seeing his name in the genealogy of Jesus should remind us that God kept his promise to do exactly that.

This episode looks at Luke 3:26, “the son of Maath, the ssson of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Joseph, the son of Joda.”

This episode looks at Luke 3:25, “the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai.”