Passage, Paragraph, and Prayer

God has made us, but just that fact alone doesn’t give us what we require in order to stand before him and to dwell with him. In this devotional prayer, Pastor Biebert reminds us that, in the words of Augustine, God must first give what he requires, and then he can require of us whatever he wishes. Music Credit: Michael Praetorius, “La Canarie,” in _Terpsichore_ (Wolfenbüttel, 1612), no. 31.

Genesis 1:6–8 describes God’s creating activity on Day 2 of the world’s history. In this episode, Pastor Biebert leads you in meditating on how God created the sky. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

“You don’t own me.” “It’s *my* life.” Have you ever heard anyone say something like this? Have you yourself said it? We do take pride in being free and independent in the United States, but someone *does* own us. However, as David helps us to see in Psalm 24, God’s ownership of us is not something to dread or resent, but something to cherish. Music Credit: Michael Praetorius, “La Canarie,” in _Ter...

Have you ever wondered about the order of time in Genesis 1—“And there was evening, and there was morning”? In this episode, Pastor Biebert leads you in viewing the day from God’s perspective, which means adjusting our view of work and rest. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

Since deliverance is not just God’s possession, but his very character, those who trust in him in the name of his Son Jesus have no reason to doubt it. Music Credit: Michael Praetorius, “La Canarie,” in _Terpsichore_ (Wolfenbüttel, 1612), no. 31.

“And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.” What does “day” mean there? A period of daylight? A thousand years? A million? Longer? Shorter? In this episode, Pastor Biebert leads you in seeing how God uses the word “day” in Genesis 1. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

We often only think of Jesus as gentle. But in this episode, Pastor Biebert leads you to see that he is also a champion and a warrior, who demolishes the enemies of his faithful. Music Credit: Michael Praetorius, “La Canarie,” in _Terpsichore_ (Wolfenbüttel, 1612), no. 31.

Why did God *speak* light into existence? We considered part of the reason last week (God is a personal being), but there is more. In this episode, Pastor Biebert leads you in considering how God’s word works, and how it’s received. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

Even in the midst of his troubles, David was able to “lie down and go right to sleep.” In this episode, Pastor Biebert leads you in seeing how this ability was not tied to some mental trick, but to God’s sure protection. Music Credit: Michael Praetorius, “La Canarie,” in _Terpsichore_ (Wolfenbüttel, 1612), no. 31.

There’s a lot more in Genesis 1:3 than first meets the eye. In this episode, Pastor Biebert leads you in meditating on God’s transcendence, that he is separate from his creation; his immanence, that he is close to his creation; and his personality, that he is not just some powerful, impersonal force. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der...

David wrote this psalm while fleeing in danger and shame from his son Absalom. Yet David still has protection and glory in the Lord. In this episode, Pastor Biebert continues through Psalm 3. Music Credit: Michael Praetorius, “La Canarie,” in _Terpsichore_ (Wolfenbüttel, 1612), no. 31.

On Day 1 of history, God created light. In this episode, Pastor Biebert leads you in meditating on how he did so, and on why it is entirely appropriate that light was the very first element created out of nothing by God’s word. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

David wrote this psalm during one of the darkest times of his life. He was being betrayed by his own son. But the fact that he shares his devotional thoughts with us means that we can expect dark times and betrayal too. But we also have a God who gives us hope and the strength to endure. Music Credit: Michael Praetorius, “La Canarie,” in _Terpsichore_ (Wolfenbüttel, 1612), no. 31.

Genesis 1:2 says that “the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” at the creation of the world. In this episode, Pastor Biebert leads you in meditating on who this Spirit of God was and is and exactly what he was doing when the world was founded. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

King David concludes Psalm 61 by talking about another king—the King who is the basis and strength of all his other petitions in this psalm. In this episode, Pastor Biebert leads you in meditating on this eternal King in whom David placed his eternal hope. Music Credit: Michael Praetorius, “La Canarie,” in _Terpsichore_ (Wolfenbüttel, 1612), no. 31.

When God first created the physical realm, it wasn’t beautiful. It was a formless, watery mess. But God had a reason for that. In this episode Pastor Biebert leads you to see it’s a reason we still do well to remember when our lives look like a mess. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

The apostle Peter calls us “temporary residents in the world” (1 Pet. 1:1), but he was by no means the first to do so. In Psalm 61 King David refers to the fact that, whether he is at home or away from home, he is sojourning. But David reminds us that we have a constant companion, with whom we are always protected and “at home” as we do so. Music Credit: Michael Praetorius, “La Canarie,” in _Terps...

We talk about humans creating, but our creating is nothing like God’s creating during the first week of history. In this episode, Pastor Biebert leads you in meditating on the astounding wisdom we see in God’s activity in Genesis 1. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

David describes himself as someone who has sought refuge, but has found his position to be a helpless and vulnerable one. So he turns to the only One who is always there as a refuge for us. Join us as we continue meditating on Psalm 61. Music Credit: Michael Praetorius, “La Canarie,” in _Terpsichore_ (Wolfenbüttel, 1612), no. 31.

Have you ever asked about yourself or anything else, “Am I or is this thing uncaused, or caused?” In this episode, Pastor Biebert leads you in meditating on how the existence of everything in the universe originates with something or someone before it—except the Being that Moses identifies in Genesis 1:1. You may be able to hear some of God’s creation (cicadas) in the background. Music Credit: “Ba...

When we have problems and get emotional, it’s sometimes hard to find anyone who is willing to listen. But David reminds us in Psalm 61 that there is always someone who cares and wants to hear about what’s troubling us. Music Credit: Michael Praetorius, “La Canarie,” in _Terpsichore_ (Wolfenbüttel, 1612), no. 31.

There is so much to learn about God in the opening verse of the Bible. In this episode, Pastor Biebert leads you in meditating on God’s active nature and his unique, three-in-one essence. You may be able to hear some of God’s creation (cicadas) in the background. Music Credit: “Ballet à 4,” arr. Michael Praetorius, in _Terpsichore_ (Wolfenbüttel, 1612), no. 268.

In the second half of Psalm 1, the psalmist contrasts the blessings enjoyed by the person who regularly muses and meditates on God's word with the curses and judgment that await the person who has no respect or time for God's word. Music Credit: Michael Praetorius, “La Canarie,” in _Terpsichore_ (Wolfenbüttel, 1612), no. 31.

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Is that just a summary statement, or a distinct action of God on Day 1 of creation? In this episode, Pastor Biebert leads you in a meditation on the first verse of the Bible. Music Credit: “Ballet à 4,” arr. Michael Praetorius, in _Terpsichore_ (Wolfenbüttel, 1612), no. 268.

What is the blessed life? Of what does it consist? In this episode, Pastor Biebert leads you in a meditation on the opening verses of Psalm 1, which talk about what the blessed life does not consist of, what it does consist of, and what blessings the blessed person enjoys. Music Credit: Michael Praetorius, “La Canarie,” in _Terpsichore_ (Wolfenbüttel, 1612), no. 31.