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Genesis13 Abram and Lot separate so Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him into the Negeb. Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver and in gold, and he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and AI, to the place where he had made an altar at the first and there Abram called upon the name of the Lord. And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together. And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land. Then Abram said to Lot, let there be no strife between you and me and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. Is not the whole land before you separate yourself from me? If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left. And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt in the direction of Zohar. This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord. The Lord said to Abram after Lot had separated from him, lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are northward and southward and eastward and westward. For all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you. So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord. Genesis 14 Abram rescues Lot in the days of Amrafel, king of Shinar Air ioc, king of Elessar Kedorlaomer, king of Elam. And title king of Goim. These kings made war with Beirah, king of Sodom. Birsha, king of Gomorrah. Shinab, king of Admah. Shemaber, king of Zeboyim. And the king of Bailathat is Zohar. And all these joined forces in the valley of Siddim. That is the Salt Sea. 12 years they had served Kedorlaomer. But in the 13th year they rebelled. In the 14th year, Kedorlaomer. And the kings who were with him. Came and defeated The Rephaim in Ashtaroth. Carnahim. The Zoo, Zeman, Ham in Shavekiriathaim. And the Horites in their hill country of Seir. As far as El Paran. On the border of the wilderness. Then they turned back and came to En Mishpat. And that is, Kadesh. And defeated all the country of the Amalekites. And also the Amorites who were dwelling in Hazazontamar. Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah. The king of Admah. The king of Zeboyim. And the king of Bela, that is Zohar, Went out. And they joined battle in the valley of Siddim. With Kedorlaomer, king of Elam, title king of Gohim. Amraphel, king of Shinar. And Arioch, king of Elessar. Four kings against five. Now the valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits. And as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled. Some fell into them. And the rest fled to the hill country. So the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah. And all their provisions and went their way. They also took Lot, the son of Abram's brother. Who was dwelling in Sodom. And his possessions. And went their way. Then one who had escaped came and told Abram, the Hebrew. Who was living by the oaks of Mamre, the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of honor. These were allies of Abram. When Abram heard that his kinsmen had been taken captive. He led forth his trained men born in his house, 318 of them. And went in pursuit as far as dawn. And he divided his forces against them. By night he and his servants and defeated them. And pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. Then he brought back all the possessions. And also brought back his kinsman Lot. With his possessions and the women and the people. Abram, blessed by Melchizedek. After his return from the defeat of Kidorlaomer. And the kings who were with him. The king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh. That is the king's valley. And Melchizedek, king of Salem. Brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said, blessed be Abram, by God Most High possessor of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High. Who has delivered your enemies into your hand. And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. And the king of Sodom said to Abram. Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself. But Abram said to the king of Sodom. I have lifted my hand to the Lord God, Most High possessor of heaven and earth. That I would not take a thread or a sandal strap. Or anything that is yours. Lest you should say, I have made Abram rich. I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten. And the share of the men who went with me. Let Honor Eshcol and Mamre take their share. Genesis 15. God's covenant with Abram. After these things, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision. Fear not, Abram. I am your shield. Your reward shall be very great. But Abram said, O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless. And the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus. And Abram said, behold, you have given me no offspring. And a member of my household will be my heir. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him. This man shall not be your heir. Your very own son shall be your heir. And he brought him outside and said, look toward heaven and number the stars. If you are able to number them. Then he said to him, so shall your offspring be. And he believed the Lord. And he counted it to him as righteousness. And he said to him, I am the Lord who brought you out from or of the Chaldeans. To give you this land to possess. But he said, O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it? He said to him. Bring me A heifer 3 years old. A female goat 3 years old. A ram 3 years old. A turtle dove and a young pigeon. And he brought him all these. Cut them in half. And laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half. And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses. Abram drove them away. As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. Then the Lord said to Abram. Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not Theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for 400 years, but I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace. You shall be buried in a good old age, and they shall come back here in the fourth generation. For the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete. When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, to your offspring, I give this land from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites. Matthew 6:1 24 giving to the needy Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. The Lord's Prayer and when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door, and pray to your Father, who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard. For their many words, do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Fasting and when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others, but by your Father, who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. Lay up treasures in heaven do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness? No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God in money. Psalm 7:1 9. O Lord, my God, in you do I take refuge. Save me from all my pursuers, and deliver me, lest like a lion, they tear my soul apart, rending it in pieces, with none to deliver. O Lord my God, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands, if I have repaid my friend with evil, or plundered my enemy without cause, let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it, and let him trample my life to the ground and lay my glory in the dust. Arise, O Lord, in your anger lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies. Awake for me. You have appointed a judgment. Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about you over it. Return on high. The Lord judges the peoples. Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me. O let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God.
Scripture Readings: Genesis 13, Genesis 14, Genesis 15, Matthew 6:1-24, Psalm 7:1-9
Date: January 11, 2026
Host: Erika Kirk with Pastoral Advisor James Kaddis
Main Theme:
Today’s episode continues the journey through the Bible, focusing on Abraham’s story in Genesis, Jesus’ teachings on spiritual disciplines and priorities in Matthew, as well as a heartfelt plea for justice and refuge in Psalm 7. The readings center on the importance of faith, integrity, and wholehearted devotion to God, with practical instruction and timeless encouragement.
“Let there be no strife between you and me... Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me.” (00:41)
“Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the Lord... So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley.” (01:01)
“For all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever... If one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted.” (01:43)
“When Abram heard that his kinsmen had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men... and went in pursuit as far as Dan.” (02:35)
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” (03:17) Abram gives Melchizedek a tenth of all, illustrating faith in God as provider.
“I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’” (03:38)
He relies fully on God’s provision, not the riches or recognition of others.
“Fear not, Abram. I am your shield. Your reward shall be very great.” (04:01) Abram voices his concern about having no heir, and God assures him a son will come from his own body.
“Look toward heaven and number the stars, if you are able to number them... So shall your offspring be.” (04:26)
“And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” (04:29)
This becomes a foundational verse about faith and righteousness.
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them...” (05:48)
“Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing...” (06:14)
“When you pray, go into your room and shut the door, and pray to your Father who is in secret...” (06:25)
“If you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you...” (07:10)
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth... but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” (07:41)
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (07:58)
“No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve God and money.” (08:16)
The heart’s loyalty must be singular and undivided.
“O Lord, my God, in you do I take refuge. Save me from all my pursuers, and deliver me...” (08:28)
“Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me.” (08:56)
This episode traces faith-fueled decisions, divine promises, and Jesus’ practical instructions for a life marked by authenticity, humility, and steadfast focus on God. Through dramatic patriarchal narratives, the radical Sermon on the Mount, and heartfelt poetry, listeners are encouraged to anchor their trust in God alone.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (07:58)