January 10 | The Price of Impatience

Today’s Bible in a Year reading from Genesis 25–26 and Matthew 8:1–17 centers on a quiet but challenging truth: faith is often tested not in dramatic moments, but in ordinary decisions made under pressure. Scripture draws our attention to how impatience and compassion reveal what we truly value and how deeply we trust God’s promises.In Genesis 25, the story of Esau and Jacob exposes the danger of trading long-term blessing for immediate relief. Esau’s hunger and exhaustion lead him to surrender his birthright, something sacred and future-oriented, for what satisfies him in the moment. Genesis 26 then shows God’s faithfulness continuing despite human weakness, reminding us that His promises move forward through patient obedience, even when people fall short.Matthew 8 brings this same theme into the ministry of Jesus as He moves toward those whom others avoid. Rather than rushing past suffering, Jesus responds with compassion, touching the untouchable and bearing human brokenness. His actions reveal a God who values restoration over convenience and presence over distance.Today’s reading invites us to reflect on where impatience may be shaping our choices and how God might be forming us to trust Him more deeply. Are we willing to value what He has entrusted to us, even when waiting feels difficult? God’s Word reminds us that faithful lives are formed through patience, compassion, and steady alignment with His purposes. Stay in the Word, and let the Word continue its work within you.