January 14 | Building an Altar in Your Life

Today’s Bible in a Year reading from Genesis 33–35 and Matthew 10:1–20 centers on a steady but personal invitation: God calls His people to realign their lives around His presence and authority as they move forward in obedience. Across both passages, we see that God’s work does not stop at moments of reconciliation or calling, but continues as He invites His people to respond with intentional faithfulness.In Genesis 33, Jacob finally encounters Esau, the brother he once feared and deceived. What unfolds is unexpected reconciliation marked by humility and grace. Yet the story continues. Genesis 34 and 35 reveal that reconciliation does not remove responsibility. God calls Jacob back to Bethel, asking him to build an altar and lead his household toward renewed commitment. Building the altar becomes an act of obedience that re-centers Jacob’s life around worship, trust, and God’s ongoing work.That same movement carries into Matthew 10, where Jesus calls and sends the twelve with authority. He does not wait for them to feel ready or secure. Instead, He teaches them to depend on God rather than their own preparation, resources, or confidence. Their authority flows from obedience and reliance on God’s presence, not personal strength.Together, these passages invite us to consider what it means to build an altar in our own lives. They remind us that faithful obedience often requires intentional choices to realign our priorities, trust God’s authority, and step forward even when the path ahead feels uncertain.