Scripture

Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”) for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.”

Observation

Jacob prepares to meet with his brother Esau, sending his wives, sons and possessions across the river ahead of him.

During the night, a man comes and wrestles with Jacob until dawn. The man touches Jacob’s hip, dislocating it, but Jacob holds on to him.

Jacob demands the man’s blessing. The man responds by changing his name from Jacob (deceiver) to Israel (“God fights”) because Jacob has fought with God and man.

From that day, Jacob walks with a limp. The people of Israel do not eat the tendon near the hip, in memory of this.

Application

Jacob was a trickster and a deceiver. Here, he wrestles with God to secure a blessing from Him. Ironically, Jacob already had all the blessing he needed from God, so his struggle is in vain.

Jacob needed to stop fighting and scheming and learn to trust the Lord and submit to Him.

Many people spend years struggling against God only to find that it wasn’t necessary. We don’t need to fight against a God who has given everything for us.

Prayer

Father God, forgive me for resisting your purposes in my life. I surrender myself to you now and declare the fighting is over. Amen.

Scripture

He said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure whatever is new and whatever is old.”

Observation
Jesus speaks many parables to describe God’s kingdom.
The kingdom is like a mustard seed that grows from a tiny seed to become a large shrub.
It is like yeast of which a tiny quantity quickly spreads through all the flour.
It is like treasure in a field or a pearl for which someone would sell all they own in order to possess it.
It is like a net that drags in all kinds of fish in the expectation of a sorting of good fish from bad.

Application
The kingdom of God is both simple and beyond our imagining. The simple part is that the kingdom is any person or group of people that puts serving Jesus Christ as the first priority in their daily life.
These parables show that the kingdom is much bigger than the local church. It spreads across the world, infiltrating every part of society, growing mysteriously and affecting both the saved and the unsaved. Often the influence of the kingdom is invisible but its effects can be seen.
Wherever there are christians following Jesus, the Holy Spirit is working in the hearts of people, drawing men and women into the kingdom.

Prayer
Father please let me be the yeast in the world, the mustard seed in the field, an agent for your purposes today. Amen.

Scripture

No power in the sky above or the world below- indeed, nothing in all of creation- will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed to us in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Observation

We have the Holy Spirit who helps us in our weakness. We often don’t know how to pray, but the Holy Spirit intercedes for us.

In everything God is working for our good. If God is for us, who can be against us? God gave up His Son for us, so no one can condemn us.

Nothing on earth, in heaven or in hell is able to separate us from the love of God.

Application

In a million ways, God shows His love for us. We have the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of adoption- in our hearts reminding us of God’s grace. We have the knowledge that everything in our lives is being used by God for our good.

God is good and there is nothing bad in Him.

He holds us close to His heart, safely in His hand. In that place there is nothing that can separate us from His love.

This is so awesome! God loves me and will never let me go. He will never stop loving me. Nothing in all creation can pull me away from Him.

There is just one thing that can stop the flow of love- me.

Prayer

Father teach me to love you more. When the world lures me away from you, help me to turn my eyes back to you and your unfailing love. Amen.

Give thanks to the Lord

You followers of Jesus
Give praise to the Lord
Testify and confess His deeds

Shout and sing
Glorify and praise
Let the whole world know
Jesus Christ is Lord.

 

Scripture

So Jacob worked for seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong it seemed to him but a few days.

 

Observation

Jacob is staying with Laban his uncle. Here he meets Rachel and falls In love with her.

When Laban offers to pay Jacob for working on his farm, Jacob asks for Rachel in return for working for seven years. The time goes very quickly because of his love for her.

Finally the date of the marriage arrives. Laban pulls a trick on Jacob and sends Leah to his bed instead of Rachel. The next morning Jacob is horrified. A week later, he marries Rachel in exchange for the promise of another seven years of work.

 

Application

Jacob the ticker is himself tricked by his uncle Laban. In order to get to the place where he could become the father of God’s people, Jacob needed to have his character re-shaped. What better way for this deceiver than to be on the receiving end of another man’s deception?

The Lord is wanting to strip away our bad attitudes and persistent sin. He will use whatever method is necessary to make us like Christ.

In my experience it can be painful to undergo this retraining process, but it is so beneficial to us.

 

Prayer

Father, I see that you are equipping me for heaven. Help me to see when you are moulding me and to co-operate with you. Amen.

 

I stand before you

Nothing to hide

Nothing can be hidden.

You see my heart and mind

The maelstrom of sins

Conceived but not born

And you love me

Nothing is hidden

But you love me

You see a spark of goodness

The divine image

Someone to die for,

 

 

Scripture

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same spirit living in you.

 

Observation

There is now no condemnation for those who belong to Jesus and who have the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. The Law of Moses could not save us from sin, but Christ came as our sacrifice that sets us free from sin.

Letting sin reign in your mind leads to death, but letting the Spirit rule our minds brings life and peace. Our bodies will die because of sin, but the Spirit lives in us and will bring life to our mortal bodies in the same way that He raised Jesus from the dead.

 

Application

Being a christian means that we have the Holy spirit living in us. Therefore we should allow the Spirit to lead and direct our thoughts. We cannot say that we are followers of Christ and let our minds be dominated by sinful thoughts.

The new birth leads to a renewed mind and a changed life style. Yes we will sin, but sinning will become, over time, a forgotten habit as the Spirit gains more and more dominance in our lives.

 

Prayer

Fill me Holy Spirit. I yield my mind to you to be renewed and transformed by you. Amen.