One Year Bible, January 15

GENESIS 31:17-32:12
Jacob is 96 years old now, and it had become obvious that Laban wasn't going to let him go.  So Jacob took his wives, children, servants and flocks and fled while Laban was gone off shearing his sheep.  But, twelve days later Laban caught up with him and said "you didn't even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters good-by."  Laban said he had the power to harm Jacob, but that God had told him not to.  Then he accused Jacob of stealing his "gods" ("teraphim").  Actually Rachel had stolen them, and hiddden them under her saddle-blanket and was sitting on them. 

After the two men parted their ways, Jacob sent word to his brother Esau, who was living in Edom, that he was coming home.  Esau then started out to meet him with 400 men with him.  But Jacob had two angel armies with him, one behind to guard against Laban, and one in front to guard against Esau.  Jacob cast himself on the word of promise that God had given him and pressed on toward Esau.

RESPONSE:  What God has said is true, regardless of how things look.  The only way I can hold myself still in times of trouble, is to talk to myself, tell myself the Truth, and reassure myself that it is truly safe to trust God and to rely on His goodness.  What do you supposed Jacob was saying to his own heart?  The Bible records his words, "God, You said to go back to your country and your family and I will make you prosper.  You have said that You will surely make me prosper and will make my descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted."  So, you see, regardless of how things turn out, SOMEONE would be left standing. 

MATTHEW 10:26-11:6
More of the Manual of the Kingdom and how "it" works.  Part of what it means to fear God, is to fear everything else LESS.  I ask myself, "Am I going to fear God, or am I going to fear Man?  Am I going to fear God?  Or am I going to fear everything else?"  Jesus lets us know that He is not just a "gentle shepherd", but also a hardened soldrier.  Just as Jesus in the OT (Joshua 5:13) met Joshua at the border of the Land with a sword to fight for Israel, so at the border of the Kingdom, Jesus meets us with a sword to fight the flesh in us.  And so, when we are born again, we become conscious of a battle going on inside, flesh against spirit.  What I want vs. what God said. 

This is why we must not love anyone more than Jesus, especially those to whom we give affection.  This is because natural affections can cause us to betray Jesus when the choice is set before us.  The inward work of the Cross in our lives is to crucify the flesh with its "affections and lusts" (Gal 5:24).  It is a painful process to deny the soul, but it is necessary in order to protect the purpose of God in us. 

Don't allow some secret love or affection divert your course.  My life:  either lay it down at the Cross, or "lose it" , "to lose life" in the original language means "to waste it, to perish, to utterly destroy".  There is no other alternative.  Sacrifice it or waste it.

RESPONSE:  I am grateful that I don't have to chose between my mother and Jesus, or between my children and Jesus.  My loyalties lie with Jesus.  I can see from this reading that the Kingdom of God might be an enemy of "family life" at times.  I don't want to make a fetish of "family" by chosing to serve them INSTEAD of Jesus some Sunday morning, for example.   I tell my feelings to trust God because He is mighty, He is holy, He is truthful, He is faithful.  God will not be moved, He will not change His mind, He will not run away.  God is truly just, He is truthful, He is righteous, He doesn't "fudge" the line.  God is my real Father.  Jesus is My Brother, according to Hebrews.  The Church is my family. 

PSALM 13:1-6
This is a good Psalm to read out loud when your heart needs to be reassured that "all is well".  Sometimes it feels like our troubles will never end.  To "wrestle with his thoughts"  means he was at a loss to know how to help himself.  "Give light to my eyes" means to strengthen my faith.  Let me look beyond what is happening right now.   To "sleep the sleep of death"  is to live under the weight of all this. 

BUT NOW: Capture your thoughts, grab your heart strings and talk yourself happy.  When I think about JESUS and what He's done for me.....and how much He loves me....and what a strong Savior He is....I trust Him.  His mercy is "new every morning".  He has never failed me.  "Salvation" here is deliverance from trouble.   I may not be able to see much in the storm, but God's mercy ANCHORS me so I am not moved or tossed.  (Peace and joy come from BELIEVING - Romans 15:13)  Whether He ever does one more thing for me or not, GOD HAS BEEN GOOD TO ME!!!!  I can preach MYSELF happy!

PROVERBS 3:16-18
Some people have been deceived into pursuing riches, longevity, status, or whatever.  Here we find that those things are in the hands of "Wisdom".  When we seek Wisdom, we GET those other things.  And Wisdom brings the empowerment of peace, life, and blessing. 

RESPONSE:  Lord, strengthen my faith.  I don't want to doubt You in the dark.  Help me to remember how good You are when I am afraid.  I have made a decision to press through stuff by preaching to myself.  I can talk my heart into anything.  So I have decided to talk my heart into trusting God, into loving God, into desiring God.  He has been so good to me!  Is "Wisdom" another Name for God?