January 13 - Evening
"So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah to come out to the fields where his flocks were. He said to them, 'I see that your father’s attitude toward me is not what it was before, but the God of my father has been with me. You know that I’ve worked for your father with all my strength, yet your father has cheated me by changing my wages ten times. However, God has not allowed him to harm me. If he said, ‘The speckled ones will be your wages,’ then all the flocks gave birth to speckled young; and if he said, ‘The streaked ones will be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked young."
- Genesis 31:4-8
- Genesis 31:4-8
The Lord is Seen in Every Area of Life
God’s favor on Jacob, the heir to the Abrahamic Promise, is obvious in this situation. Jacob is blessed by God in a foreign land while someone is intentionally trying to rip him off.Jacob begins his defense to his wives with “You know” which indicates his two wives are aware of their father’s mistreatment of Jacob and of Jacob’s innocence in this matter.
Jacob focuses on the fact that he has “worked…with all my strength” over the past twenty years (Genesis 31:38). All this time his father-in-law, Laban, has tried to offset the Lord’s blessing on Jacob ten different times. Laban was constantly adjusting the situation in order to benefit himself, while the Lord used each adjustment by Laban to bless Jacob.
It is important to recognize that Jacob saw God’s immediate intervention in every area of his life:
- family
- work
- prosperity
- future and more.
Kerusso (Gr) – Preach (Eng) - kerusso is the Greek word that literally means “to announce,” “to publicly proclaim.” Timothy is told to kerusso the Word in Second Timothy 4:2-4. The Greek meaning of kerusso refers to a public proclamation that is announced with seriousness and with an authority that must be heard and that demands obedience. Jesus, John the Baptists, the Apostles and teachers in the church are all examples of people described as communicating by kerusso.
Do I associate situations to God's intervention?
Do I recognize that God is aware of my life situations and has assigned his plan concerning me?
I will live boldly and righteously knowing that God is attentive to situations in my life.
Do I recognize that God is aware of my life situations and has assigned his plan concerning me?
I will live boldly and righteously knowing that God is attentive to situations in my life.
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
Discernment concerning truth and deception
Church
Holy Spirit activity
Nation
Jobs
World
Fair trade agreements with other countries
Someone to Quote
"It often astonishes me that I did not see the importance of meditation upon Scripture earlier in my Christian life. As the outward man is not fit for work for any length of time unless he eats, so it is with the inner man. What is the food for the inner man? Not prayer, but the Word of God – not the simple reading of the Word of God, so that it only passes through our minds, just as water runs through a pipe. No, we must consider what we read, ponder over it, and apply it to our hearts."
- George Muller
- George Muller
Something to Ponder
Many are frightened because meditation has become something of a buzzword in New Age circles. But the differences between biblically based meditation and what we find in Eastern religions and the New Age movement are profound. Here are a few of them:
1. Unlike Eastern meditation, which advocates emptying the mind, Christian meditation call for is to fill our mind with God and His truth.
2. Unlike Eastern meditation, which advocates mental passivity, Christian meditation call on us to actively exert our mental energy.
3. Unlike Eastern meditation, which advocates detachment from the world, Christian meditation call for attachment to God.
4. Unlike Eastern meditation, which advocates visualization in order to create one’s own reality, Christian meditation call for visualization of the reality already created by God.
5. Unlike Eastern meditation, which advocates metaphysical union with “god,” Christian meditation calls for spiritual communion with God.
6. Unlike Eastern meditation, which advocates an inner journey to find the center of one’s being, Christian meditation calls for an outward focus on the objective revelation of God in Scripture and creation.
7. Unlike Eastern meditation, which advocates mystical transport as the goal of one’s efforts, Christian meditation calls for moral transformation as the goal of one’s efforts.
- by Sam Storms, in "Pleasures Evermore"
1. Unlike Eastern meditation, which advocates emptying the mind, Christian meditation call for is to fill our mind with God and His truth.
2. Unlike Eastern meditation, which advocates mental passivity, Christian meditation call on us to actively exert our mental energy.
3. Unlike Eastern meditation, which advocates detachment from the world, Christian meditation call for attachment to God.
4. Unlike Eastern meditation, which advocates visualization in order to create one’s own reality, Christian meditation call for visualization of the reality already created by God.
5. Unlike Eastern meditation, which advocates metaphysical union with “god,” Christian meditation calls for spiritual communion with God.
6. Unlike Eastern meditation, which advocates an inner journey to find the center of one’s being, Christian meditation calls for an outward focus on the objective revelation of God in Scripture and creation.
7. Unlike Eastern meditation, which advocates mystical transport as the goal of one’s efforts, Christian meditation calls for moral transformation as the goal of one’s efforts.
- by Sam Storms, in "Pleasures Evermore"
Here’s a Fact
A sundial discovered while excavating rubble from the 70 AD destruction of Jerusalem has been found. It is 2 x 2 inches and has a seven-branched menorah (lampstand) that was used in the temple etched into the back. These facts give the impression it belong to the priests and was part of the Herodian Temple when it was destroyed. (Details here. Photo here.)
Proverb
"From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful have a craving for violence."
- Proverbs 13:2
- Proverbs 13:2
Coach’s Corner
Jesus altered the course of history and is known today as one of the most influential people of all time. He did this by serving others. And, he taught his core disciples to do the same thing:
Serve, not rule.
Serve, not rule.
Job 2
New International Version (NIV)
2 On another day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”
3 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”
4 “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. 5 But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
6 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.”
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.
9 His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”
10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”
In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
11 When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. 12 When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. 13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.
New International Version (NIV)
2 On another day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”
3 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”
4 “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. 5 But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
6 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.”
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.
9 His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”
10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”
In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
11 When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. 12 When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. 13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.
Job 37
New International Version (NIV)
37
“At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place.
2
Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
3
He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth.
4
After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back.
5
God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.
6
He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’
7
So that everyone he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their labor.
8
The animals take cover; they remain in their dens.
9
The tempest comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds.
10
The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen.
11
He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through them.
12
At his direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever he commands them.
13
He brings the clouds to punish people, or to water his earth and show his love.
14
“Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders.
15
Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash?
16
Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?
17
You who swelter in your clothes when the land lies hushed under the south wind,
18
can you join him in spreading out the skies, hard as a mirror of cast bronze?
19
“Tell us what we should say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness.
20
Should he be told that I want to speak? Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?
21
Now no one can look at the sun, bright as it is in the skies after the wind has swept them clean.
22
Out of the north he comes in golden splendor; God comes in awesome majesty.
23
The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress.
24
Therefore, people revere him, for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart?”
New International Version (NIV)
37
“At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place.
2
Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
3
He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth.
4
After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back.
5
God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.
6
He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’
7
So that everyone he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their labor.
8
The animals take cover; they remain in their dens.
9
The tempest comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds.
10
The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen.
11
He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through them.
12
At his direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever he commands them.
13
He brings the clouds to punish people, or to water his earth and show his love.
14
“Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders.
15
Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash?
16
Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?
17
You who swelter in your clothes when the land lies hushed under the south wind,
18
can you join him in spreading out the skies, hard as a mirror of cast bronze?
19
“Tell us what we should say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness.
20
Should he be told that I want to speak? Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?
21
Now no one can look at the sun, bright as it is in the skies after the wind has swept them clean.
22
Out of the north he comes in golden splendor; God comes in awesome majesty.
23
The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress.
24
Therefore, people revere him, for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart?”