Category Archives: Righteousness / Serving God

Discerning / Judging, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Righteousness / Serving God, Temptation/Tempting

One of Jesus’ Disciples Plots to Betray Him

Matthew 26 demonstrates the extremes Jesus experienced in terms of loyalty in the last few days before He was turned over to be crucified. Earlier in Matthew 26, a woman honored Jesus by pouring expensive perfume on Him. Jesus was so pleased, that He said, 13“Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.” In the next verse we see Judas plotting to betray Him.

Matthew 26:14-19

Judas’s Bargain

      14Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15and said, “What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?” And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him. 16From then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus.

It is worth noting that Judas spent a lot of time with Jesus. He witnessed many miracles and heard much of Jesus’ teaching personally and directly. He gave the appearance to all except Jesus that he was a loyal follower and disciple. Note that Judas was not even approached by the chief priests… Judas went to them! What a truly hard heart and selfish spirit. Jesus knew He would be betrayed by Judas before Judas ever began to follow Him. He was not surprised. Jesus accepted Judas that long because He knew it was part of God’s plan.

Just because someone is involved in a church or ministry or other good activities does not mean they have a true personal relationship with Jesus. It does not mean they have submitted their lives to Jesus. We should look beyond actions to attitudes when discerning whether or not someone is genuine in their relationship with Jesus. This discernment is very important… who do you trust your children with in the nursery or kids church? who do you listen to as your pastor? what about young men and ladies considering marriage?

Many, when they read this scripture, want to quickly assert that they would never betray Jesus for such a sum of money… or at all. But we should all pause to consider… many believe they will not fail Jesus, but may not really be prepared for the difficulty or persecution they may face if they stand up for Jesus.  Peter thought he would stand with Jesus unto death when Jesus told him that he would deny Him three times? Yet when the time came, Peter denied Jesus.  I am sure also, that Eve did not plan to fail God in the garden, but when the time came, she did so by listening to the serpent.

The situation with Peter and Eve are different from that of Judas. Judas intentionally betrayed Jesus for profit. Peter and Eve failed to stand firm for God when tempted and tested. However, these examples stand as a warning for each of us to avoid being overconfident. If we are overconfident, saying to ourselves, “That will never happen to me”, then we are not, in fact, preparing ourselves for when that situation confronts us. We are more likely to fail if we are not planning ahead how to deal with such a situation.

Have you ever been tempted to steal, perhaps rationalizing that someone’s insurance will cover it or it is only a small item? Have you made business deals or personal deals to make money that compromised the values that Jesus teaches? Have you taken advantage of someone else by lying or deceiving them?

These are real life examples we are faced with in our lives where we either stand for Christ, fail under pressure, or outright betray Him… often for much less than the 30 pieces of silver that Judas received.

Decide ahead of time, now, to stand up for Jesus even when you think it may not matter. Get comfortable representing Him well and being a loyal servant even when you expect to be mocked or persecuted in return. Prepare to behave the way Jesus teaches us, even if it costs you money to do so. Choose to honor God in what you do and in what you fail to do.

If you find that you make a wrong decision, admit to yourself you did wrong, ask forgiveness from Jesus and dedicate yourself to do better next time. God’s grace is wonderful!

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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Love

Love Jesus Through Acts of Service

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Jesus has just reminded His disciples in Matthew 26:1-2 that He is to be handed over to crucifixion during Passover in two days. In  Matthew 26:6-13, the disciples appear indignant about the use of expensive perfume to honor Jesus. They have not yet full understood all that is happening and is about to happen. Jesus remains patient with them, taking each opportunity as a teachable moment. Through His love and grace, these teachable moments are also shared with us through the written record of God’s word… the Bible.

The Precious Ointment

      6Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, 7a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at the table. 8But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, “Why this waste? 9“For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” 10But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me. 11“For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. 12“For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. 13“Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”

What a great reminder to take care and perhaps some restraint in criticizing others in how they give or serve to honor Jesus. Rather than complain about how they are doing it… just support them in honoring God and serving Him. Yes we can provide wise counsel to each others as brothers and sisters in Christ, but we should take care to do so with understanding, patience and respect rather than indignation and harsh criticism.

I truly appreciate the gift this woman gave to Jesus and am glad to be one of many through the last few thousand years to highlight her service to Jesus while He was near the end of His earthly ministry. What a wonderful opportunity to show love for Him!

While we do not share the opportunity to directly honor Jesus in this way in His earthly ministry, we do have the opportunity to show similar love and care for His people who are in need. We can encourage one another in His name and work together to meet the needs of many around the world or in our own home town or village.

I encourage each of us to take away a challenge to help someone this week in an effort to honor God. Show them love and kindness and tell them it is because of Jesus Christ who loved us first, when we were yet sinners and shows us how to love one another.

Take some time and share with one another what you have done for someone else or what they have done for you. By sharing these simple acts of love that honor God we can encourage one another and give each other ideas. Share them on our website Submit Testimonies page and review submissions from others on our Acts of Service page.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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Forgive Others / Seek Forgiveness, Grace / Forgiveness, Heaven and Hell, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Joy / Happiness / Rejoicing, Love, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Salvation

Yes, Jesus Loves Us That Much!

After Jesus finishes His  prophetic response to Peter, James, John and Andrew regarding when the temple in Jerusalem will be destroyed and the signs of Jesus’ return and the end of the age, He again returns to the topic of His impending death. As we studied previously in our teaching, Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection – He Went Willingly, Jesus has made  a point to clearly communicate multiple times to His disciples that He is to die and be resurrected. As the day approaches, He even tells them what day it will occur, during Passover.

Matthew 26:1-13

The Plot to Kill Jesus

      1When Jesus had finished all these words, He said to His disciples, 2“You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is to be handed over for crucifixion.”

      3Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, named Caiaphas; 4and they plotted together to seize Jesus by stealth and kill Him. 5But they were saying, “Not during the festival, otherwise a riot might occur among the people.”

Jesus clearly went willingly to His torture and death. God loves us all so much that He became man in the person of Jesus Christ and willingly suffered and died and was resurrected for us…for our sins… all of us. He extends the offer to us, having already paid the price for our sin and wrong choices. All we need to do is accept His offer. (To learn more, study our teaching, The Message of the Cross – Salvation.)

He loved His disciples enough to continually remind them in advance of what was going to happen so they would understand later and recognize the proper perspective that Jesus did so willingly in obedience to God’s plan. He confirmed multiple times what was to happen and then even when it was to happen. God truly loves us that much. The Bible records this history so that even today, thousands of years later, we can be clear that Jesus willingly laid down His life for our sins. He was not tricked or defeated… He volunteered to take our punishment. We deserved to be on the cross, but He went on our behalf.

If someone died saving you from being killed in a tragic accident, such as being run over by a truck… you would tell everyone about it with thanksgiving and praise for that person. You would probably remember and retell it your entire life.

If someone offered us $100 and all we had to do was accept it… and then told us they would offer the same deal to everyone, not matter what they have done wrong in their lives… no matter who they are…  we would take it, thank them, and tell everyone else we knew about this great opportunity.

Why is it that when we hear of this offer for forgiveness of all our past mistakes and reconciliation with God for eternity, we so often keep it to ourselves?

We would tell everyone about the $100 without worrying if we were insulting them by implying they need the money. If we do not feel the same way about telling them what Jesus offers we must consider deeply whether or not we, ourselves, really believe it is true and whether or not we love others enough to help them find Jesus.  Some will reject the message just as some would not believe you about the $100 offer… but some will believe and will come to Jesus.

Rejoice in being a worker in God’s harvest! Do not be “embarrassed” by your love for Jesus but rather be glad in it and share it with everyone!

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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Character of God, Courage / Fear, Faith / Trusting God, Obeying God, Protector / Deliverer, Suffering / Adversity, Thankfulness

After Fervent Prayer, Jacob Proceeds Forth To Meet Esau

We continue with Jacob as he prepares to meet Esau with fear of Esau taking revenge for past deceptions by Jacob. Esau is coming with 400 men to meet Jacob. Jacob has put in place a plan to send representatives and gifts to Esau to find favor with him. Jacob prayed for God to help, wrestling with God and coming out faithful and devoted to serving and obeying God’s instructions regardless of his own personal fear or concern.

Genesis 33:1-20 reveals to us the outcome of Jacob’s obedience to God’s instruction on where Jacob should take his family. We can trust the promises of God and the instructions of God. Esau is not mad and actually offers to turn down the gifts offered by Jacob. Jacob receives a warm welcome. Esau actually offers to escort Jacob or leave men with him to escort him safely.

Jacob Meets Esau

      1Then Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two maids. 2He put the maids and their children in front, and Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. 3But he himself passed on ahead of them and bowed down to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

      4Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. 5He lifted his eyes and saw the women and the children, and said, “Who are these with you?” So he said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” 6Then the maids came near with their children, and they bowed down. 7Leah likewise came near with her children, and they bowed down; and afterward Joseph came near with Rachel, and they bowed down. 8And he said, “What do you mean by all this company which I have met?” And he said, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” 9But Esau said, “I have plenty, my brother; let what you have be your own.” 10Jacob said, “No, please, if now I have found favor in your sight, then take my present from my hand, for I see your face as one sees the face of God, and you have received me favorably. 11“Please take my gift which has been brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me and because I have plenty.” Thus he urged him and he took it.

      12Then Esau said, “Let us take our journey and go, and I will go before you.” 13But he said to him, “My lord knows that the children are frail and that the flocks and herds which are nursing are a care to me. And if they are driven hard one day, all the flocks will die. 14“Please let my lord pass on before his servant, and I will proceed at my leisure, according to the pace of the cattle that are before me and according to the pace of the children, until I come to my lord at Seir.”

      15Esau said, “Please let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” 16So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built for himself a house and made booths for his livestock; therefore the place is named Succoth.

Jacob Settles in Shechem

      18Now Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Paddan-aram, and camped before the city. 19He bought the piece of land where he had pitched his tent from the hand of the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of money. 20Then he erected there an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.

After all the worry and a tough journey, I am sure Jacob must have felt relieved to find rest. There was no trouble with Esau. I believe that God was involved in that as well as Jacob through prayer and executing a plan to come before Esau humbly. Jacob trusted and obeyed God in faith and grew closer to Him along the way. Now we see Jacob erects an altar and names it El-Elohe-Israel, which means  mighty is the God of Israel. (God changed Jacob’s name to Israel in Genesis 32.) Jacob is taking time to give thanks and honor God for his successful journey away from Laban, through reconciliation with Esau, and leading Jacob and his family to a place of their own to settle peacefully.

Jacob now serves a good example for us in relationship with God. Out of a sinful beginning filled with deception, we continue to see evidence of Jacob’s growing relationship with God. He has come a long way since accepting God as his God on the way to Laban’s, 20 years ago. He continues to grow closer to God. Just accepting God on the way to Laban’s was only a gate, an entry, to a life submitted to God. It was not a one-time decision. He was not done when He accepted God as Lord… he was just getting started.

To follow in Jacob’s example, we must first realize that we are sinners, missing the mark in living for God or often outright rejecting Him all-together. God appeared to Jacob personally but God became man in the person of Jesus Christ, suffered and died for all of all of our sins… yours and mine and everyone else’s. He was resurrected and overcame death. He offers us each an invitation to receive forgiveness and reconciliation with God leading to eternal life. Repent, or turn away from, your sins and change your life to live according to God’s instructions. Ask forgiveness from God and submit to Jesus as Lord of your life. If you have never accepted Jesus as Lord, please do so today! It is urgent. None of us has tomorrow promised to us. Pray with us something like the following:

Pray genuinely with your heart because it is not about the specific words but the condition of the heart and submission to God.

Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus Christ. I confess that Jesus is Lord. I believe in my heart that you raised Him from the dead. Come into my heart Jesus, and be Lord over my life. Thank you God for saving me.

This is not all there is! Just like we witness in the life of Jacob, this is but the beginning… the doorway. Once you pass through this doorway you submit your whole life to Christ. It requires a combination of Intellect (knowing God), Emotion (loving God and fearing God), and Will (choosing to do His will instead of our own). It is an ongoing decision in our lives that starts us on a journey to know God more intimately and to obey Him more completely. It requires study and prayer and action. It is a journey we never finish in this life, but it transforms us along the way to be more and more like Jesus Christ.

Reach out to others you know have already accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Tell them of your decision to follow Christ. Look to connect with a Christian mentor, local church or group of true Christian believers. Connecting with other Christians and publically declaring your decision to follow Christ can help provide important support from other believers to help you on your journey with Jesus Christ. Remember, many who reject Jesus will try to talk you out of submitting to Him and following Him. Pray God will guide you to and connect you with the fellowship of true brothers and sisters in Christ that will help you to continue your lifelong journey to know, love, and serve Jesus Christ!

We invite you to study the Bible with us daily through our devotions via email, Facebook, Google Plus, or on our website Latest Devotions page.

If you have questions or want to know more, please Contact Us.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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Character of God, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Heaven and Hell, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Love

God Will Not Force Himself On Anyone

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After passionately teaching against the hypocrisy and wickedness of the religious leaders, who lead so many of God’s people away from the kingdom of God, Jesus pauses to express His sadness at the path of rejecting God that Jerusalem has chosen.

Matthew 23:37-39

    37“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. 38“Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! 39“For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!’”

God has great love for His people and a desire to gather them together in His care. However, He will not force Himself on anyone. He grants each of us free will and the ability to accept and submit to God, or to reject Him and live according to our own path. The path of submission to God is filled with joy even in suffering and leads to eternity with God in Heaven. The path of our own desires, of our internal sin nature, the deceptions of Satan… that appears fun and exciting on the surface but can never fill the emptiness inside of each of us that results from being separated from God. This path leads to destruction and eternal separation from God in Hell.

Many will choose the wide path that leads to destruction, and only a few will choose the truly righteous path for it is narrow… but it leads to eternal life with God.

Which path will you choose?

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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Consequences of Sin, Discerning / Judging, False Prophets / Teachers, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Hypocrisy, Prophecy, Traditions / Holidays

Hypocritical Religious Leaders Shut Off The Kingdom Of Heaven From People

Anyone who thinks they can just choose a pastor or church and follow them because they appear to have some authority or are backed by a large bureaucratic religious organization should take care to heed Jesus’ rebukes of the established religious authorities of the time of His earthly ministry. Clearly we are to seek out the word of God recorded in holy scripture, in the Bible, and use that to validate any teacher or pastor whom we follow. Many with appearance of legitimate authority lead themselves and others astray.  God’s instructions are too important not to study them for ourselves to confirm any meaning or application of scripture in our lives.

Matthew 23:13-34

     13“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14[“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation.]

      15“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

      16“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is obligated.’ 17“You fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold? 18“And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering on it, he is obligated.’ 19“You blind men, which is more important, the offering, or the altar that sanctifies the offering? 20“Therefore, whoever swears by the altar, swears both by the altar and by everything on it. 21“And whoever swears by the temple, swears both by the temple and by Him who dwells within it. 22“And whoever swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.

      23“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. 24“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

      25“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. 26“You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.

      27“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28“So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

      29“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30and say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31“So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32“Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers. 33“You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?

      34“Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, 35so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36“Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation

At the beginning of Matthew 23, Jesus rebukes the religious leaders of the time and tells the people that they are all brothers with one Father, God. We are not to blindly follow other men, calling them father or rabbi. Beware of “organized religion” with layers of bureaucracy as it tends to incorporate doctrine and traditions of men and place them in higher importance or in distraction to the commands of God. God has already provided His instruction and we are each as individuals to study it and come to personal relationship with God through prayer. No man needs stand between us and God.

Will you follow traditions of men or commands of God? Will you study God’s word consistently and pray daily to grow in relationship with God so you can know the difference? Make the commitment today to study the Bible and pray daily as a starting point to your walk with Jesus as Lord.

We encourage you to review these core teachings as you get started or recommit yourself:

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Share the Good News, Study the Word

HFJ News: Answering Other Religions and Atheism

We are continuing our weekly Friday extra post of “HFJ News” which is intended to introduce our Christian community to different parts of the website that many find useful.  Links are provided for your convenience or you can just visit the site directly at HearingFromJesus.org and look around on your own.

This week we are highlighting the section of our website where we provide some resources we recommend to help you understand the key faults in some religions other than Christianity, including atheism… which people passionately embrace as a religion in itself. These are but a few resources. There are many. But take care as you evaluate more… those written by false prophets or believers of the false teachings will twist holy scripture and deceive with confidence to lead you astray… very much like Satan did to convince Eve to disobey God in the garden of Eden.  Always check who wrote the book and what their main premise is before reading it. Make sure they submit to Jesus Christ.

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Answering Other Religions and Atheism

Jesus never instructs us to study and focus on religions other than Christianity . However we are charged with sharing the gospel throughout the world and it can be helpful to have some background on what other faiths believe and where they break down. Some knowledge in this area is helpful to effectively sharing the gospel.

For those who have not studied and developed a solid foundation in Christianity, it is best to focus on that first. If you are not mature, confident, and learned in Christianity and you study other religions and engage passionate practitioners of those religions to bring them to Christianity you may well fall prey to deception and seed doubts as to your faith.  Focus first on learning Christianity.

Answering Agnostics

  • Josh McDowell MinistriesAs a young man, Josh McDowell considered himself an agnostic. He truly believed that Christianity was worthless. However, when challenged to intellectually examine the claims of Christianity, Josh discovered compelling, overwhelming evidence for the reliability of the Christian faith. Associated website at Josh.org.

Answering Atheists

  • Stealing From God: Why Atheists Need God To Make Their Case by Frank Turek shows how many atheistic arguments, instead of disproving God, reveal that He actually exists. Associated website at CrossExamined.org.

Answering World Religions

  • The Facts on World Religions (Facts On Series) by John Ankerberg, John Weldon, & Dillon Burroughs) delivers informed viewpoints, insightful arguments, and a scripture-based Christian perspective on issues that impact our world.  The series also includes other books like The Facts on Islam, The Facts on the Mormon Church, and The Facts on Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Answering Islam

  • Answering-Islam.org provides a Christian Muslim dialog
  • Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, by Nabeel Qureshi, describes a dramatic journey from Islam to Christianity including the friendships, experiences and investigation that led to conversion. Associated website at NabeelQureshi.com.

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May the grace and peace of our lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Note: HFJ News posts are always supplemental and never replace our daily devotions, so please be sure to look for your daily devotion from Hearing From Jesus (HFJ) as well.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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Blessed, Character of God, Faith / Trusting God, Hearing from God, Obeying God, Righteousness / Serving God

Jacob Wrestles with God

We continue with Jacob as he and his family are following God’s direction to return home. He fears a hostile greeting from his brother, Esau. Jacob has already come before God in prayer, reminding himself of God’s promises to prosper him. He has come thankfully and humbly to God earlier in Genesis 32 asking for protection from Esau as he continues to follow God’s instruction. Jacob has further developed and put into motion a plan to appease Esau by sending him gifts and servants ahead of his meeting with Jacob. As we continue in Genesis 32:24-32, we see Jacob wrestling with God .

    24Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. 26Then he said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.” 29Then Jacob asked him and said, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And he blessed him there. 30So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.” 31Now the sun rose upon him just as he crossed over Penuel, and he was limping on his thigh. 32Therefore, to this day the sons of Israel do not eat the sinew of the hip which is on the socket of the thigh, because he touched the socket of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew of the hip.

Based on the injury to Jacob this wrestling may have been a physical encounter, but we can say with confidence that it has spiritual significance. Jacob was wrestling with God… agonizing in prayer throughout the night as he sought God’s blessing. If it were just about a physical wrestling match, God would have beaten Jacob quite handily if that had been His desire. It would not be a contest.

Jacob is not wrestling with God in rebellion. He has just demonstrated obedience and faith in God by following God’s instructions even when returning home made Jacob fearful. In fact, Jacob is wrestling with God seeking His blessing. He is desperate to be assured of God’s blessing. Without it he feels afraid and helpless against Esau. Jacob is desperately depending on God as he follows God’s directions in his life.

God does not rebuke Jacob, but rather the new name He bestows upon him actually honors Jacob’s persistence. Jacob received his name at birth because he “…came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel” [Genesis 25:26]. This turns out to be a good indicator of Jacob’s life before submitting to God…always plotting and scheming to get ahead, even within his own family. Now Jacob receives a new name, more representative of his personal growth in relationship and submission to God.

28He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.”

I believe the only way we prevail when struggling with God and men is by obeying God and doing as He instructs… by trusting God above all men or situations we face. This was not just a struggle representing a single decision for Jacob, but rather the culmination of his turning away from his prior life of deception and submitting his life to obey God over many years. God granting Jacob a new name is essentially an outward representation that Jacob has died to his old self and been reborn in a life of submission to God.

The injury appears to serve as a physical reminder for Jacob and for generations of Israelites that followed to remember this change within Jacob’s life.

When I read this scripture, I can identify very much with the idea of wrestling between my own sin nature which wants to believe Satan’s lies and deception, and my desire to obey and live for God. I pray that in wrestling with God, I am persistent in seeking His blessing and direction for my life but never wrestling with Him out of disobedience or rebellion. I pray that I prevail over the ways of men and live fully submitted to God having been reborn in the name of Jesus Christ.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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Courage / Fear, Family, Hearing from God, Obeying God, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Protector / Deliverer, Righteousness / Serving God, Thankfulness

Afraid and Distressed, Jacob Turns Humbly to God

In Genesis 32:1-23 we continue on our journey with Jacob as he grows in relationship and trust with God. He is obeying God’s direction to return home, trusting in God despite his fear of Esau, who had been plotting to kill Jacob a long time ago when Jacob left.

      1Now as Jacob went on his way, the angels of God met him. 2Jacob said when he saw them, “This is God’s camp.” So he named that place Mahanaim.

      3Then Jacob sent messengers before him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4He also commanded them saying, “Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: ‘Thus says your servant Jacob, “I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed until now; 5I have oxen and donkeys and flocks and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.”’”

      6The messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and furthermore he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.” 7Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and the herds and the camels, into two companies; 8for he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the company which is left will escape.”

      9Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O LORD, who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your relatives, and I will prosper you,’ 10I am unworthy of all the lovingkindness and of all the faithfulness which You have shown to Your servant; for with my staff only I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two companies. 11“Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, that he will come and attack me and the mothers with the children. 12“For You said, ‘I will surely prosper you and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which is too great to be numbered.’”

      13So he spent the night there. Then he selected from what he had with him a present for his brother Esau: 14two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, 15thirty milking camels and their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. 16He delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass on before me, and put a space between droves.” 17He commanded the one in front, saying, “When my brother Esau meets you and asks you, saying, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you going, and to whom do these animals in front of you belong?’ 18then you shall say, ‘These belong to your servant Jacob; it is a present sent to my lord Esau. And behold, he also is behind us.’” 19Then he commanded also the second and the third, and all those who followed the droves, saying, “After this manner you shall speak to Esau when you find him; 20and you shall say, ‘Behold, your servant Jacob also is behind us.’” For he said, “I will appease him with the present that goes before me. Then afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.” 21So the present passed on before him, while he himself spent that night in the camp.

      22Now he arose that same night and took his two wives and his two maids and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23He took them and sent them across the stream. And he sent across whatever he had.

How wonderful that God sent angels to encourage Jacob. That must have been quite some boost to his spirit… and he may have needed that reassurance from God when he heard that Esau was coming with 400 men to meet him. Surely Jacob remembered that Esau was plotting to kill him when he left, many years ago. They were not on good terms. Jacob clearly splits his group into multiple groups anticipating this possibility. He also puts in place a diplomatic strategy to help his relations with Esau… sending messengers, and gifts ahead of him, declaring he is Esau’s servant.

However, the most important part of the strategy for a righteous person is the prayer. Jacob, in his time of great anxiety, comes humbly before God with praise and thanksgiving, reminding himself of God’s promises and instruction, and asking God to protect him as he obeys God’s instruction to return home to a likely hostile and powerful brother. Jacob continues, faithful to God, despite his concerns.

We should take careful note that Jacob handles this situation as he did managing the flocks over the past 20 years. He comes humbly before God, asking help and protection and listening for instruction… obeying what God commands. Then he combines that with hard work, good strategy, and his own best efforts. He is not lazy, simply putting God to the test and saying God will take care of it all. Rather, Jacob prays for God to act and then does his own personal best to address the situation, trusting God to support Him.

We should model our own walk with God after this pattern. We should absolutely rely on God but also put forth our own hard work and good planning to accomplish what He tells us to do. We should do our part and trust God to bless it.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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Family, Hearing from God, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Idols / False Gods, Lying / Deceiving, Protector / Deliverer, Righteousness / Serving God, Suffering / Adversity, Wickedness / Evil

Laban Pursues Jacob

Genesis 31:22-42 continues after Jacob has fled Laban in secret earlier in Genesis 31, taking His family and livestock with Him. Rachel, stole from her father the household idols to bring with her. When Laban realizes Jacob has left, he pursues him with anger. But God is with Jacob and comes to Laban in a dream to protect Jacob.

      22When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled, 23then he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him a distance of seven days’ journey, and he overtook him in the hill country of Gilead. 24God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night and said to him, “Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad.”

      25Laban caught up with Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban with his kinsmen camped in the hill country of Gilead. 26Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done by deceiving me and carrying away my daughters like captives of the sword? 27“Why did you flee secretly and deceive me, and did not tell me so that I might have sent you away with joy and with songs, with timbrel and with lyre; 28and did not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters? Now you have done foolishly. 29“It is in my power to do you harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful not to speak either good or bad to Jacob.’ 30“Now you have indeed gone away because you longed greatly for your father’s house; but why did you steal my gods?” 31Then Jacob replied to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force. 32“The one with whom you find your gods shall not live; in the presence of our kinsmen point out what is yours among my belongings and take it for yourself.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.

      33So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent and into the tent of the two maids, but he did not find them. Then he went out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent. 34Now Rachel had taken the household idols and put them in the camel’s saddle, and she sat on them. And Laban felt through all the tent but did not find them. 35She said to her father, “Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise before you, for the manner of women is upon me.” So he searched but did not find the household idols.

      36Then Jacob became angry and contended with Laban; and Jacob said to Laban, “What is my transgression? What is my sin that you have hotly pursued me? 37“Though you have felt through all my goods, what have you found of all your household goods? Set it here before my kinsmen and your kinsmen, that they may decide between us two. 38“These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten the rams of your flocks. 39“That which was torn of beasts I did not bring to you; I bore the loss of it myself. You required it of my hand whether stolen by day or stolen by night. 40“Thus I was: by day the heat consumed me and the frost by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes. 41“These twenty years I have been in your house; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flock, and you changed my wages ten times. 42“If the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had not been for me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, so He rendered judgment last night.”

Perhaps one of the first things to note, is that God is perfectly able to communicate through non believers, such as Laban. He appears to Laban in a dream in order to protect Jacob. We know Laban was not a man of God by his behaviors such as deceiving Jacob and then trying to cheat him by changing his agreed wages repeatedly… and of course by the fact that Laban clutches tightly to his household  idols.  Additionally, Laban refers to God as the God of Jacob’s father, not his own God or even just “God”.

We see, also, that though Laban is quick to deceive others, he does not like to be deceived. This is typical hypocritical behavior for those who are focused on themselves rather than fundamental principles or truths of right and wrong. Every situation is interpreted not against God’s holy standard, but rather against the flawed view of “How does it affect me?” Godly people are called to be different from this behavior, measuring right and wrong against God’s holy standard revealed in scripture.

As a man continuing on his walk toward righteousness, Jacob strongly agrees that  whomever stole from Laban should be punished. Jacob wanted nothing to do with the idols anyway as they are detestable to God. Jacob did not make excuses when confronted by Laban. He clearly stated why he left  secretly and made no excuse for someone stealing.

Rachel, clutching to idols instead of God or even husband, comes up with clever deception to avoid being caught at this time. A family raised by deceitful and wicked parents becomes quite good at being wicked. This type of cleverness is not to be admired.

Having given Laban time to look for his idols, Jacob then rebukes Laban for chasing him and for several other ways in which Laban has wrongly treated Jacob. Jacob highlights that his service has been righteous and honorable even when Laban was not. Both Jacob and Laban prospered from it. Best of all, Jacob honors God by recognizing and proclaiming His role in protecting Jacob and his family in this difficult twenty years.

For those of us today, who are going through difficult family situations or even situations in life not related to family specifically, keep in mind that God can be with you even in tough situations. He never promises to protect you from suffering and make life easy. Quite the contrary, those who serve Him the most often have quite difficult lives with a  lot of earthly pain and suffering, but still find joy in the Lord and in the hope of what is to come after death.

When you find yourself in difficult times, it is then that you must draw nearer to Him, not pull away. Seek Him more earnestly both in study of scripture and in prayer. Change your ways from the path of sin to the path of righteous obedience and submission to God. Do not just look for a “quick fix” to your situation. Trust God. Ask Him for help. God is able to provide and protect according to His will.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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