Calendar of Events
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Jan 27 Wrestling with God
27_Wrestling with God Gen 32:24-32 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. 28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” 29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” 31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon. Hos 12:3,4 In the womb he took his brother by the heel, And in his mature strength he contended with God. 4 Yes, he wrestled with the angel and prevailed; He wept and implored His favor. Corrie ten Boom was a Dutch Christian who sheltered Jews during Hitler’s reign of terror. Betrayed, she and her sister endured the horrors of Nazi concentration camp life during World War II. Despite numerous trials and miseries, they shared the good news of Christ with others in the camps. Many found God’s forgiveness and love in that setting of horror. After her release, she traveled the world, sharing her testimony of God’s grace and forgiveness. At one meeting, as she stood to receive people after her message, she recognized the man in front of her as a particularly brutal guard in one of the camps. This man had even beaten up her frail sister Betsie for not being able to work as hard as the others. Betsie died just before Corrie was released. Now the ex-guard smiled as he joyfully repeated what she had just spoken about - that God’s love could overcome any sin, no matter how great. But as he held his hand out for her to shake, her heart was in a wild tumult of anger, pain, and bitterness. How dare he smile at her after doing such evil? How could she forgive such a man? In that moment of inner turmoil, she clung to just one thought. She promised God that she would hold out her hand even though she felt only hatred for him. God would have to do the rest. As she took his hand, the miracle happened. She was filled to overflowing with love and forgiveness for her former enemy. She experienced the power of Christ to forgive his enemies in that moment. This striking story reminds us of what it means
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Jan 28 Picture of a carnal christian
28_Picture of a carnal Christian Gen 33:1-3 Then Jacob raised 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 slave women. 2 He put the slave women and their children in front, and Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. 3 But he himself passed on ahead of them and bowed down to the ground seven times until he came near to his brother. Heb 12 1 Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking only at Jesus, the originator, and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before He endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Imagine a garden hose lying in a mass of tangled loops. It is designed to carry water and nourish plants. Yet it lies dry and ineffective. Its purpose is clear. Yet, without being untangled, it is useless and cannot fulfill its potential use. Every believer who lives in the flesh, entangled in worldly pursuits, does not fulfill God’s purpose. The potential for spiritual growth is there, but it is choked by self-reliance and distractions. Only with the removal of the “kinks” can the living water of God flow freely through such people. Only then can they experience and share his life and be fruitful. Jacob often provides a vivid picture of a carnal believer, even though he was a man of faith. Genesis 33 demonstrates one of the struggles between his faith and his flesh. in this chapter. This man had just wrestled with the angel of the Lord. In his helplessness, after the angel disabled him, he clung to him until his supplication for blessing was granted. He came face to face with his weakness, but he also saw God face to face. Crippled, he could no longer flee nor fight. He was weaker than ever before, just as he was about to meet Esau - a confrontation he had dreaded for years. Now Jacob could rely only on God for protection. Yet, transformation is not instant, but a lifelong journey. Despite the Lord’s blessing and despite his new name of Israel, Jacob quickly reverted to old patterns of fear and self-reliance. He still schemed to protect himself and his family, dividing his household into groups so that if one was attacked, the others might escape. God had promised to be with him. He had proven his faithfulness in protecting him from Laban. But Jacob’s faith faltered. Instead of resting in God’s promises, he clung to his human strategies. This tension between faith and fear mirrors the struggles many Christians face today. Many times we, like Jacob, forget God’s past faithfulness when faced with a new crisis. The God who delivered us before is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Yet, when challenges arise,
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Jan 29 The price of broken vows
29_The price of broken vows Gen 33:18-34:2 Now 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. 19 He bought the plot of land where he had pitched his tent from the hand of the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of money. 20 Then he erected there an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel. Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the daughters of the land. 2 When Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he took her and lay with her and raped her. In the days of king Ahab, there was a severe famine in Israel that lasted three and a half years. During this time, God spoke to the prophet Elijah, saying, “Go from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Kerith, east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” Imagine if Elijah had ignored God’s command. The ravens would still have brought bread and meat, morning and evening, but there would have been no one by the brook to receive the provision. This example highlights an important truth: God’s blessings require our obedience to his express instruction. He will not compromise with other places and paths that He has not commanded, for his plans are eternally fine-tuned to the moment and the place. When we stray from His will, we risk forfeiting the blessings He has prepared for us. Jacob’s story tells us so. This was a man who, despite experiencing God’s faithfulness, chose to deviate from the path God had marked for him—and the consequences were devastating. Jacob had finally returned to Canaan, the land of promise, after years of hardship and separation. He had vowed to God that he would return to Bethel, the place where he first encountered God in a dream, and worship Him there. Bethel represented Jacob’s spiritual homecoming—a place of gratitude, fulfillment and renewed commitment. But instead of continuing to Bethel, Jacob settled near the city of Shechem, in Canaan. He purchased land, pitched his tent, and even built an altar there. Outwardly, this may have seemed like a pious act, but it was rooted in disobedience and a lack of trust. Jacob chose convenience and comfort over obedience to God’s call. His justification for buying land might have sounded reasonable—after all, wasn’t it for the purpose of worshiping God? But this rationalization could not erase the underlying disobedience. Jacob’s forefathers had wandered as pilgrims in the land without buying property, building altars on land they did not own. Jacob’s decision was a compromise, one that opened the door to unforeseen consequences. The consequences of Jacob’s compromise began to unfold with his daughter Dinah. Dinah, curious about the culture of the people around her, ventured out to visit the women of the land. This seemingly innocent act exposed her to danger. She was taken and violated by Shechem, the
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Jan 30 Coming back to God
30_Coming back to God Gen 35:1-4 Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and live there, and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” 2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Remove the foreign gods which are among you, and purify yourselves and change your garments; 3 and let’s arise and go up to Bethel, and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me on the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.” 4 So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods which they had and the rings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under the oak which was near Shechem. In a small village nestled in the Swiss Alps, a centuries-old church stands as the heart of the community. Within this church stood a famous pipe organ, its tones so enchanting that people from far and wide would come to hear it. But as years passed, the organ began to falter. Its rich melodies gave way to jarring notes. Nobody knew how to repair it. The organ was deemed beyond restoration. Frustration slowly turned into resignation. One day, an old man visited the village. Entering the church, he looked around for the organ. Noticing that it was no longer in use, he asked, “Why don’t you play the organ anymore?” “It has broken down, it cannot be repaired any longer,” came the reply. “Let me try,” the man said confidently. For the next two months, he worked over it in silence. He had many tools and materials brought in. His days were spent in delicately adjusting and repairing the organ. When he finally announced that it was ready, the church was filled with music even more beautiful than they remembered. The astonished crowd asked how he had achieved this. With a gentle smile, the man replied, “Fifty years ago, this organ was designed and crafted in my workshop. I know it in and out, and I’ve now restored it.” This story reflects our relationship with God. He is our Creator, the one who knows us down to our smallest details. When our lives fall into disrepair—when sin, regret, or sorrow creates discord—only God can restore us fully. Genesis 35:1-4 tells such a story, as God calls Jacob back to Himself. Jacob’s life up to this point had been a rollercoaster of highs and lows. Known for his cunning, Jacob relied on deceit and self-reliance to get ahead. Within a few years of living near Shechem, his family was marked by tragedy and chaos. His daughter Dinah was violated by the prince of the city, and his sons retaliated by a massacre and sack of the town. Jacob feared greatly that this act of revenge had put himself and his family in grave danger from neighboring tribes. He found himself at an impasse, overwhelmed by the consequences of his choices and inaction. It was at this low point that God spoke to Jacob. He was to complete
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Jan 31 A dysfunctional family
31_A dysfunctional family Gen 37:Jacob lived in the land of his father's sojournings, in the land of Canaan. 2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him. 23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. 24 And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it. 25 Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. 26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. 28 Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt. Gen 42:21 Then they said to one another, “Truly we are guilty concerning our brother, because we saw the distress of his soul when he pleaded with us, yet we would not listen; for that reason, this distress has happened to us.” In the heart of a quiet forest, a tribal chief named Seattle once stood before settlers who sought to buy the land his people had cherished for centuries. His words echoed with wisdom: "How can you buy or sell the sky, the earth? This idea is strange to us. If we do not own the purity of the air or the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them?" This is the right way to view our enjoyment of God’s free gifts. The Creator gives rain and sun and air and earth to the righteous and the wicked alike. Yet, human beings often manipulate the right to enjoy these blessings. They use them to buy or show favor and fuel selfish ambition, and to divide people into classes and sects. This tendency doesn’t just corrupt our societies. It can reach deep into the innermost spaces of our lives—our families. Jacob’s family was no exception. His deep love for Joseph, the first son born to his beloved wife Rachel, became the root of division and despair. It led to jealousy among Joseph’s brothers and to tragedy. To be fair, the seeds of dysfunction had been sown
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Feb 01 32 Passion for the promise
32_Passion for the promise Gen 29:35 And she conceived again and gave birth to a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children. Gen 37:26 And Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it for us to kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come, and let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. Gen 38:1 It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2 There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. He took her and went in to her, 3 and she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. 4 She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. 5 Yet again she bore a son, and she called his name Shelah. Judah was in Chezib when she bore him. 26 And Judah recognized them, and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not have relations with her again. St. Augustine, the revered fourth-century theologian, lived a very sinful life as a young man. His mother, Monica, prayed with tears for him. Once she met with Bishop Ambrose, a devout man of God. She implored him, weeping, to intervene with her son. Moved by her unwavering faith, Ambrose spoke: “It is impossible that the son of so many tears shall perish.” Within a year, Augustine came to understand his sin and turned in deep and lifelong repentance to Christ. He spent the rest of his life studying and teaching others the scriptures. Genesis 38 shows Judah, a man who started out in repeated failures but finally ended in agreement with the truth. This chapter, though often considered an interruption in the Joseph narrative, is anything but a digression. Judah, whose name means “praise,” takes a path far removed from his heritage as the fourth son of Jacob and Leah. The chapters of Judah’s life tell a story of missteps, failures, and drifting away from God. It is a vivid, instructive account of human sin and divine grace. It does not cover up the flaws of God’s chosen people, but displays His redemptive purposes. Judah’s journey begins with a departure from his brothers. He then teams up with an Adullamite named Hirah. Corruption often begins when we distance ourselves from godly influences. Away from his family and their covenantal values, Judah married a Canaanite woman. This is a choice that defied the example of his forefathers, who avoided alliances with the idolatrous Canaanites. Judah’s disregard for God’s commands bore bitter fruit. His two sons, Er and Onan, grew up without the fear of God. Their wickedness led to their untimely deaths. Judah’s marriage choice not only affected his life but the character of his offspring. Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, is a pivotal figure in this
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Feb 02 33 Walking in the presence of God
33_Walking in the presence of the Lord Gen 39 Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. 5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. 6 So he left all that he had in Joseph's charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Dwight L. Moody once remarked, “Character is what you are in the dark.” When no one is watching us, what shapes our decisions, sustains us through trials, and keeps us steadfast in our convictions? In the life of Joseph, it was the constant awareness of God’s presence. His story in Genesis 39 testifies to the power of walking with God. The presence of God transforms us. All we need to do is to live faithfully, regardless of circumstances. Joseph's life took a dramatic turn when he was sold into slavery by his own brothers. Once the favored son of Jacob, he now found himself alone in a foreign land. He was stripped of his family, freedom, and status. But the Scriptures say, “The Lord was with Joseph.” This repeated phrase reveals the secret of Joseph’s strength and prosperity. The presence of God in Joseph’s life was not accidental or incidental. It was the foundation of his character and actions. Joseph actively sought to walk before God. Psalm 1 describes the blessed man as one who delights in knowing and doing the law of the Lord. This love for God drives him to think about living by his law day and night. This unshakable focus on God’s will nurtures a life that is faithful, fruitful, and steadfast. . Even as a slave, the lowest of men, Joseph prospered. He was at peace in the worst of situations because he knew that God was sovereign and God was good. His trust in God left no room for either bitterness toward his brothers or despair over his situation. Instead, Joseph did what he should as a servant. Greatness in God’s kingdom comes through humility and service. “For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matthew 20:28). Potiphar, Joseph’s Egyptian master, recognized that Joseph had the Lord with him. This was because his actions consistently reflected God’s character and power. Joseph’s faith was mirrored in his integrity, diligence, and faithfulness. This was rewarded
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Feb 03 34_The fruit of the Spirit is patience
34_The fruit of the Spirit is patience Gen 39:20 - 40:4 And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. 23 The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed. Gen 40:1 Some time after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, 3 and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined. 4 The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be with them, and he attended them. They continued for some time in custody. In the 1950s and 60s, Christians in China endured unimaginable persecution. Among them was Chen Minying, later known as George Chen. This devout believer was subjected to horrific treatment in prison. The authorities assigned him to compost human waste. While carrying out this humiliating task, Chen turned it into an opportunity for worship. In his own words, "I was actually happy. I could pray and sing loudly because the stench kept everyone away." This powerful testimony reminds us of Joseph, who transformed bitter experiences into hope and patience. Joseph, betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery, rose to become the trusted manager of Potiphar's household. But when falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, he found himself thrown into prison—a place that could have crushed his spirit. Yet, the account in Genesis tells us repeatedly, "The Lord was with Joseph." This divine presence sustained him constantly. Whether a slave in Potiphar’s house or a prisoner in Pharaoh’s jail, Joseph trusted God to fulfill His promises. He did not turn away from his faith when personal gain or comfort were threatened or lost. His eyes were on the Almighty, Lord of heaven and earth. His trust gave him courage and hope for each day. In the prison, Joseph’s diligence and character brought him into favor with the warden. He was put in charge of the other inmates. Proverbs 22:29 echoes this, “Do you see a man diligent in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men” Even in physical chains, Joseph’s life proceeded according to God’s plan. Joseph’s patience came from his spiritual sight of God’s greater plan, beyond his immediate suffering. His clear vision of God left him free to love others. In prison himself, he noticed and enquired about the sadness of his fellow-captives, the royal butler and baker. His kindness and discernment,
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Feb 04 35_The beauty of God’s timing
35_The beauty of God’s timing Ps 105:16And He called for a famine upon the land; He broke the whole staff of bread. 17 He sent a man before them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. 18 They forced his feet into shackles, He was put in irons; 19 Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord refined him. 20 The king sent and released him, The ruler of peoples, and set him free. 21 He made him lord of his house, And ruler over all his possessions, Ps 113 7 He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the garbage heap, 8 To seat them with noblemen, With the noblemen of His people. 9 He has the infertile woman live in the house As a joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord! Gen 41:1 Now it happened at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream, and behold, he was standing by the Nile. Alexander Cruden, a Christian from 18th-century Scotland, experienced profound injustice when he was repeatedly committed to an asylum under dubious claims of insanity. Yet, in those trying times, Cruden completed his monumental work—a concordance of the Bible that has since guided countless believers in their study of Scripture. It was through this season of seclusion and hardship that God’s plan unfolded, using Cruden’s affliction to bring about a blessing that would last generations. Similarly, Joseph, in Genesis 41, found himself in a prolonged period of waiting and suffering. Forgotten in prison for two years after the cupbearer's release, Joseph could have felt abandoned. Yet God was working—not just in Joseph's life, but in the grand narrative of Egypt and Israel. As Psalm 105 tells us, God orchestrated a famine to fulfill His purpose of bringing Israel to Egypt. Through Joseph’s trials, God was preparing him for a role that would change history. Dreams have always been a unique medium through which God reveals His plans. However, discernment is key. Only when we walk humbly with God and align our hearts with His will can we confidently discern His voice in our dreams and aspirations. Joseph’s life exemplifies this humility. Despite the ingratitude of the cupbearer, Joseph placed his trust in God, not in people. Human forgetfulness or injustice never disrupts God’s sovereign plans. While the cupbearer may have forgotten Joseph, God never did. The waiting period was not wasted. Just as David, another of God’s chosen leaders, spent years in preparation—first serving Saul and later as a fugitive—Joseph’s years of hardship were refining him. David learned to lead men, to show justice, and to act with mercy. When Saul and Jonathan died, David mourned with grace and honored their memory without bitterness or revenge. Such spiritual maturity is forged in the crucible of waiting, where God molds and shapes His servants for His purposes. In Genesis 41, we see God using Pharaoh, a pagan king, to further His divine plan. God revealed the impending famine not to Jacob or Joseph, but to Pharaoh. This revelation set in motion the fulfillment of a
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Feb 05 36 Repentance The foundation of faith
36_Repentance_the_foundation_of_faith Gen 41 56 -42:3 When the famine was spread over the entire face of the earth, then Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians; and the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 Then the people of all the earth came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the earth. Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?” 2 Then he said, “Look, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down there and buy some for us from that place, so that we may live and not die.” 3 So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. Repentance lies at the very heart of our faith journey. D. L. Moody once observed, "Man is born turning his back on God. When he truly repents, he turns completely and faces God." Repentance is not merely feeling sorry for what we have done. It is a complete change of heart and mind towards God. God, in His boundless wisdom, often disrupts the comfortable status quo in our lives to draw our attention to sin and disobedience. In the story of Joseph, we see this divine disruption vividly. Genesis 42 recounts how famine forced “all the people of the earth” to Egypt to buy grain. This included Joseph’s brothers, who, however, encountered unexpected obstacles, unlike others. The difficulties we face are often God’s way of calling us to remember unconfessed sins. As his brothers approached Egypt, none could have imagined that they would face the brother they betrayed years ago. But God, in His sovereignty, brings our buried sins to light. Proverbs 28:13 declares, “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” The brothers claimed to be honest men, yet their past was a litany of lies, betrayal, and hard-heartedness. They deceived their father, sold their brother into slavery, and showed callous disregard for God’s moral laws. Their sins were not just isolated acts—they revealed a deeper condition of the heart. Joseph’s actions apparently disrupted the wellbeing of his brothers. However, he was not driven by a desire for vengeance. His goal was to lead his brothers to repentance and thus to restore the relationship. Otherwise, he could have thrown Potiphar and his wife into prison, punished the butler for his neglect, or condemned his brothers to prison for life. We often fail to recognize our own sinfulness until God mercifully breaks our hardened hearts. Only when we see ourselves as we really are do we thirst for his grace. The Lord’s dealings with the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4 mirror this process. She eagerly responded to his offer of living water, saying, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty.” But he did not immediately respond by telling her he was the Messiah. He addressed the deeper issue: “Go and call your husband.” He gently but firmly exposed her hidden history. Before forgiveness
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Feb 06 37 Before honour comes humility
37_Before honour comes humility Gen 43:8 So Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me and we will arise and go, so that we may live and not die, we as well as you and our little ones. 9 I myself will take responsibility for him! You may demand him back from me. If I do not bring him back to you and present him to you, then you can let me take the blame forever. ” Gen 44:32 For your servant accepted responsibility for the boy from my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then my father can let me take the blame forever.’ 33 So now, please let your servant remain as a slave to my lord instead of the boy, and let the boy go up with his brothers. 34 For how shall I go up to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear that I may see the evil that would overtake my father.” Gen 45:28 Now Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph, to guide him to Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen. The Moravian movement, one of the largest gospel-based missionary movements in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries, was founded on sacrificial love. Given to fervent prayer, the Moravians greatly desired to reach those in distant lands with the good news. Two men, John Leonard Dober and David Nitschmann, devoted themselves to the slaves isolated on West Indies plantations. To reach them, these brave men sold themselves into slavery. There was no other way to bear the good news. As they boarded the ship from Copenhagen, their loved ones heard their departing cry, “May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering.” This phrase became a rallying cry for the Moravian mission and a testament to their grateful devotion to Christ. Genesis 44 shows one more step on Judah’s path through humility and servant-like sacrifice. offered himself as a slave to save his younger brother Benjamin. In humility is the path to honor, and it reflects the heart of Christ. The story unfolds during a time of crisis for Jacob’s family. Famine had driven them to seek grain in Egypt. On their earlier trip, Simeon, one of the older sons of Jacob, was held hostage on suspicion that the brothers were spies. They had to prove the truth of their story by bringing their youngest brother Benjamin back with them on their next journey. Benjamin was the last remaining tie to Rachel, Jacob’s dead wife. Years earlier, Rachel’s firstborn son, Joseph, had gone missing and Jacob thought him dead. Without Benjamin, his brothers would not be allowed to buy grain in Egypt. Yet if he went, he might fall into danger. Faced with the need to make a decision, Jacob was paralyzed by fear and grief. It is in this moment that Judah steps forward. His three older brothers had already disqualified themselves from their father’s trust by their actions, leaving Judah as the de facto eldest son. Judah’s past was also far
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Feb 07 38_Seeing the hand of God in everything
38_Seeing the hand of God in everything Gen 45:1-11 Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, “Make everyone go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. 3 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. 4 So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry. 10 You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children's children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.’ Corrie ten Boom and her sister Betsy were imprisoned in Ravensbrück, a Nazi concentration camp infamous for its cruelty. Amidst unimaginable suffering, they encountered a particularly frustrating and repulsive problem: their barracks were infested with lice. Betsy, deeply grounded in faith, reminded Corrie of 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “In everything give thanks.” She said, “Corrie, we must thank God even for these lice.” Corrie resisted. How could one possibly thank God for such an unpleasant situation? However, Betsy’s conviction didn’t waver. She believed that God’s purposes extended even to these tiny, bothersome creatures. As the days passed, Corrie and Betsy discovered something astonishing. The barracks guards avoided their quarters entirely because of the lice infestation. This gave the sisters unprecedented freedom to hold Bible studies, share the gospel, and encourage the women around them. Many came to know the Lord in those dark and desperate times. Corrie acknowledged the truth of Betsy’s words: even the lice were used by God to carry out his glorious plan. The same principle is illustrated by Joseph’s life. In Genesis 45, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, who had sold him into slavery. His words are deeply moving: