Category Archives: relationship with God
Jacob: Peniel
Genesis 32. Jacob is at a crisis point in his life. He has left his father-in-law behind and responded to God’s call to go back to Canaan. He learns that Esau is preparing to meet him with a band of … Continue reading
Posted in deliverance, dependence upon God, Jacob, relationship with God
Tagged Genesis 32
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Jacob’s ladder
Genesis 28:10-22. It was either a ladder or a set of steps. What matters is that it reached to heaven, and vice-versa. Jacob saw it in his dream, and he saw God’s angels ascending and descending on it. The LORD … Continue reading
Posted in commitment, dependence upon God, Jacob, love, relationship with God
Tagged Genesis 28
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Isaac: blessing the “wrong” son
Genesis 27:1-40. What lesson could the Israelites possibly take from this story? It is about how their ancestors Jacob and Rebekah deceived their ancestor Isaac, causing him to give his blessing to Jacob instead of Esau. But perhaps the lesson … Continue reading
Isaac: surprises
Genesis 25:19-34. Isaac waited sixty years to hold the answers to his prayers. He knew that God was going to bless him as he did his father, Abraham. But he didn’t know that he would have to wait like Abraham … Continue reading
Isaac: a wife for the master’s son
Genesis 24. Abraham gave his servant specific instructions that he should travel the long distance back to Paddan-Aram and find a wife for Isaac there. She should not come from the Canaanites. The servant found Rebekah, who demonstrated the qualities … Continue reading
Posted in church, commitment, evangelism, Isaac, Jesus Christ, love, relationship with God, submission, will of God
Tagged Genesis 24
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citizens of the future
Revelation 7:1-8:5. The future will be populated by those redeemed “of the sons of Israel” (the 144,000 representing Jews saved during the first century) and also “from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages.” Their eternal destiny is … Continue reading
Posted in church, confidence, future, relationship with God
Tagged Revelation 7, Revelation 8
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authenticity: things we just know
1 John 5. John concludes this letter with a list of things that authentic believers know. There is no doubt about it: We love each other (2). We have eternal life in Christ (13). God hears our prayers (14-15). We … Continue reading
Posted in church, confidence, discernment, eternal life, relationship with God, truth
Tagged 1 John 5
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The Holy Spirit of disunity
Luke 12:49-13:9. The Holy Spirit does not always bring peace and unity. Because he answers to the Son, whose kingdom he is setting up in this universe, he assists in dividing families and bringing discord. His goal is not peace … Continue reading
Posted in church, commitment, discipleship, divisions, Holy Spirit, relationship with God, unity
Tagged Luke 12, Luke 13
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how the Holy Spirit manifests
Luke 10:25-42. Luke puts together two stories from Jesus’ life in which the messages seem to be complete opposites. In the first story, Jesus explains to a lawyer that devotion to God is not enough. In order to inherit eternal … Continue reading
Posted in discipleship, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, love, relationship with God, worship
Tagged Luke 10
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only Jesus: guarantor of God’s better covenant
Hebrews 7. The new covenant put into effect by Jesus is so much better than the old instituted by Moses. The author of Hebrews proves this by showing why Jesus has “become a high priest forever after the order of … Continue reading
Posted in confidence, deliverance, forgiveness, grace, Jesus Christ, peace, redemption, relationship with God
Tagged Hebrews 7
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Devotions 