January 11, Thursday

The AMI QT Devotionals for January 8-14 are provided by Tina Hsu. Tina, a graduate of Biola University and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.), currently serves as a staff at the Church of Southland, Anaheim, California.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“The Unpredictability of God’s Promise”

Genesis 35:21-27 (NASB)

Then Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond, the tower of Eder. It came about while Israel was dwelling in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now there were twelve, sons of Jacob–the sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, then Simeon and Levi and Judah and Issachar and Zebulun; the sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin; and the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s maid: Dan and Naphtali; and the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s maid: Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram. Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre of Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where, Abraham and Isaac had sojourned.

In my early 20’s, I naively believed that God placed me in positions because I had what it took to do it—and I took in people’s praises a little too much. Then, in the process of struggling through jobs, studies, and ministry, I began to swallow the fact that He chose me for certain roles so that He could reveal Himself to me, as well as to reveal more about myself —particularly, my weaknesses. Though learning more about myself isn’t fun sometimes, I’ve gained much freedom through it and have tasted more of God’s grace.

Similarly, stories of Jacob’s family also highlight the dynamics of God’s choice and His grace. After God promised to Jacob, saying, “I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come forth from you” (Gen. 35:11), Jacob hears the horrific news that his firstborn son, Reuben, slept with Bilhah, one of Jacob’s concubines. As the firstborn, Reuben was in a position to receive greater inheritance and a greater role among the sons of Israel, but his immoral act came with its consequences. We don’t hear again of his relations with Bilhah until Genesis 49:3-4, when Jacob speaks prophecy over his sons and says, “Reuben, you are my firstborn; my might and the beginning of my strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. Uncontrolled as water, you shall not have preeminence, because you went up to your father’s bed; then you defiled it–he went up to my couch.”

The stories of Jacob and his sons highlight both the sinfulness of man and the goodness of God. God declares a grand promise over Jacob’s line, but He knowingly chooses Jacob’s imperfect family to fulfill His plans. Stories in Genesis—such as this one—were written for its immediate audience, the later generation of Israel during Joshua’s time who were about to possess the promised land, to remind them, “Know, therefore, that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people” (Deut. 9:6). God who made a promise to Israel is gracious and merciful. He did not choose Israel based upon merit or virtue. He also chooses you and me for salvation and for His works in the same way.

Today, let’s begin our day thanking the Lord for choosing us, not because of our works, but because of His grace and His goodness.

Prayer: Praise the Lord, for You are so kind and compassionate. There certainly have been some good as well as not-so-good moments in my life, and I thank You for all of them because through them, You continue to teach me what it means to love and depend on You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 12

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Corinthians 1:26-31: For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Questions to Consider

What is Paul telling the Corinthians regarding themselves?
Why do the Corinthians need this teaching and encouragement?
In what ways do you think your background and your current situation allows more for God’s power, wisdom, and strength to be displayed in your life?

Notes

Paul is guiding the Corinthians to think about where they started when they first became Christians. Their significance does not derive from their own background, but now comes from the work of Jesus Christ.
Living among non-Christian Jews and Greeks at that time, the Christians in Corinth started to become insecure about their faith in a Messiah who died, was crucified, and resurrected in full bodily form. The Jews believed that a Messiah who died cannot possibly be the Messiah as promised in the Scriptures. The Greeks also thought that it was foolish to place faith in someone who resurrected into full bodily form; in Greek thinking, flesh is bad, and only the spirit is good. For these reasons, Christians started to be insecure and ashamed of their faith and needed this encouragement.
Personal reflection.

Evening Reflection

1 Corinthians 1:30 says, “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.” We are all where we are today because of “His doing.” Spend some time reflecting on how God is in every part of your life and invite Him to continue to be wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption for you.

January 10, Wednesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“God Who Speaks”

Genesis 35:9-15

After Jacob returned from Paddan Aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him. God said to him, “Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel.” So he named him Israel. And God said to him, “I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will be among your descendants. The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.” Then God went up from him at the place where he had talked with him. Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it. Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel.

In today’s passage, there is a strong sense of intimacy and directness towards Jacob, and God brings Jacob to a deeper revelation of Himself by saying he is “God Almighty,” a name God used when he revealed Himself to Abraham (17:1), blessing him with the blessing that He first gave to Abraham and Isaac. This is the second time that God appears to Jacob and tells him of his new name, “Israel” (meaning “he struggles with God”) and says he is no longer called “Jacob” (meaning “he deceives”).

The passage repeats several times that God is a God who talks to Jacob: “God appeared to him again and blessed him” (v. 9); “God went up from him at the place where he had talked with Jacob” (v. 13); “…where God had talked to him” (v. 14); “…where God had talked with him” (v. 15).

There are seasons in life in which God draws near to me, and I can’t help but know that He is speaking to me. One example is when a friend from China wrote me several times to tell me that my time serving there was so valuable to the disciples, and I was influential during my time there. I would eventually reply and say “thank you,” but I perceived her words as just nice things that anyone could say. I couldn’t receive her words into my heart because I was bearing self-doubt at that time. However, in my time with the Lord, I sensed that He Himself was telling me to fully receive the encouragement because it is true. Despite my imperfections I faced while I served in China, God deemed my work “good” in His eyes. Because of that moment, I freely let go of the need to evaluate my performance and enjoyed God’s love simply as His daughter.

I wonder why God appeared to Jacob a second time to speak to him about his name. It may be because God’s heart is to reach us and to let his truth go deeper in us. Jacob had pretty deep roots in his old identity (“he deceives”), but his old roots were not too deep for the Lord to remove and to renew. Praise God for He is a God who speaks to us!

Prayer: Dear God, I thank You because You are a God who speaks to Your children. You repeat the same truth over and over again so that we can remain steadfast in our true identity, and You remove old roots that don’t belong. Thank You for drawing near to us and reminding us often of the truth we need to cling on to! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 11

Lunch Break Study

Read John 1:47-50: When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”

Questions to Consider

How does Jesus commend Nathanael?
Why does Nathanael salute Jesus in a way that implies kingship and divinity?
What is Jesus saying to Nathanael?

Notes

Jesus commends Nathanael as a straightforward person and one who is not characterized by cunning or deceit. He is a true son of Israel, not characterized by deceit, which was used of Jacob before his change of heart and his change of name to “Israel.”
Something about Jesus’ reply that he saw Nathanael before Philip called him strikes Nathanael as something grand, and it leads him to render honor to Jesus’ name.
Jesus is saying that Nathanael will not only see the Son of God in flesh right now, but he will see greater things, such as the Son of God in His glory surrounded by angels.

Evening Reflection

What area in your life do you desire God to speak to you? What area in your life do you think you have been listening to voices that are not God’s (yourself, media, others, the enemy)? Take some time to ask God to speak to you with His truth.

January 9, Tuesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Returning to Spiritual Beginnings”

Genesis 35:6-7

So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him. He built an altar there, and called the place El-bethel, because there God had revealed Himself to him when he fled from his brother.

Whether it is looking at before and after photos of weight loss or listening to amazing testimonies of growth in people’s faith, we all love to record the positive changes in our lives. By reading Genesis 34-35 back to back, we see a great contrast in Jacob’s behavior. After his daughter was raped, Jacob responded silently: he didn’t go to rescue his daughter or confront Shechem—most likely because of fear. His lack of action opened the way for his sons to take the situation into their own hands through murder. But in the midst of this crisis and having an increasing terror of the Shechemites, Jacob clearly hears the Lord’s voice to go to Bethel and build an altar, “because there God had revealed Himself to him when he fled from his brother,” So he actively leads his family to prepare for worship by telling them to purify themselves (Gen. 35:2). This time, Jacob responded with action instead of passivity.

Bethel is a significant place, for this is where God first appeared to Jacob (Gen. 28) and God was so tangible and real to Jacob at that encounter. He had been running away from Esau in fear, but God’s appearance led him to praise God. By going back to Bethel—this time with his family— Jacob declared again his faith towards God, which he first declared at the same spot in Gen. 28:21: “If God will be with me…then the Lord will be my God.” Going to Bethel was not only an escape from Shechem, but it was a time of renewal and drawing near to God; thus, he named the place El-Bethel, meaning “God of Bethel.” In mishandling his daughter’s rape situation, Jacob really “blew it” with his passivity and timidity, but he didn’t fall into despair but instead called his family to get ready for a new place with God. Though Jacob is a man of many weaknesses—which we can all relate to—he increasingly strives for God. Jacob’s spiritual journey really echoes God’s abundant grace.

This morning, ask the Lord to reveal areas in your life that need to be renewed and to guide you in His grace.

Prayer: Dear God, teach me to receive Your grace today and also learn how to respond properly to Your grace with acts of obedience. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 10

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Peter 2:1-3 (NIV): Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Questions to Consider

According to Peter, how should believers pursue spiritual growth?
What is Peter’s encouragement to believers?
What is common about malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander?

Notes

Believers are called to depart from their former ways of life, and pursue spiritual growth by being like newborn babies who desire the pure spiritual milk. He is not saying to take on more spiritual disciplines of reading God’s word for the sake of discipline. But as we read and listen to God’s Word, crave for spiritual nourishment from the Lord.
We all taste the kindness of the Lord upon conversion, but tasting more of God is an ongoing nutrition we need throughout our Christian walk so that we can grow.
These are sinful attitudes and behaviors that happen among people. Part of growing up in our salvation is not only loving God, but also loving people better than we did before.

Evening Reflection

Jacob renamed the place from Bethel (House of God) to El-Bethel (God of the House of God). In his vision during his first time at Bethel, he saw a stairway to heaven, leading him to call the place House of God. In changing the name, it was no longer about the place itself, but about God Himself. As we walk through the life of Jacob, one thing we could reflect on is how we approach our faith activities. In your life, is going to church, prayer meetings, Bible studies and small groups about fulfilling an activity or meeting with God?

January 8, Monday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“The Way of Escape”

Genesis 35:1-5 (NASB)

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, “Put away the foreign gods which are among you, and purify yourselves and change your garments; 3 and let us arise and go up to Bethel, and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever, I have gone.” 4 So they gave to 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.
5 As they journeyed, there was a great terror upon the cities which were around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.

Jacob and his family had settled in Shechem after purchasing some land from the sons of Hamor. As they dwelled inside the land of Canaan, they quickly become vulnerable to attack by the surrounding cities because Jacob’s sons deceitfully killed the men of Shechem and plundered their wealth as a revenge towards Shechem, who defiled their sister, Dinah (Gen. 34). Jacob needed to problem-solve and figure out a way of escape for his family.

By chapter 35, we begin to observe small steps of Jacob’s transformation and the new way in which he reacts to circumstances. The turning point for Jacob was in the previous chapters— when the Lord personally appeared to him at Bethel when he was in distress about meeting Esau (Gen. 32), and when he received mercy from Esau at their reunion (Gen. 33). Although he would still face sinfulness in himself and in his sons later on, Jacob was becoming different in that he began to look to God in his circumstances. He knew by experience that God is the source of all blessings and that He is merciful. By looking to God, he got rid of other sources of security and safety—such as the foreign gods—so that he could place his trust fully in God, from whom all blessings flow.

In trying to remedy his sons’ mistake, he didn’t flee, deceive others, or problem-solve with his own rationale like he did in the past; instead, he listened to the Lord, who told him to move and to prepare a place of worship at Bethel. This time he knew the answer was to look to God, “who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.” God provided a right way of escape for Jacob—the “escape” was to worship God. And God indeed protected Jacob and his sons from the surrounding cities.

This morning, let’s invite God to be the source of wisdom and insight in all our circumstances, so that we may react to situation with faith instead of fear or self-dependency.

Prayer: Dear Father, I thank You and I celebrate the small victories You give me in my growth and walk with You. As I continue to encounter circumstances that cause me to react with fear or worry, remind me to look to You and to earnestly seek You, because You have always answered me in my distress and have been with me wherever I have gone. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 9

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Corinthians 10:13-14. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

Questions to Consider

Why is Paul giving the Corinthians this encouragement and warning?
How does Paul describe God’s faithfulness?
What is idolatry?

Notes

In the context of this passage, Paul tells the Corinthians of Israel’s history of displeasing God, in their acts of idolatry, immorality, testing God, and grumbling. His point is that Israel’s history was written down in the Old Testament for our instruction, so that we may be aware that our struggles with temptation are common, and that people in all generations struggle with common trials. This is supposed to encourage us as well as to exhort us to actively overcome these temptations.
In our trials and temptations, we may humanly feel that they are beyond what we can handle, but from God’s point of view, He is able to provide you the way of escape and to teach you how to endure it. He is faithful to help you become an overcomer!
Idolatry is anything in our hearts that replaces our security and trust in God. It could be a material thing, but also be way of thinking or impure desires.

Evening Reflection

Tonight, reflect on the word “arise.” Often, Jesus used the verb “arise” to command the sick to receive His healing and to instruct His servants to go on a mission. God called Jacob to arise as well and to take a step of faith towards Him. How is the Lord leading you to arise and to do His will?

January 7, Sunday

The AMI QT Devotionals from January 1-7 are provided by Pastor Jason Sato of OTR in Cincinnati. Jason, a graduate of UC San Diego (B.S.) and Westminster Theological Seminary in California (M.Div.), is married to Jessica, and they have three young children: Jonah, Lily, and Ayla (three months old).

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“The God of Promise”

Genesis 34:30

Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me by making me stink to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites. My numbers are few, and if they gather themselves against me and attack me, I shall be destroyed, both I and my household.”

Hagiography is a form of biography that exaggerates the greatness of its subject. Ordinary people become saints, and saints become models of perfection. If someone wrote a hagiography about me, I would be 7 feet tall with the courage of Nelson Mandela and the compassion of Mother Theresa (i.e. I would not be myself).

The Bible has no room for hagiography. Jacob is now Israel. He is a changed man. But he is still a sinful man. His daughter has been raped. His sons have slaughtered and ransacked a city. And all he can think of is himself.

Jacob declares that Simeon and Levi have brought trouble “on me” and they made “me stink to the inhabitants of the land.” Jacob laments, “My numbers are few” and if they “attack me, I shall be destroyed, both I and my household.” Jacob’s first concern is not love or justice but his own survival.

Jacob is not a psychopath. He truly does know God. But he is like any of us, both a sinner and a saint. Thankfully, God’s blessing does not depend on the faithfulness or holiness of unstable men but on His promise. Not because of Jacob but despite of him, Israel would become a great nation. The Savior of the world would come through his line to bring blessing to all the families of the earth. The number of Israel’s true children would be as great as the stars in the sky and the grains of sand on the seashore.

Prayer Father, thank You that I am not the person I used to be. And thank You that there is still as great of grace for me today as there was the first day I met You. Please make me more and more like You. But as I struggle forward, give me faith to trust in Your goodness, Your works, and Your promises not my own. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 8

January 6,Saturday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“The Multiplication of Sin”

Genesis 34:25–29 (ESV)

On the third day, when they were sore, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, took their swords and came against the city while it felt secure and killed all the males. [26] They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the sword and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house and went away. [27] The sons of Jacob came upon the slain and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister. [28] They took their flocks and their herds, their donkeys, and whatever was in the city and in the field. [29] All their wealth, all their little ones and their wives, all that was in the houses, they captured and plundered.

In a famous film, a boy tragically drowns in a lake at a summer camp. His mother finds out his death could have been prevented if the camp counselors had been more responsible. The mother is completely devastated and does everything in her power to prevent the summer camp from re-opening, including…murdering all the new camp counselors?

Sorry to include spoilers, but this is the plot of the first Friday the 13^th movie from 1980. The death of the boy Jason is tragic and unjust. The anger and desire for justice of his mother is reasonable and right. But her response is to multiply sin.

The rape of Dinah is horribly ugly. The sons of Jacob are rightfully outraged. But their response is to multiply sin. Simeon and Levi lie to Shechem and tell him that they will give him their sister Dinah if he and all of the men in the city are circumcised. Then when they are sore from the procedure, Simeon and Levi proceed to slaughter all the men of the city. The other sons of Jacob plunder the city and take all the children and women of the city as slaves. As sin multiplies, it gets uglier and uglier.

When we see or experience injustice, something in us cries out for justice and for wrongs to be made right. This is good and right, but there is also something in us that cries out for revenge, a desire to inflict pain and suffering—this is wicked and sinful.

In the Mosaic law, someone who injures his neighbor is subject to the same injury: “fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth” (Leviticus 24:20). This law is not meant to encourage a bloodthirsty desire for vengeance but to prevent the people of God from doing even greater evil in their pursuit of “justice.”

We may not slaughter cities, but we easily justify our bitterness and our visions of justice tend to go beyond “an eye for an eye” without us noticing. What can break this cycle of escalating sin? Only mercy. The Lord Jesus Christ experienced the greatest and ugliest injustice of human history on the cross. And He prayed, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

May we rejoice in the mercy of our God and point to His greatness by extending mercy to other sinners.

Prayer: Father, forgive me that I am so obsessed with getting what I deserve or with others getting what they deserve. All of Your kindness to me is undeserved mercy. May I be merciful as You have been to me. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 6-7

January 5, Friday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Love at First Sight

Genesis 34:1–4 (ESV)

Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the women of the land. [2] And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he seized her and lay with her and humiliated her. [3] And his soul was drawn to Dinah the daughter of Jacob. He loved the young woman and spoke tenderly to her. [4] So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, “Get me this girl for my wife.”

Love at first sight seems like a dream come true. After seeing any Disney movie such as Snow White, Cinderella, or Aladdin, this kind of magical moment appears to be the key to a life of “Happily Ever After.”

Unfortunately for Jacob’s family, love at first sight led to tragedy after tragedy. After Jacob settles his family in the city of Shechem, his daughter Dinah goes to socialize with the women of the land. Shechem, the prince and namesake of the city, sees Dinah, seizes her, and rapes her. All of this is done out of “love.”

Shechem’s love for Dinah is really nothing other than a love for himself. He loves how she looks to him, he loves the feelings she elicits in him, he loves the happy life he envisions for himself. This kind of “love” centers on the one who loves, rather than the one who is loved. It is a self-seeking, false lust.

Witnessing tragedies like these may tempt us to become cynical about love at first sight, but Jesus shows us that it truly can exist. In Luke 10, Jesus tells the Parable of the Good Samaritan. The Samaritan sees a traveler lying naked and half dead on the side of the road, and he gives him his love. He binds his wounds, brings him to an inn, and pays for his care. All of this is done out of a godly love.

Throughout this day, we will meet new people – some outwardly lovable and others not, some that appear personable and others not. May we see each one with the eyes and heart of God, and love them with His love.

Prayer: Father, thank You that You see me as I am and offer me a generous and sacrificial love. My heart is small but I desire to be like You. May I love the strangers in my life and those in need who You send my way today.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 5

Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 10:30–35 (ESV): Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. [31] Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. [32] So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. [33] But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. [34] He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. [35] And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’

Question to Consider

Who failed to love the man going to Jericho?
What prevented them from loving him?
What did loving the man cost the Samaritan?

Notes

The robbers, the priest and the Levite failed to love the man.
The robbers failed to love because of their greed. The priest and the Levite failed to love because it was inconvenient. If the man turned out to be dead, they would become unclean.
Loving the man cost the Samaritan energy, time, oil and wine, and money.

Evening Reflection

Reflect upon your day. Did God give you the opportunity to meet anyone new? How were they easy to love? How were they difficult to love? Ask God to continue to grow your love for strangers.

January 4, Thursday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Good Enough

Genesis 33:18–20 (ESV):

[18] And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city. [19] And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, he bought for a hundred pieces of money the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent. [20] There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.

When I was a college student, grades were not very important to me. My goal was to get the best grade possible for the least amount of work possible. My academic philosophy could have been called “good enough.”

At this time in his life, Jacob is a changed man. He courageously repents and reconciles with Esau, he resists the temptation to follow Esau into Seir, and he even buys a plot of land in the promised, making an altar to his God.

But Jacob is not perfect yet. He settles in Shechem, not Bethel. When Jacob was fleeing from Esau, he vowed to build God a house in Bethel if God enabled him to return. Perhaps because Bethel is a mere 20 miles from Shechem, Jacob decides he is close enough.

Now of course, God did not demand that Jacob make that vow, nor is God unnecessarily concerned with the letter of the law rather than the heart. But there is a better reason than legalism for Jacob to keep his vow and go on to Bethel, just as there is a excellent reason for believers to rise above a half-hearted, “good enough” mentality of faith: love.

Good enough is fine for things that are peripheral or temporal – things like our salaries, reputations, or material comforts. But “good enough” is deadly and beneath the dignity of a friendship, or a marriage, or a relationship with Jesus Christ. While we may have little to give to the Lord, let us give Him the best that we have each day.

Prayer Father, I am often tempted to believe that I serve You or love You enough. Thank You that there is grace for sinners like me. May this incredible grace and love spur me to give my whole heart to You.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 4

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Samuel 15:2–3, 9, 13-15 (ESV): [2] Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. [3] Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” …

[9] But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction…

[13] And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed be you to the LORD. I have performed the commandment of the LORD.” [14] And Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?” [15] Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the LORD your God, and the rest we have devoted to destruction.”

Question to Consider

What was the clear commandment of the Lord?
What did Saul do instead?
How did Saul excuse his disobedience?

Notes

To devote every living thing of Amalek to destruction.
Saul spared King Agag and best of the sheep and of the oxen.
Saul tells Samuel that the animals were spared in order to sacrifice them to the Lord. Saul spiritualizes his disobedience.

Evening Reflection

Reflect upon your day. In what ways were you tempted to serve God halfheartedly? Confess these things to the Lord and thank Him for His grace today. Ask God for strength to honor him wholeheartedly tomorrow.

January 3, Wednesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Israel’s God

Genesis 33:18–20 (ESV)

And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city. [19] And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, he bought for a hundred pieces of money the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent. [20] There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.

When I proposed to my wife, I spoke about my love and commitment to her. I did not take this time to hash out the details of our marriage, such as negotiating household chores. Obviously this is appropriate, because marriage is not a business transaction.

The first time Jacob hears from God, he is fleeing his brother Esau. God declares,

“I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring…and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed… (Genesis 28:13-14)

Jacob’s response is to say:

“…If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, [21] so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God…” (Genesis 28:20-21)

God is giving Jacob His covenant promise to bless him, yet Jacob is in negotiation mode. He sees his relationship with God as a means to an end. If the Lord will fulfill Jacob’s demands, then Jacob will follow the Lord in return.

Even after fleeing his uncle Laban, Jacob still refers to God as “the Fear of his father Isaac” (Genesis 31:53). But after wrestling with the Lord all night and seeing the face of God in his reconciliation with his brother, Jacob knows God in a different way. He builds an altar and calls it “El-Elohe-Israel” (the God of Israel).

Jacob’s life has been transformed in two ways. First, Jacob becomes who God says he is. No longer is he Jacob (meaning “he cheats” in Hebrew); he is now Israel (meaning “he strives with God”). Second, God is not merely the God of Abraham and Isaac; He is now the God of Jacob as well.

As Jacob had asked, the Lord was with him, gave him bread to eat and clothing to wear, and brought him back to his father’s house in peace. But the Lord has done far more than fulfill the bargain that Jacob proposed. God has made Jacob a new man and shown him faithfulness and a love which amazed him. Jacob’s desire is no longer to bargain with God, but to worship Him.

Prayer: Father, You are greater and more wonderful than anything I can imagine or ask of You. Thank You that You are not my business partner, but my generous Father. You are not just the God of others but my God, and I am forever grateful.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 3

Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 3:8–11 (ESV): Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ [9] and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—[10] that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, [11] that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Question to Consider

How much does Paul value Christ?
According to verse 9, what is needed to know Jesus?
According to verse 10, what does knowing Jesus involve?

Notes

He is willing to suffer the loss of all things in order to gain Christ.
To know Jesus, we need a righteousness that is not our own, the very righteousness of God that comes by faith.
To know Jesus is to know Him in the power of his resurrection and sharing in his sufferings and death.

Evening Reflection

Reflect upon your day. How were you tempted to use God as a means to an end? How did God invite you to know Him? Spend some time enjoying the presence of God.

January 2, Tuesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Journeying Onward

Genesis 33:12–17 (ESV)

Then Esau said, “Let us journey on our way, and I will go ahead of you.” [13] But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and that the nursing flocks and herds are a care to me. If they are driven hard for one day, all the flocks will die. [14] Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will lead on slowly, at the pace of the livestock that are ahead of me and at the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.” [15] So Esau said, “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.” [16] So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. [17] But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. [18] And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city. [19] And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, he bought for a hundred pieces of money the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent.

Picture a scene with me. You are going on vacation with your family to Disneyland. Your children are thrilled. You’ve mapped out which rides to go on and how to spend the day. The day arrives, and everyone gets out of the car and rushes toward the entrance. But while making your way through Downtown Disney (a collection of stores and restaurants outside of Disneyland), you decide that you might as well just stay there. Downtown Disney is exciting enough so why go to the trouble of walking further?

Of course that would be ridiculous. Your family would protest and leave you in Downtown Disney if necessary. Yet so often we find ourselves distracted, lazy, or tempted to settle in our journey of faith. In our passage this morning, Jacob finds himself at this type of crossroads.

Jacob has finally repented and been restored to his brother Esau. In his joy, Esau invites Jacob to come and live with him. But Esau lives in Seir, the country of Edom, outside the Promised Land (Genesis 32:3).

While tempting, Jacob politely declines and respectfully insists that he must part ways with Esau. Certainly Jacob’s children and flocks are frail, and there may be a need for

Esau to leave some of his people to guide Jacob’s family to Seir, but these are not Jacob’s true concerns. Jacob knows that loving his brother Esau is not the same thing as following him away from God’s promise. Instead, Jacob settles in Succoth and buys property in Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan.

To live with Esau and perhaps even renew their relationship may have been tempting for all the right reasons, but Jacob knows that he must follow God first. Maybe this foreshadows Christ’s call for us to follow him even at the cost of leaving behind our family.

May God grant us a deeper and more sacrificial love for our family and friends and the restoration of broken relationships, yet also the conviction and courage to continue to seek God’s face first, and not grow satisfied with the good people and things of this life.

Prayer: Father, thank You for being the God who redeems and restores. May every miracle and blessing increase my love and longing for You.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 2

Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 14:16–24 (ESV): But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. [17] And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ [18] But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ [19] And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ [20] And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ [21] So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’

Question to Consider

Who was invited to the great banquet?
Why did some say they were unable to attend the banquet?
Why was the banquet host angry?

Notes

Everyone! Many people were invited and when they would not come, even the poor, crippled, blind and lame were invited as well.
They were busy with good things – a field, oxen, and a new marriage.
Verse 18 says that these good things were excuses to not attend the banquet. There was no real desire to be there and enjoy the fellowship and hospitality of the host.

Evening Reflection

Reflect upon your day. What blessings has God generously given you? What do these blessings say about God (i.e. is he gracious, faithful, etc.)? Take a moment to praise God for His goodness to you.