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April 15, 2017

Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.

Reading along with us in Genesis? Here’s today’s reading:

Genesis 35 (ESV)

God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the 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 that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments. 3 Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make there an altar to the God who answers 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 that they had, and the rings that were in their ears. Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree that was near Shechem. 5 And as they journeyed, a terror from God fell upon the cities that were around them, so that they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. 6 And Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him, 7 and there he built an altar and called the place El-bethel, because there God had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother. 8 And Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried under an oak below Bethel. So he called its name Allon-bacuth… Continue Reading

*If you click “Continue Reading”, you will leave this page and navigate to “bible.com” where you can read the rest of the chapter. Be sure to come back to this page to share what God has revealed to you by commenting below. 

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This Post Has 5 Comments
  1. Caring for hospice patients for 29 years it is often that the dying will wait to see a family member again before they pass away. It is lovely that God directed this to be a blessing and healing for the brothers at the time of Isaac’s death. Jacob has had two huge losses at this time, Rachel, in childbirth, and now his father, and another loss of Rachel’s nurse earlier. A lot of grief mixed with joy of a baby and returning home. I always love when it says in scripture …which is there to this day.

    1. That’s so interesting, Melanie. Thank you for sharing the connection between the text and your own experience with life and death.

  2. Yesterday I read John 15 and commented there. Then last night, I listened to a sermon from Francis Chan called “Lukewarm and Lovin’ It.” I was incredibly convicted by my elevating relationships, security, and comfortability (is that a word?) over the call to lay down my life, pick up my cross, and follow Jesus. These are idols in my life that consistently crop up, and keep me from the JOY of following Him wholeheartedly.

    Chan asked, at the end, “Would you at least be willing to pray that God takes these things away from you if needed?” And I couldn’t. Sorrow came when I realized that no, I’m not willing to pray such a hard thing. Yet I know I love Jesus. I do! So I’m praying to love Him above EVERYTHING and EVERYONE. For the faith to ask, “Take away whatever is keeping me from loving you with my whole heart, God.” Because the Holy Spirit showed me last night that I don’t have that level of faith yet.

    And now, today, I’m in John 16. How God loves me! 🙂

    Every single line and word of this chapter is a very specific, perfectly-timed word from my Father this morning.

    “Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy…and no one will take your joy from you.” (John 16:20-22, shortened)

    “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy will be made full.” (John 16:24)

    ” These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

    Heavenly Father, I know there is no greater joy than that which is found in surrendering everything to You, letting go of everything that keeps me from doing so. Give me the faith not just to believe it and say it, but to LIVE it. Amen.

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