Life Capsule for Today Date:8th October, 2023
Theme: Life Lessons from Jacob (1)
Text: Titus 2:11-13
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; KJV
Topic: A heel holder called at bethel
Memory Verse Mark 8:36-37
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? KJV
Words of the Ministry
Amen, this week we would be considering the life of one of the bible patriarchs, though he lived many years ago in the Old Testament, his life is of much benefit to us today. We would be seeing the similarities between his life and ours and the lessons that his life affords. Jacob like many of us was born into a religious home, he had a spiritual father Isaac and must have learnt from his father few scriptural lessons on how the God of Abraham and Isaac blessed and protected them. Despite being born in a religious home, he needed to have a definite encounter with the lord as the encounter of his father couldn’t save him neither was his life normal as we would see from some of the events of his life.
When Jacob was born, he was born a twin alongside his brother Esau, the bible said he struggled with his brother in the womb of their mother and when he was born, he held his brother’s legs (Gen 25.26). He was an ambitious and competitive man, he wanted the first position and the best seat like many of us, the natural life we inherited from Adam begins to manifest as soon as we are born, the desire to rule over other comes naturally. Jacob obsession for his brother’s position was so much that when his brother came home hungry, instead of giving him food he demanded that he swore his birthright to him. His desire to rule over his brother from childhood, despite hearing God’s word from his father, despite being raised in a Christian home as it were, he used every opportunity he had to push for it. He never realized a heel holder stays at the heel, he couldn’t have been the head by staying at the tail. That is an imagery of many of us, we compare ourselves with others, we are comfortable provided we are seen as the best among our peers, we want every good thing to be about us. We are ambitious, selfish, and greedy, we want the best for ourselves alone. Every opportunity we have we want to swindle and take advantage to please our desires.
Jacob’s pride in life pushed him to lie to his father, he claimed he was Esau his elder brother in order to inherit the promise. He said to himself, at last I have gotten what I want. I have eventually gotten my brother’s birthright. He wanted to gain the world at a young age, make headline news and break family records. Unfortunately for Jacob, that was the beginning of many troubles. From that day, Jacob’s life never remained the same, he had multiple problems, he even had to run away from home. We see another parallel between Jacob and many so called believers, in a bid to please the flesh, you change your age, change your name, cheat in exams, submit fake contract documents, sleep with lecturers, do charms to boost our business, sell fake goods to many quick gains, slander your friends, lie on your neighbors, date married men or even buy a job, many of us believe once we do that, we have arrived, you say to yourself, now the world around me would respect me, not knowing it is the beginning of many sorrows.
Jacob on leaving home had his first major encounter at bethel (Gen 28), he met the true God at bethel, he had a revelation of a ladder which was a representation of Jesus (Jhn 1.51). He like many of us heard the Gospel message, he had an encounter with Jesus but instead of responding to God he gave God conditions saying if he went and came back safely, he would give a portion of his wealth to God. That is the portrait of many of us today, the Lord has appeared to you in Church, School, on radio, television, through a book, a missionary or even through today’s reading but instead of responding, you are giving God conditions, you believe you still have a lot to achieve, you are young, and beautiful. Well educated with lots of opportunities, you even bargain with God that don’t worry I would pay my tithe, you think God wants your money. You want to give God money instead of your life. Maybe you have been deceived that your money can work for you in God’s kingdom while you live as you want. Little wonder you are still empty and unfulfilled; the bible says by strength shall no man prevail (1 Sam 2.9). The call has come again today, are you saved or once saved but gone the way of Jacob, Jesus is calling, call out to him today.
Bible in One Year: Mathew 18-20
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