Life Capsule for Today Date: 15th July, 2024
Theme: Life Lessons from Jacob (2)
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: Jacob Choosing Bread and Raiment at Bethel
Memory Verse Mark 8:36
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
Still on the experiences of Jacob, we notice in Gen 28.11-15, the sun was set, Jacob had an encounter with God, a life changing encounter like his father’s Abraham and Isaac. The Lord appeared to him like he did to Abraham in Genesis 12 and 15, all he did was to believe the word and walk before God in faith which was counted unto him as righteousness. Jacob on having his encounter didn’t believe God, never had faith although he knew it was God, he still doubted and gave conditions, conditions of food, clothing and security. He made a counter offer to the Lord, saying if you do what you say then we can have an agreement. Remember all this happened to Jacob in the night hour, and the bible never mentioned the sun rising in his life again at that point. So Jacob made his decision and embarked on his journey, he chose his own path in life not carrying God along.
We see several Jacobs today among the saints, at salvation the Lord promises to give us all things, all we need to do is to walk in obedience before him. We only need to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness (Matt 6.33). God’s demand is a life of faith and obedience but many of us have come into the Church with our ambitions and goals, when the Lord say love me with all your heart, seek me first etc we say yes I would do so when I get that job, marry a good husband, start my company, acquire my PHD, build a house etc. We rush into life in the darkness of our worldly ambition and immediately afterwards begin to suffer in darkness like Jacob. We may appear religious and engage in religious activities like Jacob, he did set up a pillar and poured oil on it (Gen 28. 16-22), that religious act is what many of us use as cover today. We are actively involved in evangelism, ushering, Church building projects etc but our goal is bread and raiment. The only reason we labor is because we love what the Lord has to offer.
Jacob in the sunset of his self-will continued his Journey, he came to Haran where he met Racheal his uncle’s daughter, he loved and cherished her. He was welcomed, Jacob made a proposal to marry Racheal in exchange for a 7 service, Laban agreed to the terms, at the completion of 7 years, Laban changed the terms and gave him Leah the elder sister instead, at this point Jacob has begun to reap what he sowed but because he was self-willed and ambitious he didn’t see God, he served another seven years to get what he wanted, that is a total of 14 years for Racheal, alas the Racheal he labored for again couldn’t bear children, they had daily quarrels and Jacob did lose his peace (Gen 29), the Lord wanting to get his attention again but Jacob wouldn’t listen. We see another parallel between Our lives and that of Jacob, many of us have encountered several setbacks because we have stubbornly placed our ambition before God. We are fighting against God and as a result we are being cheated and disappointed even by those we least expect, God has tried to get your attention even today using this medium but the Jacob in many is still saying no, would you just look inward and repent today, Jesus is calling.
Bible in one year: Psalm 119
For further fellowship send us an email on godmanvideos@gmail.comor visit our youtube channel: @godmanmedia. You can also interact with us by dropping your comments on our facebook page. Our physical meeting (PENIEL) comes up once a month, every last Sunday of the month from 4pm to 6.30pm at Suite A10, Ahaer Office Complex, opposite Hassan Stores, Arab Road, Abuja