GENESUS 29:15-28
This week we have another adventuresome wedding story. Remember last week Jacob is on his way to his uncle’s house to seek a bride. You may remember that Abraham wanted a bride of Isaac, he sent a servant to make all the arrangements, but when it is Jacob’s turn, Rebekah sends Jacob off on his own to make the arrangements. The end result is that he contracts for Rachel, but is deceived by his uncle/father-in-law into marrying Leah for whom he had worked 7 years and now has to work another 7 years to get the one he wants to marry, Rachel.
Psalm 105:1-11, 45b
The psalmist calls upon God’s people to remember the covenants God made with Abraham and Jacob (Note that he skips Isaac.) and to honor and praise God for watching over his people.
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
Jesus again teaches about the kingdom of God through parables using mustard seed, yeast, pearls and a net. In vs. 52 Jesus says that whatever we know about the kingdom of God is like a treasure to be shared. Which of these items and their teaching speaks to you most? Have you ever had the occasion to use any of these illustrations to witness or teach?
Romans 8:26-39
Vss 26-27 acknowledges that the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For a parallel text see Psalm 139 vss 23-24. The Spirit searches our hearts.
Vs 28: We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. This affirmation is important for understanding the nature of God who wills good for us. God wants us to succeed in our spiritual journey. He is not just watching and waiting for us to mess up so he can punish us.
In vss. 29 and 30 the word predestined is used. This concept is not that God chooses some for salvation and others for destruction so that we are puppets just playing out a script, but that God has already been at work in our lives even before we knew it to draw us to him. (See Psalm 139:13-16.) This also parallels the Wesleyan teaching of prevenient grace, where God is seeking us and putting all kinds of moments and people in our lives to teach us about grace so that we will want to follow God’s ways. Paul affirms not only is God calling us to him, but he justifies us through Jesus Christ so that we are on that right pathway.
Vss 31: Paul asks the question: If God is for us, who can be against us? He expands upon that by saying that God did not spare his own Son. That is evidence to the extent God is willing to go so that we will be saved and living in righteousness before God.
Vs. 33 affirms that if God justifies us, who is left to condemn us? Christ Jesus is at the right hand of the Father advocating for us. Vs. 35 asks who shall separate us from the love of Christ? There is a list of great troubles that people, even Paul has endured, but they do not have the victory because of the work of Christ. Vs 37 affirms that we are more than conquerors over these tribulations, etc. Paul’s affirmation is that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ. This is truly one of the great affirmations of the victory that is found in Christian faith because of Jesus Christ.
How does this affirmation work in your life to encourage you when things are not going well?
Holy God, thank you for your love for us in Jesus Christ. Help us to see how you work in our lives and give us the desire and the courage to hold onto you even when the deepest challenges come to us. Amen.