We make such a mess of our lives. Day in and day out we live for ourselves, elevate ourselves in pride, and pursue the our fleshly lusts. But the mercy and grace of God is an ever-present reminder that restoration is mere repentance away. Instead of living for ourselves, God’s grace helps us live to serve God and others. Instead of elevating ourselves in pride, God’s grace enables our exaltation and glorification of Him. And instead of pursuing our fleshly lusts, God’s grace strengthens our pursuit of Him as better than anything in this world. Jacob’s story reminds us not only that God keeps His promises, but also that He redeems sinners. If He can take lying, cheating, selfish, arrogant Jacob and change him to Israel, and if He can take bitter, revengeful Esau, and change him to reconcile with his brother, then He can take each one of us, forgive us, restore us, and use us to serve Him and His church. This is how God confirms His choice, by changing us through His grace. May God continue to change us as we submit to Him in faith. Read More

Few people understand delays in God’s plan like the Patriarchs. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all experienced barrenness with their wives as they waited for the descendants God promised. None of them actually possessed the land that God promised, and none of them got to see the seed through whom God would bless the nations. But even as they experienced delays in God’s keeping of His promises, they continued to trust, not perfectly, but faithfully. We aren’t that much different from these men of old. We wait for God to complete the work He began in us. We wait for His coming that the world mocks. And while we might be tempted to grow impatient and throw in the towel on God’s promises, we must remember that God doesn’t count delay like we do, nor does He operate on the time frame that we do. God will never forget His promises; He will definitely keep His Word, and it is our job to wait. Waiting can be so hard, but when we get to receive what we’ve waited for, it can make it all the sweeter as we rejoice in God’s grace and mercy. We’ll appreciate our righteousness that much more because we’ve experienced the battles against temptation. We’ll enjoy the glory of Christ’s return more because we know the brokenness of our the world as it is. Don’t stop believing. God’s timing is best for growing us and glorifying Him. Trust Him and wait! Read More

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