Devotionals

28 Then he said, “Your name won’t be Jacob any longer, but Israel, because you struggled with God and with men and won.”

Wrestling with God transforms how we live with others. Jacob’s new name reflected both his struggle with God and with people. Our homes, workplaces, and churches are arenas where discipleship is tested. Our relationships can be transformed through the struggles that we face with God and can help us live through grace and with integrity. Where do you need God’s help most in your relationships right now? Has wrestling with God changed the way you relate to others?

29 Jacob also asked and said, “Tell me your name.”

But he said, “Why do you ask for my name?” and he blessed Jacob there. 30 Jacob named the place Peniel, “because I’ve seen God face-to-face, and my life has been saved.” 

The goal of wrestling with God is not to win but to encounter Him. Jacob saw God face to face and lived. Wrestling leads us deeper into His presence. What does “seeing God face to face” look like in your daily discipleship?

How can wrestling with God prepare you to serve others more faithfully?

31 The sun rose as Jacob passed Penuel, limping because of his thigh. 32 Therefore, Israelites don’t eat the tendon attached to the thigh muscle to this day, because he grabbed Jacob’s thigh muscle at the tendon.

Wrestling with God leaves us changed. Jacob walked away limping, marked by the encounter. Our holy wounds remind us of God’s presence and transformation. What “limps” or scars from your past remind you of God’s work in your life? How can wounds become testimonies rather than sources of shame?

Last week, we looked at wrestling with God regarding our faith.  In that story, Jacob was alone and the account in Genesis tells of a physical match where Jacob wouldn’t let go until “he was blessed”.  I believe the lesson last week and the verses we are going to read this week are a never-ending process.  This resonates with me since I am wrestling all of the time with the topic we are reviewing this week.  When do we confront other believers with Truth?  The more that we are wrestling with God regarding matters of faith, the more God will reveal to us about His character and nature.  Typically, the natural result of this match is a new truth that we had not realized prior including an enlargement of the breadth and depth of our faith.  In addition, we are often brought to a point where if we are open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, we recognize a place where we are falling short – a character flaw that is blocking a deeper faith and/or the enrichment of our life with fellow believers.  It is this last point that we will build upon this week as we turn to Luke in the New Testament where we will be exploring the concept of Judgment as well as exploring the difference between Making a Judgment and Passing Judgment.

Application, Prayers and/or Thoughts:  Have you ever wrestled with God?  Recall some of the conversations you had last week on this topic?  Did the wrestling with God produce a new revelation about yourself or God that you hadn’t known prior?

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable. The verses this week come to us from the middle part of Luke 18.  Jesus is telling a series of parables.  In this particular set of verses, the text tells us that Jesus is directing this parable to those “who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else”.  Yesterday, we reviewed last week’s lesson on wrestling with God.  Sometimes when we wrestle with God and come across new and different insights, our newfound knowledge about a particular nature of God may have the effect of puffing up or producing pride.  While God is choosing to share a truth, our response to this newfound knowledge is critical.  Do we seek God’s guidance in what He wants us to do with our knowledge, or do we use it in a manner that is not intended?  

Application, Prayers and/or Thoughts:  Who do you believe Jesus is talking to in this parable?  Do you believe he is talking to you?  Pray today that the Holy Spirit will reveal areas in your spiritual walk where you may be “looking down on everyone else”?

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.”

Two men – one a part of the religious establishment and one that was hated by the general public.  The Pharisee was considered a devout man of God within Jewish society.  The tax collector was considered a traitor and represented the occupying force of the Roman Empire.  It would be interesting to think of two culturally representative occupations today – Priest/Pastor and a ________ (Drug Dealer, Human Trafficker, or ???)  On Day One, I mentioned the concept of Judgment.  In my example regarding occupations, it is hard to even write the words without feeling some level of judgment on the terms that I have used.  In the time Jesus was preaching, I believe He intentionally used these occupations to prove a point.  On day one, I mentioned the concept of Making a Judgment and Passing Judgment.  Making a Judgment is deciding, determining what may be better suited in a particular situation.  We sometimes conclude that an individual may lack “good judgment” – the ability to discern one path over another.  Passing Judgment refers to the process of determining someone’s heart and intent.  Not only are we determining that the decision made is not good, but anyone who makes decisions like this has a moral issue.

Application,  Prayers and/or Thoughts:  How do you judge others?  Appearance, Preferences, Hair Color, Skin Color, Use of Language…  As many ways people are different are the countless ways that one could judge another.  Do you pass judgment when seeing others that are different?  Read Matthew 7:1-6.

“The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people – robbers, evildoers, adulterers- or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

Passing Judgement.  I once worked with a young lady that would commonly say to various people, including me, “Don’t Judge”.  A number of times when she said this, it was toward a gesture that wasn’t about Passing Judgement – a statement about someone’s heart, intent or in a spiritual sense, regarding the depth of their spirituality.  Yesterday, we looked at the definition of judgment in this context.  What does it mean to judge?  One example would be in the hiring process in the decision of who might be the better candidate to fill a role.  What’s my point?  The term “Don’t Judge” has been misinterpreted to mean that we can’t come to a well thought out conclusion on a topic or a general act/behavior.  What we are called NOT to do as disciples of Christ and I believe what this parable is referring to is we are NOT to PASS JUDGMENT.  We are not in the Passing Judgement seat and/or role.  As individuals, we are not given the authority and/or agency to PASS JUDGMENT.

Application, Prayer and/or Thoughts:  What do you believe Jesus is saying in this verse?  In our society where there are positions called Judges, how do they determine right and wrong?  What is their standard?  Does this exist in our Christian/Spiritual lives?  If so, what is our role?  Read Matthew 18-15-20.

“But the tax collector stood at a distance.  He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ Yesterday, we read a verse that was an example of a self-righteous person.  Someone who “followed the rules, and therefore, was good in their own mind”.  Here, we read of an individual who won’t even look up because they feel unworthy.  Any time I truly reflect on my behavior and my spiritual walk and allow the Holy Spirit to speak into my life, I can have a feeling of overwhelming humility.  Proverbs 22:4 states that “Humility is the fear of the Lord, it’s wages are riches, and honor and life.”  The Tax Collector is displaying humility and coming to God with the proper attitude – You are God, and I am not!

Application, Prayer and/or Thoughts:  On Day One I stated that last week’s lesson on wrestling with God and this week’s lesson on Judgment go hand-in-hand – in what way do you believe this is so? 

“I tell you that his man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.  For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Wrestling.  Humbled.  Judgment.  The three words are concepts of the week.  When we wrestle with God about our faith, truly seeking Him and His ways, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead your life, it brings us to a state of Humility before God.  When we are Humbled before God, we are far less likely to Pass Judgment on others, evaluating and/or concluding something about their heart with God or spiritual journey.

Application, Prayer and/or Thoughts:  Pray that the Lord will open your heart and mind to see where you may have a critical spirit.  Allow the Holy Spirit to work on your heart to find peace in this area as well as the proper response to others.

Additional area for contemplation:  Is there ever a time where Christians should confront another believer regarding their behavior?  1 Corinthians 5.  Who does this writing apply to and in what manner are we to go about the process?