Day 16, January 16, 2021
Scripture: Genesis 31, Matthew 10 In the story of scripture today, we come across a story about allegiances and listening to God. There is a great cost to following Christ. It is now time for Jacob to leave Laban behind. Laban’s feelings for Jacob have soured. Jacob shakes the dust off of his feet, and goes on his way. Following Jesus is comparable here. While the story of Jacob is unique, and not much for us to try and emulate, we ought to look to his example only in that Jacob is following the leading of the Lord. “Go back to the land of your fathers, and to your relatives, and I will be with you.” (Gen 31:3) He is called to leave Laban, the father of Rachel and Leah, and head back to his own family and relatives. The expectation set out for the disciples of Jesus, are that they would go. Disciples are expected that they would share the good news of the kingdom with others. They would go and announce the peace of God and let it rest within the homes they visited and were welcomed within. But times would come for them in which they would be rejected, and God’s people would set out to the next town and village. There will be much difficulty for those who choose to listen to the Lord and follow him. The demands are great, the hating of father and mother are necessary to seeking first the kingdom. And there is certainly some challenges here, but what we need to come away from the text remembering is that God calls us to a loyalty to him. It’s not that we dislike or have a burning hatred for family. Rather, it’s about loving of Jesus more. There will be times when we have to leave. To walk away from the familiar, to walk away from what we care about, and have to choose to “hate.” To walk away from the familiar and comfortable and follow where the Lord is leading. The disciples must learn what it is to trust in the Lord, and walk with him. We are called each day, to do the same. God be with you today, as you listen and walk with him. Jordan
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorJordan Ickes, Minister of Etna Green Church of Christ. Archives
December 2022
Categories
All
|