Make GOD number ONE

Genesis 34: ² So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. ³ Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone.” 

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Productivity was extremely low around the company as the impending message of doom was going to be announced at the company.  It was early in my career so I felt a little confident but that confidence waned as the week went on.  I had worked so hard, were they going to cut me? I began to pray.

I received a call asking me to move to another city with the company. GOD had answered my prayers. “Well I guess I better put the company first” I thought to myself.

• Many times I have made work my idol.
• Many times I have made money a false god of “security.”
• Many times I have made cars and other toys things to cherish.

I have treated some of the material things better than humans pushing thousands of dollars into them just to maintain them.  I have also treated jobs like they were a god, dedicating more time to it than GOD HIMSELF. What does GOD want from me?

• GOD wants me to make HIM the number one GOD.
• GOD does not want any human or job to be worshipped more than HIM.
• GOD does not want my house, car, money, clothing, jewelry or any other material thing to be worshipped more than HIM.

If anything or anyone gets in the way of worshipping HIM it will soon become a problem. Worry, fear and doubt will permeate my being and that is not what HE wants. GOD wants me to have peace. Anything or anyone that destroys my peace has been placed higher than HIM. GOD says look at ME and you will have peace.

• Are you worried about something?
• Are you thinking about someone and get filled with fear and doubt?
• Won’t you place your faith in GOD, knowing HE has control of every situation?
• Can you accept your purpose with HIM?

Should I get involved?

Genesis 34: ⁵ When Jacob heard that his daughter Dinah had been defiled, his sons were in the fields with his livestock; so he did nothing about it until they came home.

⁶ Then Shechem’s father Hamor went out to talk with Jacob. ⁷ Meanwhile, Jacob’s sons had come in from the fields as soon as they heard what had happened. They were shocked and furious, because Shechem had done an outrageous thing in Israel by sleeping with Jacob’s daughter—a thing that should not be done.

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Flight delay number two got me home extremely late.  I just wanted to go to bed but, alas, I had to drive home. As I reached my neighborhood, I noticed a car with four people sitting in it parked near my block. It was a strange place to be parked but I could definitely see a vantage point on houses nearby.

“Should I call the police?” I thought to myself. Then another thought popped in my head “If I call the police then they will come to my house which is in sight of these guys. Maybe I shouldn’t. And besides, I’m tired!”

• Fear of retribution makes me not get involved.
• Selfishness makes me steer clear of someone else’s situation.
• Calculating how much time will be spent helping someone else makes me say no way, my time is too precious.

It is so easy for me to overlook what is wrong when I’m selfish. I mean I can bury my head in my work and overlook what is harmful to someone else. I can say “not my problem” but I will scream for help if it were. What should I do?

• GOD wants me involved with other people to help them in difficult situations.
• GOD wants me to stand up to something that is wrong or harmful.
• GOD wants me engaged with my neighbors to cry with them, protect them and serve them.

Yes it takes more energy, but GOD wants me to help others especially when I don’t feel like it. By the way, I did call the police and they did catch the guys.

• Are you afraid of getting involved?
• Have you practiced overlooking wrongs for so long that you won’t confront them?
• Are you the one in the wrong?
• Can you get involved in a loving way, removing your opinion and giving the gift of GOD?

What is stolen will be replaced

Genesis 33: ⁸ Esau asked, “What’s the meaning of all these flocks and herds I met?”

“To find favor in your eyes, my lord,” he said.

⁹ But Esau said, “I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.”

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After a very long week of unpacking, things finally looked settled in our new house.  I woke up to a very sunny day, stepped into the garage only to find the door had been left open. This was a very rare occurrence so I surveyed my belongings and noticed several items missing, one of which was a tool box.

About a year later I helped our office move. The administrative assistant said, “Here is a tool box that we no longer use, do you want it?” It had more tools in it than the one stolen from me.

• When something gets stolen from me I pout like it will never be replaced.
• When something gets pilfered I get upset because I think I can’t ever get another one.
• When something gets taken I think the sneaky will always win and I will be a wimpy victim.

Jacob stole Esau’s birthright, blessing and place with their father. When GOD told Jacob to return he did it with a bribe because that’s all he could see. Esau, who had everything taken from him, was restored fully even to the point where his coffers were bursting at the seams.

• When stuff gets taken it is only stuff and I should thank GOD for the moment I had it.
• When items get lost, broken or stolen I should thank GOD for the time I had with it.
• When things get taken it may be the removal of a distraction away from GOD.

I’m not saying I like things to be taken away from me, what I’m saying is GOD gives and GOD takes away and it’s up to HIM to replace what is stolen. Each time I have been robbed, I got something better.

• Has something valuable to you been taken?
• Has someone cheated you out of something?
• Can you pray for that person to meet GOD?
• Won’t you let GOD deal with the missing items and pay attention to HIM?

How should I act when I am wrong?

Genesis 32: ⁴ He instructed them: “This is what you are to say to my lord Esau: ‘Your servant Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban and have remained there till now. ⁵ I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, male and female servants. Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes.’”

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With the aroma of a freshly cooked meal I returned to work. Thinking my plot had worked I went home for the day.  The next day my supervisor popped in for a surprise visit. He said hello and left.  He then popped in again about 30 minutes later. He said these words that are etched in my mind, “I am very disappointed in you. I thought you were different and I find you sneaking off work.” To this day I wish I could apologize to him.

• When I mess up, it eats at me.
• When I mess up, I feel like I’m on the outside.
• When I mess up, I really want to fix what I broke.

I guess I’m wired to be a fixer. When it seems like something is broken I try to fix it, especially broken relationships. But what happen if I really messed up? How should I act?

• GOD wants me to humble myself when I mess up.
• GOD wants me to lower my expectations of thinking “I” can fix the situation.
• GOD wants me to depend on HIM to work on everyone’s heart including mine to mend the relationship.

Jacob had stolen his brothers’ inheritance and their father’s heart. He was deceitful and crafty and when GOD told him to return to his brother he was full of fear. His expectations were very low about the relationship so he sent a bribe ahead of his meeting. GOD made him humble and HE wants me to be the same.

• Are you struggling to find a situation where you were wrong?
• Do you even realize when you are wrong?
• Are you going to hold on to your wrong and try to justify it?
• Won’t you humble yourself and apologize, maybe even send a gift?

A prayer for missing you

Genesis 31: ⁴⁹ It was also called Mizpah, because he said, “May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.

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Many times I have had to leave family or friends or coworkers to embark on whatever journey I was sent on. Just the thought of being away seemed scary not because of the unknown for me, but who was going to take care of them?

• I pray that GOD watch over you and keep you whole.
• I hope the LORD will guide you in all your efforts.
• I ask GOD to bless you thoroughly.

All these things I ask for me as well because as Laban spoke to Jacob he prayed for both of them.

• Is there someone who you can pray for?
• Is someone about to go on a journey who you can pray for?
• Are you on a journey and need prayer?
• Can you stop focusing on you and pray for “that” person?

Blessed because of somebody else

Genesis 30: ²⁷ But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you.” 

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My friends’ living room became a second home for me. They always had good food and some fun games! Looking back I bet they wondered if I had a home of my own!  As their parents dished out advice to their sons I would listen and grumble just like my friends. Little did I know their sage advice would benefit me to this day.

• Being around the right people helps me grow.
• Being around the right people keeps me from falling.
• Being around the right people puts me on the right path.

I love praying for something and getting my prayer answered by GOD but sometimes I am blessed indirectly. Just being in the presence of someone else who is blessed helps me tremendously. Unfortunately when trouble comes my way I try to isolate myself thinking I need to fix my own problems.

GOD wants me to gather with others so I can be blessed.

• Are you isolated and feeling alone?
• Do you feel punished?
• Can you get out of your hole and go find some blessed people to be around?
• Can you “be” the blessed person someone needs to be around?

Waiting for something?

Genesis 29: ²⁰ So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.

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Patience has never been an attribute of mine. I would wake my parents at two o’clock in the morning asking about Christmas. When I started college I wanted to be finished so I could start working! Yeah, I think I’m crazy too. It seemed like the days and hours would drag by and when I looked at the clock, time would stand still! Seems like trials are the same way.

• When I really want something that seems unobtainable I pout as I wait on it.
• When I really want something but it’s not the right time I get impatient dreaming about it.
• When I really want something right now that isn’t going to be available for a while I get frustrated.

Just because I want something doesn’t mean I am ready for it. I remember wanting a management position but I had never managed anyone. When I got the opportunity I found it harder than I thought. I am glad I only had a small group so I could mature.

• GOD has told me to wait many times so I could get fully prepared to handle HIS plan.
• GOD has slowed me down many times because HE knows I would have stepped out too fast with things incomplete.
• GOD has placed obstacles in front of me to grow me for the task otherwise I would be too weak to handle the problems I will face.

Patience is definitely a virtue and whether I like it or not it is something GOD wants me to have. With patience, better things happen to everyone involved. Not only do I grow others do as well.

• Are you waiting for something to happen?
• Are you losing your hope?
• Can you understand that GOD wants you to keep on going to get stronger?
• Won’t you focus on HIS strengthening instead of looking at gloom?