Daily Reading
Daily Thought
Israel, the great nation of God, would come through the line of Jacob. Jacob had 12 sons and a daughter by 4 women. Two of the women were wives, two weren’t, and God uses this mixed up, messed up, sin-filled line to bring forth his people.
We are sinners, simple as that. When God uses us to accomplish his plan, sin tags along. We don’t have to search; sin doesn’t hide. Jacob’s wives invited him to sleep with their maidservants, and Jacob said, “Okay.”
What a mess!
We do bad things, or others do bad things to us, and God shapes it into his design. “Joseph said to his brothers, ‘You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good’” (Genesis 50:20). God used the actions of the sons of Jacob to refine them so that they would learn love and trust through the consequences of their own hate and betrayal.
God is sovereign, but that doesn’t mean he makes everything happen. For instance, God didn’t make the sons of Jacob sin. Sovereignty is much bigger than that. It means God is in charge of this world and he takes everything that happens, good and bad, and uses it to carry out his plan. And it will be good for those who love his purpose.
Often we let the bad things we do define us – “I’m a bad person” – but God can reshape the bad we have done into a work of his glory. God’s sovereignty is more powerful than our sin. Let God define you.
Daily Prayer
Father God, thank You for Your mercy. Your son made a trade: He took my sin and gave me His righteousness. What amazing grace! You have made me a new person in Jesus Christ. My old self, delighted with sin, is dead. I am born again, born from heaven, a new person who now delights in You.
God, I hunger and thirst for righteousness. May I be filled and overflowing. May I live a good and godly life that lights the world around me so that people see You and delight in You, as well.
Amen
God bless you, Luv’n Liv’n
Pastor Dave
