For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

    Wisdom offers us a long life and wealth. They are ours to have if we embrace wisdom and hold to her tightly. This does not mean that everyone who is wealthy is wise, nor that everyone who is poor is foolish. Different people are called to different places in life and wisdom helps them make the most of the opportunities they are given.

    Our troubles may make it seem as if God has forsaken us, but it is more likely that they are because we have forgotten Him. If we trust in His unfailing love, we will rejoice because He has rescued us. “I will sing to the Lord because He is good to me.” How true that is.

    I never really thought about today’s passage in the context of discussions we often have about Church unity. In this passage Jesus tells us that if we love anyone or anything more than we love Jesus we are not worthy of Him. He says this right after telling us that He did not come to bring peace. In other words, if we love Church unity more than we love Christ, we are not worthy of being His Church.

    At the end of the passage, John the Baptist’s disciples approach Jesus and ask Him, on behalf of John, if He was the expected Messiah. Rather than directly answer their question, Jesus told them to tell John what they had heard and seen. He then summarizes what they would have seen: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, lepers are healed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and good news is preached to the poor. That is the standard we have to live up to, if the Church is not doing those things it is failing in its mission.

    As soon as Laban learned that Jacob had left with his wives and flocks, he set out after him. From the description it appears that Laban intended to stop Jacob by force. However, the night before Laban overtook Jacob he received a dream warning to leave Jacob alone. Laban proceeded to claim that if Jacob had only told him he wanted to go he would have thrown a farewell party for him and sent him on his way. In their confrontation, Jacob once more gives credit to God for his success.
    Jacob goes on to meet his brother Esau. He makes all of the plans he can to ingratiate himself with Esau. He sends a gift flock on ahead of the rest of his flocks and family. He then divided his household into two groups, so that if Esau attacked one the other could possible escape. Yet after making all of his plans, he does not rely on his skill or planning. Rather he turns to God and asks for his protection. Let us follow his example and plan for the troubles we face in this life as best we can, but recognize that we depend on God for our safety.

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day, or more. in advance. My work schedule has recently changed, meaning that I may not have time every day to complete these. As a result, I am trying to get several days ahead. I hope this does not negatively impact the quality of these posts (if that is possible). If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

     Jacob gathered his family and set off towards the land of his father while Laban was some distance away. While they were gathering their things, Rachel stole Laban’s household idols and took them with them. When Laban learned of Jacob’s departure he gathered a force and set out in pursuit, apparently planning on forcing Jacob to return to his lands (or perhaps to merely take Jacob’s wealth). However, just before he overtook Jacob, God appeared to Laban and warned him to not harm Jacob in any way. When Laban finally overtook Jacob he confronted Jacob over leaving secretly and stealing his idols. Laban told Jacob that the only reason he was not destroying him for the effrontery was because God had warned him not to the previous night. Jacob said that he was afraid that Laban would prevent him from leaving, or, if he allowed him to leave, would have prevented him from taking his wives, children, and possessions with him. Jacob then denied having taken Laban’s idols.
     Laban searched through Jacob’s possessions for his missing idols, but was unable to find them because Rachel hid them under her seat and claimed it was that time of month when Laban searched her tent. When Laban was unable to find his idols among Jacob’s possessions Jacob lost it with Laban and confronted him by laying out his grievances towards Laban over how Laban had treated him while he was with him. That the only reason Jacob was able to leave Laban with more than the clothes on his back was because God was with him. Laban was afraid to take his conflict with Jacob any further because of the vision he had had the night before, so he made a treaty with Jacob that neither would harm the other and that Jacob would treat Laban’s daughters, Leah and Rachel, well.
     When Jacob departed from Laban, he sent messengers ahead of himself and his family to inform Esau of his coming. The messengers went to Esau and returned to Jacob. When they got back to Jacob, they told him that Esau was coming to meet him with an army of 400 men. Jacob was terrified and made preparations so that at least part of his family might escape. Then Jacob called on God acknowledging all the good which God had done him and that he was unworthy of the blessings which God had given him. Jacob concluded his prayer by asking God to save him once more, to rescue him from his brother Esau. Let us follow the model which Jacob offers us with this prayer.

     Jesus begins today’s passage by reminding us that the student is not greater than the teacher nor is the servant greater than the master. Since Jesus was called the prince of demons, we can expect to be called much worse. If we truly understand why we should fear God, who is the only one who can destroy our souls, we will not fear those who can only bring harm to our bodies. We need to bear in mind that not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without God being aware of it. This means that we should have no fear because God values us much more than He values sparrows.
     If we acknowledge our relationship with Christ here on earth, He will acknowledge our relationship before God in heaven. But if we deny our relationship with Christ here on earth, He will deny our relationship before God in heaven. Those who show kindness and hospitality to use are showing kindness and hospitality to Christ, those who show kindness and hospitality to Christ are showing kindness and hospitality to God the Father. Then to make sure we understand His point, Jesus tells us that those who are receptive to a prophet because he is speaking the word of God will receive the same reward as the prophet himself. Those who are receptive to a righteous person because the person is righteous will receive the same reward as the righteous person.

     The psalmist was struggling with depression when he wrote today’s psalm. He recognized that the first step to facing and defeating depression is to trust and praise God. I will sing to the God, for He has rescued me. I may not see His rescue yet, but I know that the wheels are in motion.

     Wisdom offers long life, riches, and honor. Following the path of wisdom leads to a life of satisfaction and fulfillment. It is by choosing wisdom that we are able to find joy and happiness for the long term.