1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Think about these questions as you meditate on the verse. What does this verse teach me? How does this verse apply to my Life?
EXPENSIVE SELFISHNESS
Genesis 32:13-23
Selfishness is expensive. Sin comes high. It costs time, strength, heartache, and bitter tears. Jacob was terribly frightened when he was willing to part with all that valuable livestock, the choicest he had, representing long years of sweat and skill and sleepless nights. That was the rarest wealth to him. It was for just such wealth he had cheated and deceived and lied. Sin’s charges are terribly high. Selfishness is awfully expensive. Better stop before you start.
PUSH UP THE CALENDAR
Genesis 32:3-12
Sin breeds fear. Perfect love makes fear turn tail and flee. If we could be freed of all sense of fear, we’d have new bodies, the physician’s calling would be largely gone; we’d have keener minds, saner judgment, and better-balanced lives. Some day Jesus, in actual control, will turn fear out-of-doors to freeze in the winter blast. And that “some day” may be pushed nearer on our calendars than most of us think.
WINNING BY BENDING
Genesis 33:1-11
Pray, and do your best, and then pray some more, and things will come out right. But “pray” means a strong will bent to the higher will. Jacob’s exquisite tact and studious preparation coupled with dependence on God won Esau’s heart. But it was a new Jacob now, broken-legged and bent-willed, weakened in his own human strength. God could help now. His strength was being made perfect in action through a bended human will.
NINEVEH OR TARSHISH?
Jonah 1:1-17
Every man of us is either in the caravan to Nineveh or on the boat to Tarshish; headed due east, or just the reverse, due west; going God’s way or his own. Which way are you headed? Some of us go to Tarshish religiously. We sing and pray while going our own way and straight across the grain of God’s way for us. Are you traveling by land or water? to Nineveh or Tarshish? God’s way or your own?
GOD’S INSURANCE
Exodus2:11-22
Going God’s way is an insurance policy against accident and violence and death, until one’s life-errand is full done. Doing any other way opens the door to all sorts of danger. Ask the unnamed prophet in 1 Kings 13. A man never need run from danger when doing what he should. Ask the three young men in Daniel 3. The protecting presence of the “Fourth” is unfailing in the path of obedience.
