I'm Following Jesus – Page 2291 – Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Chapters: Genesis 32-34
Message: Facing God

Hello My Friend,

For years I served God, I prayed every day, read my Bible every day, went to church every time the doors were open, served in the church, even went soul winning, but something was not quite right. It was not until I lost everything I had, and got so sick that my only option was to face God that I realized what I was missing, my relationship with God. You see, salvation is one thing, we all know we are sinners and Christ alone is our only option for that, coming to grips with our sin is another thing, we never fully comprehend what Jesus has done for us until we face God. While we are indeed forgiven of our sins and all is forgotten by God when we receive Christ as our Saviour, that does not stop us from facing the repercussions of our sins. If we truly want peace with God and ourselves we must face Him, and that is the beginning of a prosperous relationship with God.

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” – Psalms 1:1-3.

We have all done things in the past that we wish we could take back, but dwelling on them and haunting ourselves over them will not change the situation. We cannot change our past, but we can change today, and until we truly face God and hand it all over to Him we will never have peace with ourselves. As Jacob was heading back to Canaan he must have had a lot to think about, it had been over twenty years since he deceived his brother and now it was time to make amends, some how, some way, he wanted Esau’s forgiveness.

“And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God’s host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim. And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom. And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands; And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape. And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee: I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands. Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.” – Genesis 32:1-3,6-11.

“I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies,” When our past catches up to us and we have no where to go, our only option is to face God. None of us are worthy of the mercies of God because we all fall short of His glory, and while we are saved, sometimes we just have to beg and plead with God for His mercies, and remind Him of what He has promised. This is not because God needs a reminder it is because we need the reminder ourselves. Jacob had to come to grips with his past and face God, he found himself all alone, but not really.

“And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” – Genesis 32:24-30.

“and my life is preserved.” Like I always say, until we fully comprehend what Jesus has done for us we will never be at peace with ourselves. Of course, we know we are sinners and acknowledge that when we get saved, but it is only when we face God that we truly understand the mercies of God, and His forgiveness. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – I John 1:8-9.

Still a little fearful, Jacob divided his wives, children, and flocks into two groups, reasoning that if Esau should destroy one group the remaining camp would escape in the opposite direction. Now, the time had come for Jacob to meet Esau face to face.

“And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord. Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir. And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord. So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir. And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.” – Genesis 33:4, 8,14-17.

“These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.” The greatest gift we will ever receive is grace, without grace we cannot be saved, without grace we cannot find peace, without grace we cannot even find Jesus. Grace is the key to not only reconciling with God, but keeping our relationship with Him. Jacob and Esau found peace and forgiveness with each other, Jacob no longer had to wrestle with his conscience because he was finally at peace with himself, Esau, and with God. Either we lean on God to get us through our past or try to deal with it on our own, but until we face God, there is going to be a constant battle within ourselves. God must bring us to the end of our own strength before He gives us His strength to let go of our past and see a bright future.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” – James 4:7-10.

Jesus Christ Magnified: “And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” – Genesis 32:30.

Today’s Prayer: God, It is amazing to think that even when we mess up You are there to help us get out of our troubles. While we wrestle with our conscience and guilt of the past, let us face You with full assurance, give us direction, guidance, and help us to move forward, by confessing our sins to You, and standing on Your promises. Fill us with your grace for we are unworthy of Your mercies, give us peace from all our distress and help us come to the end of ourselves so that You can do Your work in us to fulfill Your promises. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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