Christ Church Daily Devotion June 21 2024

Jacob, tired of his selfish ways, faces his brother and himself. He wrestles with a stranger, who turns out to be God. Realizing he cannot win, Jacob clings to God and surrenders. He no longer desires material possessions, but seeks God's blessing. Jacob is left with a limp and a new name, Israel. The lesson is to reflect on how God wants to change our character and whether we would embrace His blessing, even if it came with a cost. Welcome to Christchurch's Daily Devotion for June 21st, 2024. Today, we will be reading from Genesis, chapter 32, verses 22 through 31. That night, Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip, so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, Let me go, for it is daybreak. But Jacob replied, I will not let you go unless you bless me. The man asked him, What is your name? Jacob, he answered. Then the man said, Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome. Jacob said, Please tell me your name. But he replied, Why do you ask my name? Then he blessed him there. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared. The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. God engages Jacob in a wrestling match, changes his name, blesses him, and gives him a limp. Jacob's name means heel grabber. And did he ever embody his name? He was always looking for a way to better himself at the expense of others. He was forever sneaking up behind people. His twin brother, his father, his father-in-law, whoever, had something he wanted. This had been going on for years. And finally, Jacob was ready to stop. He was tired of running. It was time to face his brother, face himself, and face the God who had been so gracious and good to him. Jacob wrestles with a stranger all night. He is tossed about and at some point realizes he is wrestling with God and could not possibly win. It may have occurred to him that he'd never find the life he wanted by exerting his will, but rather by surrendering it. He quit resisting the stranger and started hanging on to him for dear life. The wrestling became clinging. Jacob realized he no longer wanted stuff. He wanted the blessing of God. Jacob began the next day with a permanent limp to remind him of his wrestling match and a new name, Israel, which means God prevails. Your personal worship option today? Ponder these questions. Jacob's name changed. Change reflected a change in character. How is God wanting to change your character? Would you embrace God's blessing if it came with a limp?