Jacob was a giant of the faith—but what if I told you that you probably wouldn’t have wanted to be his friend for the greater part of his adult life?
That’s right—because Jacob very much lived up to his name (Jacob means, ‘grabber’). Jacob lied, manipulated and deceived his way through the first half of his life until he finally wrestled with God and yielded control over to Him.
What would Jacob say to us today?
Don’t keep fighting God. Let Him do His good work in you…
Because there are three rock solid things that will happen.
-Warning, this first one stinks!-
- “Brokenness precedes breakthrough.”
God is greatly pleased with a humble heart! You hear me say this verse almost every week but I’m saying it again…
2 Chron. 16:9, “The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth—seeking those whose hearts are fully His in order that He might strengthen them!”
That’s what God is looking for! Let me say it another way…
(Psalm 51:17) The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Now, if that’s the kind of support the humble get. What do you suppose the proud get?
(1 Peter 5:5-6) “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” The proud get God’s wrath and opposition! Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” The humble get his support!
I think most people would be fine with that verse if it wasn’t for the last three words! “..in due time.” We live in a ‘give it to me right now! Culture—a microwave generation. Truth is—we don’t want to wait for anything other than death. But God is gonna do what He’s gonna do. Better to wait on His timing.
Here’s the second thing…
- “You must lose yourself to find yourself.”
That sounds scary, but let me show you what it really means…
(Mark 8:34 MSG) Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am.”
It’s a matter of control.
It might sound a little daunting but here’s the alternative…
(Mark 8:35 NLT) If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.
Go all in. Give God a year of your life—isn’t He at least worth that kind of chance? Find a good Bible believing church and dive in! Get in a small group. Serve. I’m saying, Get in the game and watch the difference that it makes. Give that church at least a year—and watch what God does once you start living life on His terms.
The third and final thing…
- “When you find yourself on God’s terms, you find fulfillment.”
That’s the abundant life Jesus talks about in John 10:10.
(Romans 12:1-2 MSG) So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
Well said!