Sunday, Ordinary 18/Proper 13 -- Aug 3
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Jacob Wrestling With the Angel
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Rembrandt_-_Jacob_Wrestling_with_the_Angel_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg/640px-Rembrandt_-_Jacob_Wrestling_with_the_Angel_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg. Rembrandt - Jacob Wrestling with the Angel Wikipedia CCL
Meditation
Sunday, Ordinary 18, Proper 13 shared the stories of the Encounters with God for believers. First, the Old Testament lesson in Genesis, described the occasion of Jacob, on his journey back to the land of his father after fleeing his father-in-law, Laban. He sent the entourage of his family—wives, concubines, children and servants—ahead of him across the Jabbok River. He stayed behind and met a man, who wrestled with him. Neither of them seemed to be winning, and then the man touched Jacob’s hip and put it out of joint. Jacob would not let go until the stranger blessed him.
The man 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.” So Jacob called the place Peniel because he had seen the face of God and survived.
The Psalmist, David, asked God to look into his heart and see that he was honest and striving to please God, so that God would hear his plea. The access of believers with God was up close and very personal.
In the New Testament lesson of Romans, Paul spoke of growing up as a Hebrew, and being descended from Jacob and receiving all the promises, but he also shared his wish for those among his ‘family’ who were not believers that he would give anything to help them become believers in that personal way with God.
The final miraculous encounter with God was Jesus feeding the 5000+. He had crossed over the Jordan River onto the desert side and crowds followed him. He healed their sick and taught them. After a long day, the disciples encouraged Jesus to send the people away to get fed, but Jesus said they could stay and asked what provisions they had. Five loaves of bread and two fishes were all that they had, but Jesus gave thanks to God and broke it into enough to feed everyone. The disciples and people were amazed at the miracle of the Son of God, when he encountered the needs of people.
Even today, God can come to us in miraculous ways. I have stories on this site of the miracles that happened in the birth of Anna Elizabeth and the escape from Beirut. Over my life there have been countless ‘miracles’ where no other explanation works, save that God intervened in a way contrary to normal science.
But for each event, I recognize it could not have happened without the clear direction and intervention of God. We can encounter God up-close- and-personal in limitless ways. We must be open to the possibilities in the way that Jacob, David and Paul were, and we can discover the power of God at work in our own lives.
Thanks be to God.
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Ordinary 18, Proper 13
Bible Readings
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis 32:22-31;Psalm 17:1-7, 15;Romans 9:1-5;Matthew 14:13-21&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;CEV (multiple versions)
Sunday, Ordinary 18, Proper 13
Genesis 32:22-31
Psalm 17:1-7 Psalm 17:15
Romans 9:1-5
Matthew 14:13-21
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Ephesians 6:10-18
King James Version (KJV)
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Single Bible Study chapter to study
Matthew 14:13-21
King James Version (KJV)
13 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.
14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.
16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.
17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6b/FeedingMultitudes_Bernardo.jpg Feeding multitudes, by Bernardo; Wikipedia CCL
18 He said, Bring them hither to me.
19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8099/8656693075_7b012fb111_z_d.jpg Feeding with loaves; Detail from a stained glass window in the church of San Lorenzo Ruiz in Manila, the Philippines. Fr Lawrence Lew OP, flickr CCL
20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Almighty God, empower us to follow in the footsteps of Jacob, David, Paul and the multitudes that we might see your hand at work in miraculous ways in our lives. In Jesus name, Amen
Conclusion
Sunday, Ordinary 18, Proper 13 reinforced the many ways that God will encounter us. For Jacob it was in the dead of night, wrestling with an angel, who left him in pain and a cripple. But Jacob rejoiced because he had encountered God and survived. For David, it was the encounter of a man praying for assistance. For Paul, it was a prayer and plea for his family and those, who did not yet believe. For the multitude, it was Jesus rewarding their faithfulness, their hunger for the truth, their persistence and determination to learn what Jesus had to say.
We might encounter God in a miraculous deeply personal way. It would be more likely to happen to one who followed in the footsteps of Jacob, David, Paul and the multitudes, who sought to learn.
Qualities of all of them: seekers, faithfulness, humble, open to God and persistent. Cultivate these aspects in our own lives, and who knows what miracles might happen?
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Rembrandt_-_Jacob_Wrestling_with_the_Angel_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg/640px-Rembrandt_-_Jacob_Wrestling_with_the_Angel_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg. Rembrandt - Jacob Wrestling with the Angel Wikipedia CCL
Meditation
Sunday, Ordinary 18, Proper 13 shared the stories of the Encounters with God for believers. First, the Old Testament lesson in Genesis, described the occasion of Jacob, on his journey back to the land of his father after fleeing his father-in-law, Laban. He sent the entourage of his family—wives, concubines, children and servants—ahead of him across the Jabbok River. He stayed behind and met a man, who wrestled with him. Neither of them seemed to be winning, and then the man touched Jacob’s hip and put it out of joint. Jacob would not let go until the stranger blessed him.
The man 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.” So Jacob called the place Peniel because he had seen the face of God and survived.
The Psalmist, David, asked God to look into his heart and see that he was honest and striving to please God, so that God would hear his plea. The access of believers with God was up close and very personal.
In the New Testament lesson of Romans, Paul spoke of growing up as a Hebrew, and being descended from Jacob and receiving all the promises, but he also shared his wish for those among his ‘family’ who were not believers that he would give anything to help them become believers in that personal way with God.
The final miraculous encounter with God was Jesus feeding the 5000+. He had crossed over the Jordan River onto the desert side and crowds followed him. He healed their sick and taught them. After a long day, the disciples encouraged Jesus to send the people away to get fed, but Jesus said they could stay and asked what provisions they had. Five loaves of bread and two fishes were all that they had, but Jesus gave thanks to God and broke it into enough to feed everyone. The disciples and people were amazed at the miracle of the Son of God, when he encountered the needs of people.
Even today, God can come to us in miraculous ways. I have stories on this site of the miracles that happened in the birth of Anna Elizabeth and the escape from Beirut. Over my life there have been countless ‘miracles’ where no other explanation works, save that God intervened in a way contrary to normal science.
But for each event, I recognize it could not have happened without the clear direction and intervention of God. We can encounter God up-close- and-personal in limitless ways. We must be open to the possibilities in the way that Jacob, David and Paul were, and we can discover the power of God at work in our own lives.
Thanks be to God.
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Ordinary 18, Proper 13
Bible Readings
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis 32:22-31;Psalm 17:1-7, 15;Romans 9:1-5;Matthew 14:13-21&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;CEV (multiple versions)
Sunday, Ordinary 18, Proper 13
Genesis 32:22-31
Psalm 17:1-7 Psalm 17:15
Romans 9:1-5
Matthew 14:13-21
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Ephesians 6:10-18
King James Version (KJV)
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Single Bible Study chapter to study
Matthew 14:13-21
King James Version (KJV)
13 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.
14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.
16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.
17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6b/FeedingMultitudes_Bernardo.jpg Feeding multitudes, by Bernardo; Wikipedia CCL
18 He said, Bring them hither to me.
19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8099/8656693075_7b012fb111_z_d.jpg Feeding with loaves; Detail from a stained glass window in the church of San Lorenzo Ruiz in Manila, the Philippines. Fr Lawrence Lew OP, flickr CCL
20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Almighty God, empower us to follow in the footsteps of Jacob, David, Paul and the multitudes that we might see your hand at work in miraculous ways in our lives. In Jesus name, Amen
Conclusion
Sunday, Ordinary 18, Proper 13 reinforced the many ways that God will encounter us. For Jacob it was in the dead of night, wrestling with an angel, who left him in pain and a cripple. But Jacob rejoiced because he had encountered God and survived. For David, it was the encounter of a man praying for assistance. For Paul, it was a prayer and plea for his family and those, who did not yet believe. For the multitude, it was Jesus rewarding their faithfulness, their hunger for the truth, their persistence and determination to learn what Jesus had to say.
We might encounter God in a miraculous deeply personal way. It would be more likely to happen to one who followed in the footsteps of Jacob, David, Paul and the multitudes, who sought to learn.
Qualities of all of them: seekers, faithfulness, humble, open to God and persistent. Cultivate these aspects in our own lives, and who knows what miracles might happen?
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
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