Week 5 Tuesday
Today we watch Jacob wrestle with God Himself and come away changed, hear David praise God even from his high place as king, and sit with Jesus in Martha's kitchen and at His feet with Mary.
Genesis 32
📖 What are we reading?: The wonderful story of Jacob wrestling with God through the night, refusing to let go until he receives a blessing.
✞ What does this passage say about God? He meets us in our fear and struggle - even wrestles with us - and does not let us go without blessing us.
🛐 How does this passage teach us to live? Have you ever prayed the words of verse 26 - "I will not let you go unless you bless me"? Maybe today you can do that.
Looking for some extra info?
➡️ The bigger picture: Genesis, meaning "beginnings", was written by Moses around 1400 BC, and covers the story of creation, the fall, and the origins of God's chosen people, Israel.
📝 A devotion on wrestling with God like Jacob.
📰 Charles Wesley's epic poem "Wrestling Jacob" is worth a careful read too - it brings this whole story to life in verse.
Psalm 21
📖 What are we reading?: David's words of trust and praise to God, celebrating the strength and blessing God has given him as king.
✞ What does this passage say about God? He is the source of every good thing a leader has - strength, joy, and lasting blessing all come from His hand.
🛐 How does this passage teach us to live? David's high place as king never removes his need for God. Perhaps we should pray today for leaders in our world to have the same love for God as King David did.
Looking for some extra info?
➡️ The bigger picture: The Psalms is a collection of 150 poems and songs, written by David and others, expressing the full range of human emotion in response to God and to life.
🎤 Worship with Luke through Psalm 21.
Luke 10:25-42
📖 What are we reading?: An expert in the law asks Jesus how to inherit eternal life, prompting the parable of the good Samaritan. Then Jesus visits Mary and Martha's home, where Martha is distracted by preparations while Mary sits at His feet.
✞ What does this passage say about God? True love for God spills over into love for our neighbour - even the most unlikely, unwelcome neighbour. And He values our attention on Him above our busyness for Him.
🛐 How does this passage teach us to live? The parable of the good Samaritan reminds us to love our neighbour, and Jesus in Mary and Martha's home reminds us to be still and sit at His feet.
Looking for some extra info?
➡️ The bigger picture: Luke's Gospel was written by Luke, a Greek physician and companion of Paul, around AD 60-62. It is the most detailed account of Jesus' life, and is especially attentive to the poor, to women, and to outcasts.
A Prayer for the Day
🙏 Lord, thank You that You wrestle with us and bless us in the struggle; keep our hearts humble like David's, and teach us to love our neighbour well while never losing the better part - simply sitting at Your feet. Amen.
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