Happy Monday to all! Yesterday we rejoiced in worshipping the One who gave His all for us and saved us by His grace alone. Then we looked at Genesis 27 and learned that we must do God’s will in His way. We saw how favoritism and family division wreaked havoc between Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and Jacob. Family division hurts everyone. We learned also that we must not use deceptive means like Rebekah and Jacob to achieve certain ends. Yes, you can achieve what you want to achieve by underhanded and sinful methods. But what you will lose by those methods will be far greater than what you will gain. You might reach certain goals and appear to be successful. However, you will not realize and know joy in that success. We also began to understand how we must not only seek to please God and do His will but also must obey His ways and methods in serving Him. We looked at the problem with wrong desires and appetites. They can cause faulty judgments about God’s will. Even our desire for success in what is right can often lead us to employ wrong methods and plans. Sinful actions to achieve good results are never justified. Wrong methods to achieve certain results lead to divisions among the closest of friends and relatives. However, despite human failure and sins, we need to always remember this: Sinful human conniving and activities will never hinder God’s purposes from prevailing.
Sharon Bahl is in rehab as her broken hip is healing. She is at Oakwood Village East Rehab Center on American Parkway if anyone can pay her a visit. We are thankful to know that she is doing better.
Remember to keep praying continually for each other. None of us know fully the burdens our brothers and sisters in Christ might be carrying.
Love being your pastor!
Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church