River of Life Blog
  • Pastor Todd Weston's Blog

RLA Pastor's blog

senD it ahead

6/18/2018

 
Picture
After a twenty-year separation, Jacob was going home. In the heat of a family dispute Jacob did what many others have done. He moved out in search of greener pastures only to find that there are no perfect families. Two decades of putting up with his manipulating father-in-law was enough for Jacob. Living with Laban was an eye-opening experience. Maybe his own family wasn’t so bad after all, so Jacob decided it was time to go home.

The only problem with going home was the unfinished business with Esau. Jacob, whose name means schemer, had scammed his twin brother on two occasions. Finding Esau faint from hunger, Jacob took advantage of his brother’s momentary weakness and convinced him to trade his treasured birthright for a bowl of stew. If that wasn’t enough, Jacob then deceived his blind father, Isaac, into believing he was Esau. In this way, he swindled his brother out of his blessing as the firstborn. For Jacob’s underhanded, scheming ways, Esau promised the ultimate revenge.

That was twenty-years ago. But the unresolved conflict with his brother gave Jacob cause for concern. That concern gave way to panic when he learned that Esau was approaching with four-hundred men. So Jacob quickly devised a plan in an attempt to appease the brother he had wronged. He arranged for a series of presents to be sent ahead. The idea was for Esau to be inundated with gifts, one after another. Whether it was the gifts or the merciful hand of God, all we know is that the animosity was gone. The reunion was peaceful. Better yet, it was healing.

Like Jacob who sinned against Esau, we have sinned against the Lord on multiple occasions.  But unlike Jacob who sought to right the wrong with a series of presents, there are no gifts we can give to undo the damage and make it right. God knew that. So in His amazing love He gave the gift of His only begotten Son. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we who have sinned against God far worse than Jacob ever dreamed of sinning against Esau can be reconciled to God!

But what about the gifts? Send them ahead not in order to appease the wrath of God, but to please your heavenly Father.  

A day of reckoning is coming for every believer (2 Cor. 5:10). I believe you would agree that we do not want to stand empty-handed in the presence of the One Who gave His all for us. So send ahead your gifts of joyful service, generous giving, faithful ministry, and selfless sacrifice.  ​

Literally inundate Heaven with gifts. And rather than dreading the moment as Jacob feared meeting Esau, you will anticipate standing before the Lord with confidence and great joy!


Pastor Todd Weston

Comments are closed.

    Pastor Todd

    Lead Pastor
    River of Life
    Assembly of God

    Archives

    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011

    Categories

    All
    1 Timothy 4:12
    9/11
    Accountability
    Bible
    Bitterness
    Blessing
    Blessings
    Cheerful Heart
    Choices
    Christmas
    Church
    Church Ministry Center
    Comfort
    Commitment
    Compromise
    Confidence
    Connection
    Courage
    Courageous
    Creativity
    Criticism
    Daniel
    David
    Deceitfulness
    Direction
    Discernment
    Drifting
    Economy
    Elections
    Endurance
    Esther
    Faith
    Father
    Fear
    Fellowship
    Finances
    Forgiveness
    Generosity
    Gifts
    Gospel
    Grace
    Great Commission
    Greatness
    Haiti
    Heaven
    Hebrews 12:14
    Heroes
    Holiness
    Home
    Hope
    Israel
    Joseph
    Light
    Mary
    Media
    Mercy
    Miracles
    Missions
    Moms
    Mothers Day
    Motivation
    Natural Gifts
    New Year
    Obstacles
    Options
    Outreach
    Overcome
    Peace
    Perspective
    Planning
    Power
    Priorities
    Race
    Rapture
    Read
    Renew
    Rla Connect
    Running
    Servant
    Sin
    Sing
    Spiritual Gifts
    Success
    Time
    Tithe
    Trials
    Truth
    Unity
    Variety
    Vision
    Voting
    Wedding
    Willing Heart
    Word
    Youth