A Wrestling Match

The most dramatic night of Jacob’s life took place on the River Jabbok. He feared the encounter he was about to have with his brother Esau. At some point during the night, someone grabbed Jacob around the neck and threw him to the ground. On and on through the night, they wrestled. Who was this stranger? Jacob would later say, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared” (Genesis 32:30 NLT).

God let Jacob fight until it appeared that Jacob was in control. And then, with one touch, God dislocated his hip. Jacob fell to the ground, broken and humbled. The hip is the largest weight-bearing joint, and it engages some of the strongest muscles. Yet it was putty at the touch of the Stranger. The message of the dislocation? “You aren’t as strong as you think. Rely on me.” Is that a message for you?

Devotion by Max Lucado | The Almighty Jehovah | https://thealmightyJehovah.com

Untying Knots

Most of us had a hard time learning to tie our shoes. Tightening shoes by wrapping strings together? Nothing easy about that. Who came up with the idea of shoes anyway?

My friend Roy used to sit on a park bench watching kids gather and play at the bus stop. One day a little fellow struggled to board the bus, frantically trying to disentangle a knotted shoestring. He grew more anxious by the moment. All of a sudden it was too late. The bus door closed. With tear-filled eyes he looked at Roy on the bench and asked, “Do you untie knots?”

We never outgrow the urge to look up and say, “Help!” And when we do, who shows up? Jesus, our next-door Savior. Go ahead, ask him: “Do you untie knots?” “Yes,” he will say.

As We Behold Him

2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “We all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness…” As we behold him, we become like him.

It’s a principle I experienced first-hand when an opera singer visited our church. He sat right behind me. He tried to contain himself, but how can a tuba hide in a room of piccolos? I was startled. Inspired. Emboldened by his volume. I lifted mine. Did I sing better? No. But did I try harder? No doubt. His power brought the best of me.

Could your world use a little music? If so, invite heaven’s baritone—Jesus Christ—to cut loose. Who knows? A few songs with him might change the way you sing!

A Wrestling Match