Our society is driven by a competitiveness that demands out performing others to win the prize. The Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup and the Olympics provide examples of a "best performer takes-all" mindset. Does that spill over into our other relationships like friendship and marriage. Are we duty bound to perform or does love fill us with the desire to accomplish acts of love naturally?
Day Three WORD
“And Leah conceived, and bare a son,
and she called his name Reuben:
for she said,
Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction;
now therefore
my husband will love me.”
Genesis 29:32 King James Version
and she called his name Reuben:
for she said,
Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction;
now therefore
my husband will love me.”
Genesis 29:32 King James Version
Deep Thoughts
. Leah was the least favorite wife in an age where it was permissible to have more than one wife. Her husband Jacob had performed seven years of service for her father Laban and received her as his wages. Sounds kind of crass, but they lived in a different time and culture than we do now. Their customs followed traditions based on the needs of the times. Her father used her as a pawn in a scheme to deceive Jacob. Leah believed her pregnancy with a son would finally give her love in her husband's eyes.
She had performed her duties as a wife well. This would be the first born son for her husband. Surely this would catapult her into first place in the competition for "best wife." That was a title that seemed to evade Leah all the days of her life. That may seem sad if you only look at one part of who this woman was. Examine the generations that came forth from her womb and you will find Jesus Christ came through her blessings of motherhood.
Leah did the best that she knew how. She was mistreated as a daughter, a sister and a wife, but God blessed her as a mother. Leah performed her duties out of a desire to love her husband and family. Here are the results of her excellence in motherhood: Her third son Levi became the father of the tribe whom God chose to serve as priests in the Tabernacle. Her fourth son Judah was chosen by God to carry out His promises of blessing all people through Abraham. Jesus was from the Tribe of Judah.
Though Leah had done her best to perform as a wife and seemingly failed, her life as a mother gave birth to priests and ultimately a King. Leah sacrificed herself for others. Jesus seemingly failed to save his people when he died on a cross. Jesus sacrificed Himself for others. Leah was a great woman. Her works are worthy of God's praise.
True love will desire to give - no matter the cost. True love will desire to be dutiful in acting out that love. True Love lives on forever. "We love because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19
She had performed her duties as a wife well. This would be the first born son for her husband. Surely this would catapult her into first place in the competition for "best wife." That was a title that seemed to evade Leah all the days of her life. That may seem sad if you only look at one part of who this woman was. Examine the generations that came forth from her womb and you will find Jesus Christ came through her blessings of motherhood.
Leah did the best that she knew how. She was mistreated as a daughter, a sister and a wife, but God blessed her as a mother. Leah performed her duties out of a desire to love her husband and family. Here are the results of her excellence in motherhood: Her third son Levi became the father of the tribe whom God chose to serve as priests in the Tabernacle. Her fourth son Judah was chosen by God to carry out His promises of blessing all people through Abraham. Jesus was from the Tribe of Judah.
Though Leah had done her best to perform as a wife and seemingly failed, her life as a mother gave birth to priests and ultimately a King. Leah sacrificed herself for others. Jesus seemingly failed to save his people when he died on a cross. Jesus sacrificed Himself for others. Leah was a great woman. Her works are worthy of God's praise.
True love will desire to give - no matter the cost. True love will desire to be dutiful in acting out that love. True Love lives on forever. "We love because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19
DAY THREE PRAYER
Thank You God for loving us
while we were still being selfish and turning away from You.
There are no requirements to receive Your Love
other than to believe it so much that we understand the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
We don't have to perform to receive your Love.
Knowing You arouses our desire to please You by loving others the way You love us.
Help us to see the big picture of a person's life,
not just little snapshots of what looks like their failures.
You are God who turns ashes into beauty.
May the ashes of our failures
become the sacrifices for future generations
to learn about the beauty of Your Love.
In Jesus Name.
Amen.
while we were still being selfish and turning away from You.
There are no requirements to receive Your Love
other than to believe it so much that we understand the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
We don't have to perform to receive your Love.
Knowing You arouses our desire to please You by loving others the way You love us.
Help us to see the big picture of a person's life,
not just little snapshots of what looks like their failures.
You are God who turns ashes into beauty.
May the ashes of our failures
become the sacrifices for future generations
to learn about the beauty of Your Love.
In Jesus Name.
Amen.
“Look at the birds of the air;
they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not much more valuable than they?”
Matthew 6:26 NIV
they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not much more valuable than they?”
Matthew 6:26 NIV
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