"And they would be beautiful because He loved them" (JSB 74)
Ornament: Ladder
Scripture Readings: Genesis 28:10-22
Genesis 29:31-55; 32:22-32; 35:9-15
Matthew 1:2; 22:32
Acts 3:13
Verse: Genesis 28:15
Hymn: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Story: Jacob's Ladder
- Big Picture Story Bible: God's People Grow (83-88)
- The Jesus Storybook Bible: The Girl No One Wanted (70-75)
- The Gospel Story Bible: Jacob's Dream (36-37) ** there are many stories focusing on Jacob in this particular Bible story book. You can choose which one you'd like.
One of my favorite things to hear is a daily conversation between my husband and 4 year old daughter. He begins, "you are lovely and beautiful. Do you know why you are lovely?" She replies, "Daddy, I'm lovely because God loves me dearly." Jacob married Leah, the girl with the big cow eyes, and God used that convoluted mess of a marriage to two competitive sisters to show that He loves the unlovely. But God not only loved Leah, God also loved Jacob (Romans 9:13). I think we can all agree that Jacob is not a very lovely character in the Bible. In fact, he was quite unlovely. He was full of deceit, lies, and trickery. My kids always think he is the bad guy... and they are right. So God's promise to Jacob must not have been based on Jacob's flaws ... but on God's perfect and beautiful holiness.
But God pursued Jacob. God even changed His name to Israel. God met with Jacob, the self righteous and proud man. God wrestled with Jacob and basically crippled him just by touching him. God passed on His promise of blessing to Jacob. God did this, not because Jacob was lovely or worthy, but because God loved him. God goes to great lengths to dwell with His people. God sent Jesus, not because we are lovely, but because He is altogether lovely and altogether worthy. It is God who makes us lovely. How earth shattering. How humbling. This is Grace in all its fullness. Praise God!
I chose a lesser known Christmas song today, because I think it is good to meditate on this text of God leaving all His splendor and loveliness to come down to so much that is unlovely. Please don't disregard this text simply because it might be unfamiliar. Make sure you take time to listen. It is a beautiful arrangement of a beautiful text.
Today is St. Nicholas day. It falls on a great day for the story we just read about God loving the unlovely, because that is what St. Nicholas did. He did not give to those who were deserving or lovely. This is a picture of Jesus. Jesus died for us, not because we were deserving or lovely, but because He loved us. This is the power of the Gospel. We have begun a tradition introduced to us from a dear family in Virginia. We will drive around (or walk) with our children to deliver cookies to people. At each house, we will pause to pray for the family, leave the cookies, ring the door bell, and RUN! The cookies are given anonymously in honor of St Nicholas...a tag on the cookie plate explains this! We love to watch the expression of people as they wonder who loved them enough to do this! We love making this day about giving to others, and so we will also give a box of our toys away to other children. It's a fun way for our family to continue to celebrate that God loved us when were were unlovely and sent the Word to become flesh and dwell among us. Try doing something with your children today to give to others - maybe a thank you note, a phone call, Christmas caroling, or inviting someone over for dinner.
But God pursued Jacob. God even changed His name to Israel. God met with Jacob, the self righteous and proud man. God wrestled with Jacob and basically crippled him just by touching him. God passed on His promise of blessing to Jacob. God did this, not because Jacob was lovely or worthy, but because God loved him. God goes to great lengths to dwell with His people. God sent Jesus, not because we are lovely, but because He is altogether lovely and altogether worthy. It is God who makes us lovely. How earth shattering. How humbling. This is Grace in all its fullness. Praise God!
"Thou Who wast rich beyond all splendor,
all for love's sake becamest poor"
- Houghton
I chose a lesser known Christmas song today, because I think it is good to meditate on this text of God leaving all His splendor and loveliness to come down to so much that is unlovely. Please don't disregard this text simply because it might be unfamiliar. Make sure you take time to listen. It is a beautiful arrangement of a beautiful text.
Today is St. Nicholas day. It falls on a great day for the story we just read about God loving the unlovely, because that is what St. Nicholas did. He did not give to those who were deserving or lovely. This is a picture of Jesus. Jesus died for us, not because we were deserving or lovely, but because He loved us. This is the power of the Gospel. We have begun a tradition introduced to us from a dear family in Virginia. We will drive around (or walk) with our children to deliver cookies to people. At each house, we will pause to pray for the family, leave the cookies, ring the door bell, and RUN! The cookies are given anonymously in honor of St Nicholas...a tag on the cookie plate explains this! We love to watch the expression of people as they wonder who loved them enough to do this! We love making this day about giving to others, and so we will also give a box of our toys away to other children. It's a fun way for our family to continue to celebrate that God loved us when were were unlovely and sent the Word to become flesh and dwell among us. Try doing something with your children today to give to others - maybe a thank you note, a phone call, Christmas caroling, or inviting someone over for dinner.
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