The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 16 August 2024 — Be Reconciled With God!
TOPIC: Be Reconciled With God!
READ: Genesis 33: 1-20 (NKJV)
- Now Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and there, Esau was coming, and with him were four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants.
- And he put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children behind, and Rachel and Joseph last.
- Then he crossed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
- But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
- And he lifted his eyes and saw the women and children, and said, “Who [are] these with you?” So he said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.”
- Then the maidservants came near, they and their children, and bowed down.
- And Leah also came near with her children, and they bowed down. Afterward Joseph and Rachel came near, and they bowed down.
- Then Esau said, “What [do] you [mean by] all this company which I met?” And he said, “[These are] to find favor in the sight of my lord.”
- But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.”
- And Jacob said, “No, please, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me.
- “Please, take my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” So he urged him, and he took [it.]
- Then Esau said, “Let us take our journey; let us go, and I will go before you.”
- But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children [are] weak, and the flocks and herds which are nursing [are] with me. And if the men should drive them hard one day, all the flock will die.
- “Please let my lord go on ahead before his servant. I will lead on slowly at a pace which the livestock that go before me, and the children, are able to endure, until I come to my lord in Seir.”
- And Esau said, “Now let me leave with you [some] of the people who [are] with me.” But he said, “What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.”
- So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.
- And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, built himself a house, and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
- Then Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which [is] in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan Aram; and he pitched his tent before the city.
- And he bought the parcel of land, where he had pitched his tent, from the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of money.
- Then he erected an altar there and called it El Elohe Israel.
THE MESSAGE:
Whatever motive Esau had for coming along with four hundred men to meet his brother, Jacob would have been influenced by God. If it was for vengeance as he had vowed in Genesis 27: 41, God changed his mind. If it was to honour his brother or to show off power, the humility displayed by Jacob in verse 3 satisfied his ego, and melted his heart that he ran to meet him completely broken (verse 4). Esau had to take Jacob’s present as a token and pledge of peace between them.
God is calling us today unto reconciliation! It is a reconciliation that must begin between us and God (Genesis 32: 24-30). Paul says,“Be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5: 20), then to all other people we have offended in the past, who have bitter feeling of resentment towards us. Whether you are the offender or the offended, you must arise now, leaving your ‘Padan Aram’ in humility like Jacob, or like Esau, leave your ‘Seir’ and be reconciled to your brother or sister. Take a step of faith and be reconciled with your wife, husband, or a relationship gone sour. Do it today and receive God’s peace in your heart.
PRAYER: Please Lord, deal with any pride and bitter feeling of resentment in my heart. Amen.
PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY’S DAILY FOUNTAIN DEVOTIONAL
DATE: FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2024
TOPIC: BE RECONCILED WITH GOD!
- Father in the name of Jesus, thank You for the grace to see this day in good health and sound mind.
- Father, thank You for the special gift of life, many wished to see this day, but they couldn’t.
- Thank You Jesus for being there for us, Your children.
- Thank You Lord for Your plans for me this month and this year. They are plans of good, not of evil, to give me a successful and good end.
- Father, please forgive me all my known and unknown sins, and give me power to overcome sin and its lustful desires, in Jesus’ name
- Holy Spirit, give me a broken heart, a heart that recognises its wrong and make amends, in Jesus’ name.
- Lord please take absolute control of my heart and mind, in Jesus’ name
- Holy Spirit, draw my heart closer to God for reconciliation, in Jesus’ name
- I receive humility to reconcile with people I have offended and those who offended me in the past, in Jesus’ name.
- Lord, please, send Your peace into my heart, as I reconcile with You and people, in Jesus’ name.
- LORD, help us to get it right in Nigeria, and let Your perfect will be enforced on us in Jesus’ name.
- Heavenly Father, let Your peace reign in this country,
- Whether the devil likes it or not, I will make heaven and receive my eternal rewards in Jesus’ Name.
- This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.
- Personal and family prayer requests.
- Confession: God bless the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), God bless the Universal Church, and bless our country Nigeria -1 Chronicles 17:27.
- Thank You Lord for answered prayers, in Jesus’ Mighty Name we pray. Amen.
