Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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People of God- Flock of Christ
Genesis 35:1-7
 

Adarsh Abraham
"...so that I may make there an altar to the GOD who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone." Genesis 35:3
Today's passage reveals God's ultimate will upon Jacob's life. To give him a new name -  Israel.  That is God's ultimate will for all of His children.  To give us a new name. In Christ alone;  to put it another way, sanctify us.  Baker's Evangelical Dictionary says "The generic meaning of sanctification is "the state of proper functioning." To sanctify someone or something is to set that person or thing apart for the use intended by its designer. A pen is "sanctified" when used to write. Eyeglasses are "sanctified" when used to improve sight. In the theological sense, things are sanctified when they are used for the purpose God intends. A human being is sanctified, therefore, when he or she lives according to God's design and purpose."
After all the disappointment, blood shed, and destruction of the previous chapters, we find chapter 35 of Genesis to be like water in a desert. It is filled with hope realized.  It is a picture of what we all possess in Christ, whether we realize it or not.  Chapter 34 ends abruptly when Jacob's family takes justice into their own hands by going beyond the Mosaic law and killing every male in the city!  This unjustified action by Jacob's sons should surely bring God's wrath to Jacob's family. Chapter 35 should be filled with vengeance upon Jacob's family for such a disobedient act.  Instead, we have grace!  Why? Because God's plan and love is greater than any sin.
We need to realize that we are in the flock of Christ. Jacob's sons had no idea.  Even though they broke the Mosaic law, and Our Father God would be justified in destroying them, they did not get what they deserved for killing every male in the city.  They got grace because they were in the flock of God; because of God's covenant.  We don't add to what Christ has done.  "It is finished."
We need to realize that our everyday reactions are part of God's ultimate plan.  Simeon and Levi felt they were in God's place (as Adam and Eve) and all of us do; to be the judge.  They reacted out of selfish ambition.  Like their father and us, they were slow to obey.  The longer they delayed in obeying God, the longer they missed out on God's promises.  Let us realize that our sinful reactions delay His gracious providence.
Do we realize God is with us now?  Because of the Holy Spirit, God can be everywhere in constant communication with every single child in the flock. No cell phone app can do that.  Take time to sit at God's feet every day because He will never let His promises fail.  Our promises to Him will fail.  He IS WITH US, EVEN NOW.  Jacob couldn't imagine God keeping His promises after all the failures of him and his family and yet, GOD DID.  GOD WILL ALWAYS KEEP HIS COVENANT.  In Christ, it is always YES AND AMEN!!!
The world is in the flock of Adam until the Great Shepherd leads them to the flock of Christ.  The Shepherd Loves us  and will lead us as promised.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, We thank thee for the love, mercy and grace that You show to us while we are yet sinners. Help us in our day to day life to bring glorification to Your name. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 

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