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It's a funny thing to me how people will argue about divine election. They will argue endlessly about whom God chooses, about whom God doesn't choose, and about how to know whether you are chosen by God. But very few talk about why someone is chosen.
So why are we chosen? The Bible says that God chose us to be conformed into the image of His own dear Son. God works all things together for good to ultimately make us like Jesus. Now, what is going to make us like Jesus might be adversity. It might be hardship. It might be suffering. And it also might be blessing in abundance. But it is all in God's hands, and I have to trust Him for the outcome.
I don't know what is coming in life, and sometimes it might not make a lot of sense to me. But God promised that it will be a good work. He has also promised in Romans 8:28 that He will work all things "together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." But let's not forget the verse that follows it: "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren" (verse 29).
So He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. God will finish it, and one day, we will be perfect. Will it be on earth? Absolutely not. It only will be when we get to heaven. In the meantime, I am just thankful that I am chosen. And if you have asked Christ to come into your life, then you can rest in that confidence as well.
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Are you confident you were chosen by God? You can, if you genuinely asked Jesus to come into your heart and life.
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Today's Bible Reading:
Genesis 29: Jacob Arrives at Laban’s Home
1 As Jacob continued on his way to the east, 2 he looked out in a field and saw a well where shepherds took their sheep for water. Three flocks of sheep were lying around the well, which was covered with a large rock. 3 Shepherds would roll the rock away when all their sheep had gathered there. Then after the sheep had been watered, the shepherds would roll the rock back over the mouth of the well.
4 Jacob asked the shepherds, “Where are you from?”
“We’re from Haran,” they answered.
5 Then he asked, “Do you know Nahor’s grandson Laban?”
“Yes we do,” they replied.
6 “How is he?” Jacob asked.
“He’s fine,” they answered. “And here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.”
7 Jacob told them, “Look, the sun is still high up in the sky, and it’s too early to bring in the rest of the flocks. Water your sheep and take them back to the pasture.”
8 But they replied, “We can’t do that until they all get here, and the rock has been rolled away from the well.”
9 While Jacob was still talking with the men, his cousin Rachel came up with her father’s sheep. 10 When Jacob saw her and his uncle’s sheep, he rolled the rock away and watered the sheep. 11 He then kissed Rachel and started crying because he was so happy. 12 He told her that he was the son of her aunt Rebekah, and she ran and told her father about him.
13 As soon as Laban heard the news, he ran out to meet Jacob. He hugged and kissed him and brought him to his home, where Jacob told him everything that had happened. 14 Laban said, “You are my nephew, and you are like one of my own family.”
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
After Jacob had been there for a month, 15 Laban said to him, “You shouldn’t have to work without pay, just because you are a relative of mine. What do you want me to give you?”
16-17 Laban had two daughters. Leah was older than Rachel, but her eyes didn’t sparkle,[a] while Rachel was beautiful and had a good figure. 18 Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he answered, “If you will let me marry Rachel, I’ll work seven years for you.”
19 Laban replied, “It’s better for me to let you marry Rachel than for someone else to have her. So stay and work for me.” 20 Jacob worked seven years for Laban, but the time seemed like only a few days, because he loved Rachel so much.
21 Jacob said to Laban, “The time is up, and I want to marry Rachel now!” 22 So Laban gave a big feast and invited all their neighbors. 23 But that evening he brought Leah to Jacob, who married her and spent the night with her. 24 Laban also gave Zilpah to Leah as her servant woman.
25 The next morning Jacob found out that he had married Leah, and he asked Laban, “Why did you do this to me? Didn’t I work to get Rachel? Why did you trick me?”
26 Laban replied, “In our country the older daughter must get married first. 27 After you spend this week[b] with Leah, you may also marry Rachel. But you will have to work for me another seven years.”
28-30 At the end of the week of celebration, Laban let Jacob marry Rachel, and he gave her his servant woman Bilhah. Jacob loved Rachel more than he did Leah, but he had to work another seven years for Laban.
31 The Lord knew that Jacob loved Rachel more than he did Leah, and so he gave children to Leah, but not to Rachel. 32 Leah gave birth to a son and named him Reuben,[c] because she said, “The Lord has taken away my sorrow. Now my husband will love me more than he does Rachel.” 33 She had a second son and named him Simeon,[d] because she said, “The Lord has heard that my husband doesn’t love me.” 34 When Leah’s third son was born, she said, “Now my husband will hold me close.” So this son was named Levi.[e] 35 She had one more son and named him Judah,[f] because she said, “I’ll praise the Lord!”
Problems between Rachel and Leah
30:1 Rachel was very jealous of Leah for having children, and she said to Jacob, “I’ll die if you don’t give me some children!”
2 But Jacob became upset with Rachel and answered, “Don’t blame me! I’m not God.”
3 “Here, take my servant Bilhah,” Rachel told him. “Have children by her, and I’ll let them be born on my knees to show that they are mine.”
4 Then Rachel let Jacob marry Bilhah, 5 and they had a son. 6 Rachel named him Dan,[g] because she said, “God has answered my prayers. He has judged me and given me a son.” 7 When Bilhah and Jacob had a second son, 8 Rachel said, “I’ve struggled hard with my sister, and I’ve won!” So she named the boy Naphtali.[h]
9 When Leah realized she could not have any more children, she let Jacob marry her servant Zilpah, 10 and they had a son. 11 “I’m really lucky,” Leah said, and she named the boy Gad.[i] 12 When they had another son, 13 Leah exclaimed, “I’m happy now, and all the women will say how happy I am.” So she named him Asher.[j]
Love Flowers
14 During the time of the wheat harvest, Reuben found some love flowers[k] and took them to his mother Leah. Rachel asked Leah for some of them, 15 but Leah said, “It’s bad enough that you stole my husband! Now you want my son’s love flowers too.”
“All right,” Rachel answered. “Let me have the flowers, and you can sleep with Jacob tonight.”
16 That evening when Jacob came in from the fields, Leah told him, “You’re sleeping with me tonight. I hired you with my son’s love flowers.”
They slept together that night, 17 and God answered Leah’s prayers by giving her a fifth son. 18 Leah shouted, “God has rewarded me for letting Jacob marry my servant,” and she named the boy Issachar.[l]
19 When Leah had another son, 20 she exclaimed, “God has given me a wonderful gift, and my husband will praise me for giving him six sons.” So she named the boy Zebulun.[m] 21 Later, Leah had a daughter and named her Dinah.
22-23 Finally, God remembered Rachel—he answered her prayer by giving her a son. “God has taken away my disgrace,” she said. 24 “I’ll name the boy Joseph,[n] and I’ll pray that the Lord will give me another son.”
Jacob and Laban
25 After Joseph was born, Jacob said to Laban, “Release me from our agreement[o] and let me return to my own country. 26 You know how hard I’ve worked for you, so let me take my wives and children and leave.”
27-28 But Laban told him, “If you really are my friend, stay on, and I’ll pay whatever you ask. I’m sure[p] the Lord has blessed me because of you.”
29 Jacob answered:
You’ve seen how hard I’ve worked for you, and you know how your flocks and herds have grown under my care. 30 You didn’t have much before I came, but the Lord has blessed everything I have ever done for you. Now it’s time for me to start looking out for my own family.
31 “How much do you want me to pay you?” Laban asked.
Then Jacob told him:
I don’t want you to pay me anything. Just do one thing, and I’ll take care of your sheep and goats. 32 Let me go through your flocks and herds and take the sheep and goats that are either spotted or speckled[q] and the black lambs. That’s all you need to give me. 33 In the future you can easily find out if I’ve been honest. Just look and see if my animals are either spotted or speckled, or if the lambs are black. If they aren’t, they’ve been stolen from you.
34 “I agree to that,” was Laban’s response. 35 Before the end of the day, Laban had separated his spotted and speckled animals and the black lambs from the others and had put his sons in charge of them. 36 Then Laban made Jacob keep the rest of the sheep and goats at a distance of three days' journey.
37 Jacob cut branches from some poplar trees and from some almond and evergreen trees. He peeled off part of the bark and made the branches look spotted and speckled. 38 Then he put the branches where the sheep and goats would see them[r] while they were drinking from the water trough. The goats mated there 39 in front of the branches, and their young were spotted and speckled.
40 Some of the sheep that Jacob was keeping for Laban were already spotted. And when the others were ready to mate, he made sure that they faced in the direction of the spotted and black ones. In this way, Jacob built up a flock of sheep for himself and did not put them with the other sheep.
41 When the stronger sheep were mating near the drinking place, Jacob made sure that the spotted branches were there. 42 But he would not put out the branches when the weaker animals were mating. So Jacob got all of the healthy animals, and Laban got what was left. 43 Jacob soon became rich and successful. He owned many sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys, as well as a lot of slaves.
[Footnotes:
29.16,17 but her eyes didn’t sparkle: Or “and her eyes sparkled.”
29.27 this week: The wedding feast lasted for seven days (see Judges 14.12,17).
29.32 Reuben: In Hebrew “Reuben” means, “Look, a son!”
29.33 Simeon: In Hebrew “Simeon” sounds like “someone who hears.”
29.34 hold me close. . . Levi: In Hebrew “Levi” sounds like “hold (someone) close.”
29.35 Judah: In Hebrew “Judah” sounds like “praise.”
30.6 Dan: In Hebrew “Dan” means “judge.”
30.8 Naphtali: In Hebrew “Naphtali” means “struggle” or “contest.”
30.11 Gad: In Hebrew “Gad” means “lucky.”
30.13 Asher: In Hebrew “Asher” means “happy.”
30.14 love flowers: Also called “mandrakes,” a flowering plant that was thought to give sexual powers.
30.18 Issachar: In Hebrew “Issachar” sounds like “reward.”
30.20 Zebulun: In Hebrew “Zebulun” sounds like “give” and “praise.”
30.24 Joseph: In Hebrew “Joseph” sounds like “take away” and “add.”
30.25 Release. . . agreement: Jacob had agreed to work seven years for each of Laban’s two daughters (see 29.18).
30.27,28 I’m sure: The Hebrew text means to find out by some kind of magic, such as fortunetelling.
30.32 spotted or speckled: In ancient times sheep were usually white, and goats were usually black or dark brown; only a few sheep would have black spots, and only a few goats would have white spots.
30.38 would see them: It was believed by some that what sheep and goats saw at the time of breeding would determine the color of their young.]
Luke 12: Warnings
1 As thousands of people crowded around Jesus and were stepping on each other, he told his disciples:
Be sure to guard against the dishonest teaching[a] of the Pharisees! It is their way of fooling people. 2 Everything that is hidden will be found out, and every secret will be known. 3 Whatever you say in the dark will be heard when it is day. Whatever you whisper in a closed room will be shouted from the housetops.
The One To Fear
4 My friends, don’t be afraid of people. They can kill you, but after that, there is nothing else they can do. 5 God is the one you must fear. Not only can he take your life, but he can throw you into hell. God is certainly the one you should fear!
6 Five sparrows are sold for just two pennies, but God doesn’t forget a one of them. 7 Even the hairs on your head are counted. So don’t be afraid! You are worth much more than many sparrows.
Telling Others about Christ
8 If you tell others that you belong to me, the Son of Man will tell God’s angels that you are my followers. 9 But if you reject me, you will be rejected in front of them. 10 If you speak against the Son of Man, you can be forgiven, but if you speak against the Holy Spirit, you cannot be forgiven.
11 When you are brought to trial in the Jewish meeting places or before rulers or officials, don’t worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say. 12 At that time the Holy Spirit will tell you what to say.
A Rich Fool
13 A man in a crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to give me my share of what our father left us when he died.”
14 Jesus answered, “Who gave me the right to settle arguments between you and your brother?”
15 Then he said to the crowd, “Don’t be greedy! Owning a lot of things won’t make your life safe.”
16 So Jesus told them this story:
A rich man’s farm produced a big crop, 17 and he said to himself, “What can I do? I don’t have a place large enough to store everything.”
18 Later, he said, “Now I know what I’ll do. I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, where I can store all my grain and other goods. 19 Then I’ll say to myself, ‘You have stored up enough good things to last for years to come. Live it up! Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.’”
20 But God said to him, “You fool! Tonight you will die. Then who will get what you have stored up?”
21 “This is what happens to people who store up everything for themselves, but are poor in the sight of God.”
Worry
22 Jesus said to his disciples:
I tell you not to worry about your life! Don’t worry about having something to eat or wear. 23 Life is more than food or clothing. 24 Look at the crows! They don’t plant or harvest, and they don’t have storehouses or barns. But God takes care of them. You are much more important than any birds. 25 Can worry make you live longer?[b] 26 If you don’t have power over small things, why worry about everything else?
27 Look how the wild flowers grow! They don’t work hard to make their clothes. But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth[c] wasn’t as well clothed as one of these flowers. 28 God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. Won’t he do even more for you? You have such little faith!
29 Don’t keep worrying about having something to eat or drink. 30 Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father knows what you need. 31 But put God’s work first, and these things will be yours as well.
Treasures in Heaven
32 My little group of disciples, don’t be afraid! Your Father wants to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell what you have and give the money to the poor. Make yourselves moneybags that never wear out. Make sure your treasure is safe in heaven, where thieves cannot steal it and moths cannot destroy it. 34 Your heart will always be where your treasure is.
Faithful and Unfaithful Servants
35 Be ready and keep your lamps burning 36 just like those servants who wait up for their master to return from a wedding feast. As soon as he comes and knocks, they open the door for him. 37 Servants are fortunate if their master finds them awake and ready when he comes! I promise you that he will get ready and have his servants sit down so he can serve them. 38 Those servants are really fortunate if their master finds them ready, even though he comes late at night or early in the morning. 39 You would surely not let a thief break into your home, if you knew when the thief was coming. 40 So always be ready! You don’t know when the Son of Man will come.
41 Peter asked Jesus, “Did you say this just for us or for everyone?”
42 The Lord answered:
Who are faithful and wise servants? Who are the ones the master will put in charge of giving the other servants their food supplies at the proper time? 43 Servants are fortunate if their master comes and finds them doing their job. 44 A servant who is always faithful will surely be put in charge of everything the master owns.
45 But suppose one of the servants thinks that the master won’t return until late. Suppose that servant starts beating all the other servants and eats and drinks and gets drunk. 46 If that happens, the master will come on a day and at a time when the servant least expects him. That servant will then be punished and thrown out with the servants who cannot be trusted.
47 If servants are not ready or willing to do what their master wants them to do, they will be beaten hard. 48 But servants who don’t know what their master wants them to do will not be beaten so hard for doing wrong. If God has been generous with you, he will expect you to serve him well. But if he has been more than generous, he will expect you to serve him even better.
Not Peace, but Trouble
49 I came to set fire to the earth, and I wish it were already on fire! 50 I am going to be put to a hard test. And I will have to suffer a lot of pain until it is over. 51 Do you think that I came to bring peace to earth? No indeed! I came to make people choose sides. 52 A family of five will be divided, with two of them against the other three. 53 Fathers and sons will turn against one another, and mothers and daughters will do the same. Mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law will also turn against each other.
Knowing What To Do
54 Jesus said to all the people:
As soon as you see a cloud coming up in the west, you say, “It’s going to rain,” and it does. 55 When the south wind blows, you say, “It’s going to get hot,” and it does. 56 Are you trying to fool someone? You can predict the weather by looking at the earth and sky, but you don’t really know what’s going on right now. 57 Why don’t you understand the right thing to do? 58 When someone accuses you of something, try to settle things before you are taken to court. If you don’t, you will be dragged before the judge. Then the judge will hand you over to the jailer, and you will be locked up. 59 You won’t get out until you have paid the last cent you owe.
[Footnotes:
12.1 dishonest teaching: The Greek text has “yeast,” which is used here of a teaching that is not true (see Matthew 16.6,12).
12.25 live longer: Or “grow taller.”
12.27 Solomon with all his wealth: The Jewish people thought that Solomon was the richest person who had ever lived.]
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Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie
P.O. Box 4000
Riverside, California 92514-4000 United States
Phone: 1(800)821-3300
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