Daily Scripture: Genesis 28:10 Ya‘akov went out from Be’er-Sheva and traveled toward Haran. 11 He came to a certain place and stayed the night there, because the sun had set. He took a stone from the place, put it under his head and lay down there to sleep. 12 He dreamt that there before him was a ladder resting on the ground with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of Adonai were going up and down on it. 13 Then suddenly Adonai was standing there next to him; and he said, “I am Adonai, the God of Avraham your [grand]father and the God of Yitz’chak. The land on which you are lying I will give to you and to your descendants. 14 Your descendants will be as numerous as the grains of dust on the earth. You will expand to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. By you and your descendants all the families of the earth will be blessed. 15 Look, I am with you. I will guard you wherever you go, and I will bring you back into this land, because I won’t leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
16 Ya‘akov awoke from his sleep and said, “Truly, Adonai is in this place — and I didn’t know it!” 17 Then he became afraid and said, “This place is fearsome! This has to be the house of God! This is the gate of heaven!”
Acts 16:6 They traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, because they had been prevented by the Ruach HaKodesh from speaking the message in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the frontier of Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia; but the Spirit of Yeshua would not let them. 8 So, after passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
9 There a vision appeared to Sha’ul at night. A man from Macedonia was standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” 10 As soon as he had seen the vision, we lost no time getting ready to leave for Macedonia; for we concluded that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to them.
Reflection Questions:God has often guided people with dreams and visions. Jacob had no vision greater than his own survival, until God promised him descendants who would bless the whole earth. Even tireless Paul seemed content to keep preaching in Asia Minor until a night vision called him into Greece, carrying the gospel to Europe. Over 100 years ago, Methodist bishop Joseph Hartzell envisioned young Africans carrying books to learn in a valley. Today that valley houses Africa University, teaching young people from all over the continent.
- In addition to the Biblical dreams in today's readings, we recently honored Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and recalled his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. One writer described the spiritual gift of faith as "the ability to look at a field of rocks and see a cathedral." In what ways have you seen it be true that no great thing happens without one or more people dreaming it first? What big dreams are exciting or energizing you right now?
- The prophet Jeremiah found false "prophets" telling the Israelites that all would be well even as he warned them of the dangers of their disastrous spiritual course (cf. Jeremiah 14:13-15, Jeremiah 23:16-17). It's important that we validate that our big visions are from God, and not just a projection of our own wishes. What are some of the best ways of "double-checking" how well a vision fits with God's purposes?
Lord God, I do not want to chase every random idea that pops into my head. But I very much want to listen carefully and responsively for your visions. Give me wisdom and an attentive heart. Amen.Insight from Mike Wilhoit
Mike Wilhoit serves at The Church of the Resurrection as Local Missions Director.
So my fiancé comes up to me one afternoon to tell me she’s pregnant and that the baby is not mine. To make my day even better, she quips that the baby is from God, not normal means. I immediately begin following the advice of our pre-marriage counselor and count backwards from 100 when angry. When I reach zero, I feel like one. My girlfriend is sleeping around and she thinks I’m naive enough to believe her crazy story. My next thought is that it’s time to call Miss Manners and find out how to get myself out of this relationship while maintaining some dignity. Explaining this to my mother is going to be such fun. My father is going to say “I told you so” while my brothers mock me at every family reunionuntil I die.
Matthew 1:20 describes what happened next: “As Joseph considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”
As with Jacob and Paul in today’s reading, God changed history through a dream. Sometimes (not always!) there’s more to a dream than just what you ate last night.
Church of the Resurrection
So my fiancé comes up to me one afternoon to tell me she’s pregnant and that the baby is not mine. To make my day even better, she quips that the baby is from God, not normal means. I immediately begin following the advice of our pre-marriage counselor and count backwards from 100 when angry. When I reach zero, I feel like one. My girlfriend is sleeping around and she thinks I’m naive enough to believe her crazy story. My next thought is that it’s time to call Miss Manners and find out how to get myself out of this relationship while maintaining some dignity. Explaining this to my mother is going to be such fun. My father is going to say “I told you so” while my brothers mock me at every family reunionuntil I die.
Matthew 1:20 describes what happened next: “As Joseph considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”
As with Jacob and Paul in today’s reading, God changed history through a dream. Sometimes (not always!) there’s more to a dream than just what you ate last night.
Church of the Resurrection
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
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