Genesis 35, Matthew 26

Monday, Jan 14, 2008 - Brandon Hatmaker (Genesis 35, Matthew 26)


(Genesis 35)

“So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes.”

Jacob was serious this time. He was responding to the vow made prior to God in heading to Bethel. I guess it’s better late than never. This scripture reminds me today of our responsibility as the head of our household. Jacob told each one to get rid of the foreign gods… and they did. Then he buried them. He helped not only his household get on better terms with God, but also all who would come with him.

They followed because he told them to. Why did he wait so long to tell them? They waited on him. If he had told them sooner, they would have followed sooner. We have great responsibility in leadership. When we neglect our responsibilities as spiritual leaders, those who follow become the neglected, and I believe as one in authority, we will stand accountable.

“But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." – Joshua 24:15

Father, bring to our minds areas in which we neglect your ways. Bring to our minds ways that we could better lead either as husband, father, employer, or friend that others might be drawn closer to you. Help us to see the amazing responsibility, but also the honor of leading that comes with authority.

(Matthew 26)

“Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him. "But not during the Feast," they said, "or there may be a riot among the people." (vs.3-5)

So in essence they are saying, “Hey, let’s do this terrible thing, but not on this day, because it’s Holy and it would bug too many people. Let’s wait to do it on another day where people won’t mind it.”

How easily we compartmentalize our lives. It’s so easy to exercise our faith on certain days and neglect it so greatly on others. Whether it’s cultural or personal, we need to recognize this reality in our nature. This seems to me to be directly related to our proximity to God. If Sunday “Church” is where we encounter God alone, there alone is where we will leave Him. It is so significant that we pursue God in relationship throughout the week. One thing I’ve realized is that there is no “flat-line” in Christian existence, there is no happy medium that we can “hold” to. We are either growing in faith or we are declining. With that in mind (and many other things) we should constantly be seeking ways to draw closer to God, on a daily basis.

Father, give us the discipline, the desire, the perspective to do the things that foster a growing relationship with you. Only then will we realize its true significance. Thank you that our strength lies in you.