“12 And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! 13 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, ‘I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring…15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.’ - Genesis 28:12-15
“22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” - Lamentations 3:22-23
Have you ever been picked for a team?
I can remember times at recess when two captains would take turns picking who would play for their team. I wanted to be picked early, but most importantly, I didn’t want to be picked last. I always felt bad for the kid picked out of pity, the one whose choosing also meant getting spotted additional points. Nothing grows confidence like hearing someone else say they want you, and nothing stunts pride like the sting of rejection.
When God extended His covenant to the next generation after Abraham and Isaac, He continued His promises to Jacob. If God was going to pick Jacob for His team, you might think Jacob was a cream of the crop kind of guy, but you’d be mistaken. Jacob lied, cheated, and stole his way to the top, taking his older brother’s blessing away.
As Jacob prepared to see Esau after many years, hoping to see their relationship restored, he laid down to sleep. During a dream, God gave Jacob a glimpse into heaven. Jacob got a front row seat to the spiritual world made visible between heaven and earth. God picked Jacob to be on His team and continue the promise.
God has picked you to be on His team too! God picked you not because of what you could bring to the table. He chose you because He loves you. As you place your ornament on the tree, remember, God’s choice to love isn’t based on your performance, but His character. When God says yes to love, He never turns His back or changes His mind.
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