Jacob’s Response To God’s Word

Jarrod Jacobs

                   Genesis 28:1-15 record Jacob traveling. One night, he had a dream in which he saw, “a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it” (Gen. 28:12). God then blessed Jacob, promising him the same things He had promised Abraham and Isaac (Gen. 28:13-15).

                   What did Jacob do next? Notice that Jacob, “awoke from his sleep … And he was afraid and said, ‘How awesome is this place! …. And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone … and set it up for a pillar and poured oil upon the top of it” (Gen. 28:16-18).

                   What do we learn here? First, notice that Jacob awoke (v. 16). In like manner, people today need to awaken from their spiritual slumber that has them oblivious to the problems around them (Jer. 6:14, 8:11)! It is high time that we understood that sin and error are not to be taken lightly. Let us wake up and hear the voice of God though His word (Rom. 13:11-14)!

                   Secondly, Jacob was afraid (v. 17). He had been in the presence of God Almighty! Friend, it is high time that people became afraid! Too many portray an attitude which says they have no fear of anything. This is dangerous (Heb. 10:26-31)! Those that have refused God’s word need to be afraid; for God’s word will judge them one day (Jn. 12:48).

                   Finally, Jacob arose and built an altar (v. 18). When people hear God’s word today (through the Bible), the honest hearts will have the same reaction. After awakening to the truth, and being afraid to stay in sins, arise and do what God commands (Rom. 12:1-2).

“I Am Debtor”

Jarrod Jacobs 

                   When Paul wrote the Romans, he said, “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise” (Rom. 1:14). What did that mean? It meant that Paul was under an obligation to preach the gospel to the Romans (Vine’s, p. 279). We are debtors as well.

                   Romans 8 says that we are debtors to Christ to mortify (put to death) the deeds of the body. Paul shows that when we do this, we will live spiritually (v. 13). If we wish to please God, and if we wish to be joint-heirs with Christ (v. 17), we must put off the “old man” of sin (Rom. 6:3-6; Col. 3:9).

                   As Paul was fighting the false doctrine of the Judaizers in Galatia, he said, “For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace” (Gal. 5:3-4). This is a lesson many need to learn. When we try to justify our actions by Old Testament teachings, we are a debtor to all the Law. Paul said we can and will fall from grace if we become indebted to the Law of Moses.

                   Finally, we are also a debtor to God. God sent Jesus to die for us (Rom. 5:8). We could never repay this great sacrifice, but we can give our life in return (II Cor. 5:14-15). Why not give your life to Him instead of wasting your life with Satan (Jas. 4:7-8; Mk. 16:16)?

What Can I Do For The Lord?

Jarrod Jacobs 

                   Selfishness has reigned supreme on this earth since Genesis 3! Therefore, it should be no surprise that we look around today and observe our society placing great emphasis on self. We see evidence of such an attitude when we hear of people doing this or that “for me.” Someone says, “I took this job for me.” Another says a certain choice they made was “for me, and for no one else.” Another example of note is that in the United States, people are encouraged to “join the church of your choice.” Whatever happened to God’s choice? Whatever happened to the attitude which asks, “What can I do for the Lord”?

                   If nothing else is taught in the Bible, God makes it clear that man has the responsibility to serve God. The “whole of man” is to “fear God and keep his commandments” (Ecc. 12:13). It is this person who is accepted with God (Acts 10:35). Self must be put to death if we wish to please the Lord. Therefore, we need to ask ourselves whether or not we wish to please the Lord. Are we asking what can we do for the Lord, or are we asking what we can do to please and satisfy selfish motives? Christ never displayed selfishness, but left us the proper example when He said, “I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (Jn. 6:38, 4:34; I Pet. 2:21). Does selfishness or selflessness characterize me?

Some Things You Cannot Escape

Jarrod Jacobs 

                   In our society, we are used to people “getting away” with certain things. It seems that we have reared a society which thinks that we can escape certain sins by ignoring them and no one is the wiser. God says there are things we cannot escape in this life no matter how hard we try!

                   For example, we cannot escape the consequences of sin (Num. 32:23)! We cannot escape sin independently of Christ and His shed blood (Rom. 6:3-6; Acts 2:38, 22:16)! In addition to this, God compares physical sowing and reaping with spiritual sowing and reaping in Galatians 6:7-8. Be sure, there will be a “bitter harvest” awaiting us if we have sown a life of sin and have not been forgiven!

                   Neither can we escape death! As hard as men try, we cannot escape death (Heb. 9:27)! Death was something God promised as a physical consequence of Adam and Eve’s sin (Gen. 3:19) and it continues to this day. We will not escape death because it will be with us until the Lord returns (I Cor. 15:26)!

                   Finally, we cannot escape the Judgment. There is a Judgment Day coming in which all mankind will be judged by Christ (Acts 17:30-31; Jn. 5:22). Just like death, no one will escape this event (Ecc. 12:13-14; Matt. 25:31-46; II Cor. 5:10)!

                   Yes, some things we cannot escape! Yet, we can come through anything successfully when we are in Christ. Are you in Him? (Eph. 1:7-13; Gal. 3:26-27)

“The Deceit Of Alcohol”

Jarrod Jacobs 

                   The consumption of alcohol is a rampant problem in our world. In fact, drinking alcoholic drinks has become a “way of life” for many. In our society, young and old are encouraged to drink alcohol. This is done irrespective of the dangers associated with alcohol. The dangers include destroying the body, the failure of marriages, losing a job, loss of money, etc. In addition to this is the very real danger of self-deceit.

                   The Bible warns us about alcohol on many occasions. Solomon said, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler: and whoever is led astray by it is not wise” (Prov. 20:1). In addition to this, Proverbs 23:29-35 explains the results of drinking alcohol in great detail. People who justify drinking alcohol are deceiving themselves! With all the harm alcohol can do to a person, perhaps deception is the worst harm it brings! So long as one has deceived himself by denying the true reason for his troubles, he will continue to drink and ruin his physical health, his family, his life, and worst of all, he will jeopardize his soul!

                   We know one jeopardizes his soul in the drinking of alcohol when we read passages like I Peter 4:3-4. Peter equates all aspects of alcohol consumption (excess of wine, revellings, banquetings) with “lasciviousness, lusts … abominable idolatries … excess of riot”! Truly, we have deceived ourselves when we treat the drinking of alcohol as “nothing”. Alcohol will maim and destroy. Yes, the consumption of alcohol will jeopardize our souls. Stay away from it (Prov. 23:31)!