Category: Random

Laban’s Dream

I have the power to harm you; but last night the God of your father said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’ –Genesis 31:29

Point 1: If we only listen to the voice of God and the voice of conscience that speak to us at night, so much mischief and pain will be prevented in this life.

Point 2: Evil people are under the restraint and leash of the Almighty. They cannot harm us unless the injury passes through the loving providence of God. And when pain is permitted by God, we can be sure that it is meant to correct, build up, sanctify and draw us closer to Him, not to harm us but to give us hope and a future.

Point 3: Evil people boast on their ability to do injure, slander and do harm. We often hear people say it like this: “Pasalamat ka at nagbago na ‘ko.” Jesus, on the other hand, extolled the virtue of meekness and self-control.

Legalism Is Never Pretty

An excerpt from a blog entry I posted in March 2011:

In John 9, a blind guy got healed. He didn’t do anything. He was just there minding his own business when Jesus came along and healed him. He didn’t ask for it. He simply received the grace. Now the entire Pharisaical force was after him, asking pointed questions, casting doubts on his credibility, hurling insults and lambasting his morality. All because he got a miracle.

The ex-blind guy who was supposed to be welcomed to the community with open arms became an outcast (again) overnight. You know who threw him out? The Pharisees who were supposed to validate his healing and declare him clean. They could not believe that God would come to help anyone without going through their neat religious system.

Legalism is never pretty. It slams the door at God’s face and makes people mean. It keeps grace away.

Common Sense and Divine Instruction

1 Now Jacob heard what Laban’s sons were saying: “Jacob has taken all that was our father’s and has built this wealth from what belonged to our father.” 2 And Jacob saw from Laban’s face that his attitude toward him was not the same. 3 Then the Lord said to him, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.” (Genesis 31:1-3)

This is a good place in the Bible where you can see common sense, sound advice and divine instruction put together in one critical life decision.

Jacob heard what his brothers-in-law were saying. He also observed that Laban’s attitude toward him changed by the look on his face. Then the Lord spoke to him about moving out and his two wives strongly agreed.

Often, when the Lord reveals His will for us, He orchestrates circumstances and events to prod us along to a certain direction using multiple means of confirmation.

We Feel Small

I just found this exhortation notes tucked away in my WriteRoom iPad App. I shared this word during our worship night here in Victory Caloocan in September 6. The topic was about Joshua’s crossing of the Jordan River.

Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you (Joshua 3:5).”

The task ahead was too big for their own strength. Logically, small nations aren’t supposed to conquer bigger nations. Theoretically, Israel was not supposed to survive the desert. Numerically, Israel was supposed to be eaten up alive by the Canaanites.

But God called them to conquer. God ordained that they will become victorious.

You may be facing a similar situation today. You are dwarfed by the bigness of your challenge. Fear not. Continue reading We Feel Small