Devil's Advocates
Memory Verse:
'If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. '
Galatians 5:25
Sermon Sentence: Even the darkest of intentions can be veiled by the words that spin things to seem innocent.
Day 1
Read 1 Timothy 6:1-10
In the last little while, we have really attacked the idea of our desires for things that we don’t have, fueled by the thought that we deserve them, need them, or have earned them. Over and over again we are wrestling with the idea of asking if there is enough for us. We do it each and every day. Or at the very least, we are forced to live in response to what we think about that question. This week, we will return to our texts in Genesis and study out the story from the sermon, but let’s start here. Are you content in life? What does that mean? It would appear at first glance, that these passages are for the extreme love of money and possessions, and not for the simple struggle of whether or not we feel we are a version of blessed in life. The questions that we wrestle through in life each day are rarely on the extremes, but the root of it all is the same. Exactly how little can I have and still experience contentment? That is the type of question that should involve a lot of time in reflection.
Why do you think Paul could connect the two ideas of conceit and covetousness? How are they connected?
What does Paul mean that if we “have food and clothing” we can be content? Do you think he really meant that?
How have you felt the snare of discontentment lately in your life?
How does this become part of your prayer?
In the last little while, we have really attacked the idea of our desires for things that we don’t have, fueled by the thought that we deserve them, need them, or have earned them. Over and over again we are wrestling with the idea of asking if there is enough for us. We do it each and every day. Or at the very least, we are forced to live in response to what we think about that question. This week, we will return to our texts in Genesis and study out the story from the sermon, but let’s start here. Are you content in life? What does that mean? It would appear at first glance, that these passages are for the extreme love of money and possessions, and not for the simple struggle of whether or not we feel we are a version of blessed in life. The questions that we wrestle through in life each day are rarely on the extremes, but the root of it all is the same. Exactly how little can I have and still experience contentment? That is the type of question that should involve a lot of time in reflection.
Why do you think Paul could connect the two ideas of conceit and covetousness? How are they connected?
What does Paul mean that if we “have food and clothing” we can be content? Do you think he really meant that?
How have you felt the snare of discontentment lately in your life?
How does this become part of your prayer?
Day 2
Read Genesis 3
In the sermon, we presented this chapter as an important one. I know that you have read it a few times, but please keep reading it. It is the archetype story of all of the other stories in the Bible. The way we presented the story of Jacob in Genesis 27, was that it was a more detailed version of this story. Like a play is an acted out version of a story, so these two are closely related. Not only these two, but so many others in the Bible. That is why there will always be extreme value in spending a lot of time meditating on this story. Even after reading it hundreds of times over the years, I still find myself discovering and understanding it in new ways over and over again.
Read it through once and try to understand where Adam was in the whole process and how he was working through each stage. He gets full responsibility for his actions, and he should, but Eve and the snake play against him through the whole story, making it feel like he was forced into a decision. Once again, he was not…but the storyteller is telling it all this was for a reason.
What sticks out to you this time when you are reading this account?
What do you notice about this story that parallels the story of Jacob we read in the sermon?
What does this offer to you in your life at this point?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
In the sermon, we presented this chapter as an important one. I know that you have read it a few times, but please keep reading it. It is the archetype story of all of the other stories in the Bible. The way we presented the story of Jacob in Genesis 27, was that it was a more detailed version of this story. Like a play is an acted out version of a story, so these two are closely related. Not only these two, but so many others in the Bible. That is why there will always be extreme value in spending a lot of time meditating on this story. Even after reading it hundreds of times over the years, I still find myself discovering and understanding it in new ways over and over again.
Read it through once and try to understand where Adam was in the whole process and how he was working through each stage. He gets full responsibility for his actions, and he should, but Eve and the snake play against him through the whole story, making it feel like he was forced into a decision. Once again, he was not…but the storyteller is telling it all this was for a reason.
What sticks out to you this time when you are reading this account?
What do you notice about this story that parallels the story of Jacob we read in the sermon?
What does this offer to you in your life at this point?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
Day 3
Read Genesis 26:6-35
My goal in the sermons is to tell the story of Jacob from the perspective of the life he spent chasing a blessing. We will not cover all of the stories in between in the sermons. The devotions are a good place to read between the lines and become more and more familiar with the story. In our sermon from Sunday, we talked about Genesis 27. Obviously, this is the story before that. It is the story of the early years of Isaac’s life and how God was involved in that. When I first read it, I don’t get a whole lot of obvious application. It doesn’t flow well out of the overall story that we have been looking at, but we can gain some insight into how the writer wants us to follow along in his story telling. Isaac has the blessing from the hand of God. Remember, we are using the narrative to view it as an object that is being passed down, and currently, it is in Isaac’s hand. So the question becomes “Can Isaac trust God to bless him?”
It seems the storyteller wants us to believe that, but it also seems like Isaac doesn’t fully believe it. He lies to make the situation work in his favor, to protect what he needs to protect. I don’t even know that I fully get the point of the lie, but it is obviously a lie. When it is discovered that Rebekah is really his wife, this Abimelech is even upset at him for lying. Even Abimelech believed that he was going to be blessed while Isaac was struggling with it!
How do you struggle reminding yourself that God will provide?
Describe a time that you struggled waiting on God’s provision and rather decided to get out ahead of Him.
How would you do this differently now?
How does this become your prayer today?
My goal in the sermons is to tell the story of Jacob from the perspective of the life he spent chasing a blessing. We will not cover all of the stories in between in the sermons. The devotions are a good place to read between the lines and become more and more familiar with the story. In our sermon from Sunday, we talked about Genesis 27. Obviously, this is the story before that. It is the story of the early years of Isaac’s life and how God was involved in that. When I first read it, I don’t get a whole lot of obvious application. It doesn’t flow well out of the overall story that we have been looking at, but we can gain some insight into how the writer wants us to follow along in his story telling. Isaac has the blessing from the hand of God. Remember, we are using the narrative to view it as an object that is being passed down, and currently, it is in Isaac’s hand. So the question becomes “Can Isaac trust God to bless him?”
It seems the storyteller wants us to believe that, but it also seems like Isaac doesn’t fully believe it. He lies to make the situation work in his favor, to protect what he needs to protect. I don’t even know that I fully get the point of the lie, but it is obviously a lie. When it is discovered that Rebekah is really his wife, this Abimelech is even upset at him for lying. Even Abimelech believed that he was going to be blessed while Isaac was struggling with it!
How do you struggle reminding yourself that God will provide?
Describe a time that you struggled waiting on God’s provision and rather decided to get out ahead of Him.
How would you do this differently now?
How does this become your prayer today?
Day 4
(Today’s devotion written by Pastor Tom Jones)
Read Genesis 27:1-14
Family dysfunction has existed since the fall of Adam of Eve in the Garden of Eden. There was a sibling murder in the original family. In Genesis chapter 27, we see the continuation of dysfunction. One reads stories such as our reading today and is left wondering how families get themselves into such messes.
The main characters in this story are Isaac (dad), Rebekah (mom), and Esau and Jacob (twin brothers). This is a story of deception and greed, not unlike what we see in many cases today. Reading further will show some of the consequences of the actions…and there always are consequences.
What do you believe happened to Rebekah when she heard Isaac talking to Esau about a blessing?
Why was Esau the brother who was going to receive the blessing (hint: consider the birth order)?
What choices could both Rebekah and Jacob have made during this time?
What might have been the reason Rebekah was displaying such favoritism toward Jacob?
What do you take away from this story?
How does this become part of your prayer?
Read Genesis 27:1-14
Family dysfunction has existed since the fall of Adam of Eve in the Garden of Eden. There was a sibling murder in the original family. In Genesis chapter 27, we see the continuation of dysfunction. One reads stories such as our reading today and is left wondering how families get themselves into such messes.
The main characters in this story are Isaac (dad), Rebekah (mom), and Esau and Jacob (twin brothers). This is a story of deception and greed, not unlike what we see in many cases today. Reading further will show some of the consequences of the actions…and there always are consequences.
What do you believe happened to Rebekah when she heard Isaac talking to Esau about a blessing?
Why was Esau the brother who was going to receive the blessing (hint: consider the birth order)?
What choices could both Rebekah and Jacob have made during this time?
What might have been the reason Rebekah was displaying such favoritism toward Jacob?
What do you take away from this story?
How does this become part of your prayer?
Day 5
(Today’s devotion written by Pastor Tom Jones)
Read Genesis 27:15-46
In today’s reading, we begin to see the consequences of Rebekah’s plan and how individuals are hurt. When Rebekah heard Isaac’s plan to bless their firstborn (by only minutes) son, she began to devise a plan in which Jacob would be blessed. What might have seemed to be a good idea at the time, would prove to have serious consequences.
It can be easy to become critical of Rebekah and have thoughts that we would NEVER do such a thing. Her actions seem inconceivable to most people. EXACTLY why Rebekah took such actions is left to speculation (for those so inclined, ask ChatGPT why Rebekah favored Isaac for some interesting thoughts).
We also see that Isaac loved Esau because of the food Esau supplied, but Rebekah loved Jacob. Favoritism seemed to be a family trait.
How have you experienced favoritism in your life?
How might you be expressing favoritism to those around you?
What were some of the consequences we see in this story?
Do you think the reward was worth the effort and risks?
What do you take away from this story?
How does this become part of your prayer?
Read Genesis 27:15-46
In today’s reading, we begin to see the consequences of Rebekah’s plan and how individuals are hurt. When Rebekah heard Isaac’s plan to bless their firstborn (by only minutes) son, she began to devise a plan in which Jacob would be blessed. What might have seemed to be a good idea at the time, would prove to have serious consequences.
It can be easy to become critical of Rebekah and have thoughts that we would NEVER do such a thing. Her actions seem inconceivable to most people. EXACTLY why Rebekah took such actions is left to speculation (for those so inclined, ask ChatGPT why Rebekah favored Isaac for some interesting thoughts).
We also see that Isaac loved Esau because of the food Esau supplied, but Rebekah loved Jacob. Favoritism seemed to be a family trait.
How have you experienced favoritism in your life?
How might you be expressing favoritism to those around you?
What were some of the consequences we see in this story?
Do you think the reward was worth the effort and risks?
What do you take away from this story?
How does this become part of your prayer?
Devotions
Archive
2025
January
February
March
May
September
2024
January
March
May
June
July
August
September
2023
January
February
No Comments