Text: Genesis 32:1-32

“And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.” –Genesis 32:24

It was the 80s. We had hair bands, parachute pants, and breakdancing. We also had Hulk Hogan! On occasion, my brother and I would turn our living room into a makeshift cage match, branding our very own version of WrestleMania. Decked in fluorescent bandanas, cheap sunglasses, and spandex tights, we were sure poised to intimidate. Pandemonium would break loose until out came the woman in the black mask, “Granny The Eliminator,” as we called her, and Grandma would clear the ring of all wannabe luchadores!

Though many consider the 80s to have been the golden age of wrestling, the very first recorded wrestling match actually took place in Genesis 32. Twenty years earlier, Jacob had stolen his brother’s birthright and cheated him out of their father’s blessing, then ran far away. Now Jacob is returning to his homeland and must face his brother who had sworn to kill him. Would Esau come out in war to exact revenge? Jacob was distressed and very afraid, and rightly so.

He didn’t have the confidence to stand before Esau because, like so many believers today, he was hindered by the guilt of the past. As Shakespeare wrote, “Conscience does make cowards of us all.”

Jacob took all this fear, guilt, and anxiety to the right place. He exuded a sincere prayer, filled with humility and faith, recounting God’s promise and seeking His divine protection. Then, having done the work of prayer, Jacob had to do the more difficult work of confrontation. Known for his effectual prayer life, George Mueller was once asked to elaborate on the most important aspect of prayer. His answer: “The 15 minutes after I have said, ‘Amen.’” The true test of the depth of our prayer will be seen in what we do after the prayer has concluded.

Jacob knows that God has promised him “good” back in the land of his kindred—but the way back to that country must go through a road called Reconciliation, a.k.a. Surrender.

In faith, he bets the house on God’s promise and boldly resolves to risk everything by continuing on to face Esau. It’s dangerous, but necessary. By crossing over the ford of Jabbok, he leaves himself no way for retreat. The way home always involves this crossing—the place of absolute surrender. Behind Jacob is the past: the lying, the manipulating, the deceiving, the stealing and the cheating. Before him is a new way of life: honest repentance, reconciliation, healing, generosity, selflessness, giving.

Jacob spends the night alone in prayer and has his own WrestleMania. That night a man wrestles with him until daybreak. This wrestling match is with none other than God Himself, possibly a Christophany (a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ). God stepped into the ring with Jacob that night because he wanted something from him; He wanted all of Jacob’s self-reliance, his pride, and his carnal scheming. He was there to take it by force if necessary. Jacob wanted God’s blessing. But before he could get it, he had to be delivered from his own self-will and self-reliance. As the Lord wore him down, conquering him little by little, Jacob clung to Him and said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

After prevailing with God that night, the Lord changed Jacob’s name to Israel. The name “Jacob” meant “Grasper,” and he was no longer to live that way, being shrewd or sneaky enough to conquer life on his own. He was to live from a whole new identity, “Israel”—signifying the rule and reign of God over his life.

What started out as a scary confrontation with the past, ended up being an ageless portrait of redemption and reconciliation. Jacob is reunited with Esau in a most gracious, merciful fashion. God mended a dysfunctional situation and restored a broken family that day, neither of which would be realized without humility, faithful obedience (necessary risk taking), and the struggle to surrender the past to God.

Like Jacob, God will continue to wear us down until we are stripped of all self-sufficiency and come to that place of total surrender. Yet it is in this place of His dominion, and our white flags raised, that we truly overcome the past and live with a freedom like no other.

Whatever you may be wrestling with today, true spiritual victory always goes through the place called surrender. Think about that as you seek to abide in Him this week.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, you have promised good to me. I also understand that the blessing on the other side will necessitate my willingness to walk in obedience even when it is uncomfortable, painful, or risky. In those times of tension, may I cling to you and always seek to surrender my will in exchange for your dominion over my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Jacob didn’t have the confidence to stand before Esau because, like so many people today, he was hindered by the guilt of the past. Tweet this

Questions for Reflection and/or Family Discussion:

1. If you experienced the 80s, what are some things you remember most?
2. When was the last time you and God wrestled about something?
3. Why do you think reconciliation was such a big deal to God in Genesis 32, and in our lives today?
4. Obedience to God often makes us vulnerable. When have you ever experienced this firsthand?
5. What is a struggle you have right now that needs to be surrendered to God?

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The post Wrestling With God: Jacob the Luchador appeared first on Jimmy Larche.

Text: Matthew 14:22-32

He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. Matthew 14:29

Stephanie is typically the daredevil in our family. She exemplifies the “go big or go home” persona. But there was a time when I saw her paralyzed with fear. When she was 8-years old, our family watched Shark Week and got inspired to go swimming with the sharks. Though the actual shark part never really materialized, we did get invited to go on a private VIP tour to swim with manatees off the Gulf Coast of Florida.

We boated out to the site and were instantly surrounded by these huge creatures drifting all around the boat. Our friend, a professional manatee guide, plunged in and began snorkeling with these friendly “sea cows.” I soon followed and expected Steph to jump right in behind me. When I turned around, she stood frozen on the deck, intimidated by these huge water creatures. I gently urged her to get in but she wouldn’t budge. The rest of the family got in as our guide began shooting video and pictures of this epic adventure with an underwater camera.

This was a defining moment for our little girl. I made my daughter this promise: “Honey, I can’t promise you that in life it will always be safe to jump… but I can tell you this, if you don’t jump, you will be watching this video later and you will regret not being in the picture.” That’s all it took for my little 8-year old adventurist to overcome her gripping fear and jump into the deep.

Splash! She was all-in.

Once my daughter got the revelation that her regrets of inaction would hurt more than any risk taken that day, she left her fear in the boat and jumped in the water. She got a hold of the reality that if she played it “safe,” she would regret it for a long time.

Stephanie danced beautifully with the manatees that day. It was a dance of courage. Fitting enough, we took that underwater video footage and later dubbed it to Lee Ann Womack’s song, I Hope You Dance, who artistically reminds us, “And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance.” I believe it will be an heirloom in our family for a long time.

I am convinced that at the end of our years it will be regrets of inaction that far outweigh the regrets of action in our lives. In other words, we will be more regretful over not being in the picture at all (playing it safe) because we were afraid to jump, rather than being in the picture, looking vulnerable at times—even afraid—or feeling like a failure after we have jumped. The regrets of not jumping will haunt us more than anything else.

Getting Out of the Boat

This is the dilemma for Peter in Matthew 14. Imagine what it must’ve felt like for this passionate Christ-follower, clinching the frazzled ropes on the edge of the boat while Jesus stands majestically on the crest of the waves, defiant of the storm’s threat. He beckons Peter to take a bold step of faith and walk on the water with Him. Peter looks around cautiously. No one else is getting out of the boat. It doesn’t make sense to the seasoned fisherman. Humans aren’t supposed to walk on water. As he continues to pan his surroundings and the imminent threat of danger, he makes eye contact with Jesus. In that moment, faith overrides his fears. He steps out of the boat.

Peter takes that first step and all of a sudden it feels as if someone else is doing the rest. Peter is now in the picture. He is dancing with the impossible. He is walking on water. That’s what faith can do. Yes, Peter takes his eyes off of Jesus momentarily and is distracted by the storm, but only to fall into the arms of grace. Yet he is unsinkable because his Master Choreographer holds his hand. Peter need never fear getting out of the boat again. He follows the One who even the winds and the waves obey. Peter would never have to live to regret the day he failed to follow Jesus into the deep. On the contrary, he would know what it’s like to do the unbelievable, and furthermore, to know intimately what it’s like to fall into the arms of grace when you fail. But regrets of inaction would have no torment over him.

“If the highest aim of a captain were to preserve his ship, he would keep it in port forever,” said Thomas Aquinas. Our goal is not to preserve our own safety, it’s to learn how to trust and follow Jesus anywhere, which inevitably will take us into unchartered territory at times. It will involve storms. It will involve waves. We will be vulnerable. We may even sink momentarily. We may lose focus temporarily. But we must never let fear reduce our lives to being a mere boat-preserver. We exist to risk boldly for the glory of God out in the deep, rather than play it safe in the port.

Where will your faith have no borders this week? Think about that as you seek to follow Jesus boldly.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, remind us that we don’t exist to play it safe. We exist to risk boldly for your kingdom glory. Empower us with the Holy Spirit to take necessary steps of faith that seek your glory rather than retreating into a religious harbor of self-preservation. Grant us the courage to do your will, especially when it calls us to a place of risk and vulnerability. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Never let fear reduce your life to the role of a boat-preserver when you’ve been called to walk on water. Get out of the boat! Tweet this

Questions for Reflection and/or Family Discussion:

1. What is the most frightening experience you’ve ever had?
2. Have you ever felt “paralyzed” by fear?
3. In what seasons of life have you felt distracted from Jesus?
4. When have you stepped out in faith and risked vulnerably for God’s glory?
5. Where do you need to risk vulnerably for the glory of God this week?

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The post Don’t Miss The Dance appeared first on Jimmy Larche.

Text: Matthew 7:7-11

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11 ESV)

In December of 2000, Cindy and I wrapped up two positive EPT tests and gave them to our parents as Christmas gifts. Seeing the look on their faces as they unwrapped these unconventional presents made my heart dance for joy. They were going to be new grandparents. I was going to be a rookie dad. This awesome reality was still setting in.

I loved Stephanie before she was born. Everything in our house was rearranged to serve the needs of this new main attraction in our lives. Preparations were made to accommodate her safety, her physical needs, her play areas, and her exploratory pursuits. The day she was born I held her teeny form next to my side, amazed at the wonder of God’s design in this precious little 8-pound creation. We videotaped her every move and snapped endless photos of her royal cuteness. I found myself singing new songs to the rhapsodic tunes of Miss Patty Cake and VeggieTales. I was a proud new daddy. I think the bliss of looking into those innocent eyes of my own offspring coupled with the deep wound my biological father left, fueled me to be the best father I could possibly be.

Looking back over the years of fathering three children, I realize I couldn’t have loved my children any more deeply. Did I make a lot of mistakes? Yes. Could I have done some things better? Absolutely. Would I do some things differently if I could go back and hit the reset button? Sure. But could I have loved my children any more? Not in a million years.

A Perfect Heavenly Father

As much as I have loved my children, it has flowed out of an imperfect nature. Yet our heavenly Father loves us from a perfect nature. Jesus said, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

Jesus didn’t use this as an opportunity to compare our earthly Fathers to our heavenly Father; he used it as a stark contrast—a contrast in natures. No matter how loving we are as earthly fathers, we still fall short due to a sinful nature. God’s nature is altogether different. It is perfect and flawless.

Our heavenly Father arranged the cosmos long before we were ever born to accommodate our most intricate needs. He predetermined the times you would live in and the places where you would live (Acts 17:26). God’s eyes saw you when you were formless… all the days of your life were ordained and written in His book before you were ever graced to see a sunrise (Psalm 139:16). God never makes a mistake. He is not only a master planner; our Creator is the perfect Father.

Whether our earthly fathers have been nurturing or negligent, caring or calloused, tender or abusive, engaged or disengaged, present or distant, labeled as good or bad, Jesus would have us to know that our heavenly Father is different from all of them. He is perfect. God loves us unconditionally, eternally, and immutably, from a holy and unfailing nature. Though His love cannot be fathomed, His heart can always be trusted. He is a good, good Father. And no matter what your relationship may be with your earthly father, the nature of that human relationship will always fall short of the wholeness of God’s fatherhood in our lives.

Perhaps this is why an old king named David, after years of Godly heroics fused together with many regretful mistakes, charged his son Solomon to, “Know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind” (1 Chronicles 28:9). In other words, get to know the God of your ancestors intimately—learn His nature and worship Him with a whole heart.

May all the highs and lows of fatherhood, the successes and failures of being a daddy, remind us that there is only ONE perfect Father. There is none to whom we can compare Him. He is always the contrast. His ways are holy and He alone is to be worshiped. Think about that as you seek to abide in your ‘Abba Father’ this week.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to realize that you chose me before the foundations of the world to live in a relationship with you. You are a perfect Father with a master plan. Your nature is without comparison. You are holy and set apart from all of your creation. Help me to know your love more intimately, to serve you more willingly, to approach you more boldly, to ask more confidently, and to worship you more fully. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

He is a good and perfect Father. There is none to whom we can compare Him. He is always the contrast, meant to be worshiped. Tweet this

Questions for Reflection and/or Family Discussion:

1. What are some of your fondest childhood memories of your father? (If you didn’t have a father, was there a father figure you looked up to?)
2. What motivates parents to want to provide for their children?
3. According to Matthew 7:11, what is true about the character of even the best human parent? What is the likelihood of God giving His praying children what they need?
4. Even when our earthly parents are the most loving and nurturing, in what ways can we be encouraged by God’s nature being a stark contrast to theirs?
5. What will you ASK your perfect heavenly Father for this week?

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