In the Old Testament we read how Jacob stole his brother Esau’s birthright and father’s blessing (Gen 25:29-34; 27:1-40). Later In Genesis is the account of how Jacob wrestled all night with the angel of God (Gen 32:24-30). The angel asked Jacob what his name was and to his discomfort he had to admit it was Jacob which means supplanter, schemer and swindler. However, the angel told Jacob that his name was to be changed to “Israel” which means, “one who struggled with God and prevailed”; the angel blessed Jacob. Jacob’s change of name to Israel marked a significant transformation in his life and character from supplanter to the first person to bear the name of God’s people, Israel. Praise God that we as Christians have not had to wrestle with God. However, think about it, when we asked Jesus into our lives as Lord and Saviour (Rom 10:9-10) we experienced a more significant transformation in our lives than Jacob did. We were spiritually born again (John 3:3,5-7) transformed from sinner to child of God (Eph 2:1; John 1:12), forgiven of all our sins, past, present and future (1 John 1:8-10), delivered from satan’s darkness into God’s kingdom of light (Col 1:13-14), and given abundant life (John 10:10b) to be God’s witnesses on this earth (Mark 16:15-18). More than this, God gave us His word in our Bibles to show us how to walk in all God has for us and the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 1:22) to empower us to do it.

The word for “know” in the Old and New Testament means to know someone personally, not just know about them. There are 3 people in the Bible that come to mind when I think about “knowing” God – Moses, David and Saul. When God asked Moses to take the children of Israel into the promised land Moses said to God, “Show me your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight” (Ex 33:13; NKJV). He even went to tell God that if His presence did not go with them, he would rather stay in the wilderness (verse 15). King David reveals his desire to know God in Psalm 63:1 when he says, “Early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water” (NKJV). (See also Psalm 42:1,2). By reading the Psalms we can see how deep David’s knowledge of God actually became. In addition, he was called a man after God’s heart (1 Sam 13:4; Acts 13:22). Then we read in Philippians chapter 3, where Paul says that everything is worthless (even garbage) compared to being able to know Jesus (verses 7,8). In verse 10 he says, “I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead” (NLT). Let’s pray today for a hunger and thirst to know God like these men of old did and to make this quest more important than anything else in our lives.

When we become Christians by believing in Jesus and asking Him into our lives as Lord and Saviour, our lives should change (Rom 10:9,10). People should see the change in us (Acts 2:47). Becoming a Christian is a glorious starting point but we should have a desire to grow to be more and more like Jesus (Acts 2:42), to live the abundant life God has for us (John 10:10b) and tell others how to become a Christian (Matt 28:19-20). How do we grow in our Christian Walk? Christians in the early church were zealous for God and committed to growth, they were constant in prayer and studying what the apostles taught (Acts 2:42). The apostle Matthew exhorted us to, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt 6:33; NKJV) and the apostle Paul taught us not to focus on things on the earth but on the things of God (Col 3:2). We need to be zealous for God’s word as it will reveal God’s plans for us and how to grow into all He has for us (2 Tim 3:16-17; Josh 1:8; Heb 4:12). We should pray about all things with thankful hearts (Phil 4:6,7), constantly bringing our praise before God, just like the early Christians (Acts 2:47). Not only are we to love God with all our heart, soul and mind but we are to love each other as we love ourselves (Matt 22:37-39). As in the early church, this love will be seen in our care for each other (Acts 4:34).

Have you ever felt tired and weak? I’m sure we all have from time to time. I was re-reading some verses in Isaiah (Isa 40:28-31) which I’ve read many times, but they encouraged me again today. Verse 28 says that God is never weary which is encouraging in itself! Then verse 29 tells us that God gives us His strength, “He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength” (NKJV). He doesn’t just give strength but increases it! This is a great verse to confess if you need strength. Then verse 31 tells us that those who wait on the Lord will have renewed strength and will even be like eagles, soaring effortlessly. I find it interesting that some versions say those that “wait on the Lord” while others say, “those who trust the Lord.” Either way, we have a part to play. The Hebrew word actually means “to wait, look for, hope, expect.” We must be expecting God to do what He says He will do. Spending time in His presence is waiting on God and that is what leads to strength. I like the way the AMPC uses the analogy of eagles mounting up “close to God.” When we spend time waiting on God we can soar into His presence and be strengthened and then we will, “run and not be weary” and “walk and not faint or become tired” (Isa 40:31b; AMPC). Spend some time waiting on God today and find strength in His presence.

We don’t hear a lot about humility these days but it is to be a significant characteristic of Christians (Phil 2:5-7; 1 Peter 5:5-6). Humility is to be modest in our opinions of ourselves, lacking in arrogance and self-promotion and more concerned for others than ourselves. Jesus is the ultimate example of humility, He left heaven and became a man operating in obedience to the Father, even to death on a cross (Phil 2:5-8). I always carry a picture in my mind of Jesus on His knees, washing the feet of His disciples (John 13:5). The apostle Paul certainly walked in humility; he planted so many churches in his ministry and wrote a significant part of the New Testament and yet he regarded himself as, “the least of the apostles” (1 Cor 15:9; NKJV). The apostle Peter wrote that, “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble” and he exhorted us to, “humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1Peter 5:5b,6; NKJV). Come with a lowly attitude and God will bless you (John 4:10). We must be aware of God’s warnings in the area of humility. He warns us not to think too highly of ourselves (Rom 12:3), not to praise ourselves but to let others do that (Prov 27:2) and that, “Pride goes before destruction. And a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov 16:18; NKJV). On a more positive note, let’s be encouraged by the facts that God gives grace, favour (James 4:6; Prov 3:34) honour, (Prov 29:23), rewards, riches and life to those who walk in humility (Prov 22:4). Clearly humility should be a hallmark of our lives.