TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 30:25-31:12
God has taken away your father’s livestock and has given them to me. - Genesis 31:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the Aesop fable of the goose that laid the golden eggs, a man and wife who owned a golden-egg-laying goose decided to cut open the bird to see if they could get all the golden eggs at once. In their greed, they ended up killing the goose and losing the source of their growing wealth. Aesop's moral: Much wants more and loses all.

Laban treated Jacob like his own little golden goose, attempting to reap the benefits that came from God's blessing of Jacob—he didn't even try to hide his motives (30:27). He then made every effort to keep Jacob's agreed-upon wages from multiplying by removing all the livestock that he thought would produce offspring that met the criteria they discussed (30:35-36). All the dark or spotted sheep were placed in the care of Laban's sons. Essentially, Jacob was left to tend all-white flocks and was allowed to keep only the ones with any color—seemingly an impossible situation.

But Laban's scam couldn't prevent God from providing. While chapter 30 tells us of Jacob's methods for breeding the flocks, chapter 31 explains an added dimension to the story. Apparently, a supernatural dream allowed Jacob to see the males that would produce spotted or dark offspring. Somehow, God gave Jacob the ability to produce a wealth of livestock that could not be confused with Laban's, not only because of their color but also due to their superior strength.

The principle that emerges from these details is clear—God blessed Jacob despite Laban's dishonest dealings, and this time, Laban wasn't able to abuse his position over Jacob. Laban didn't benefit at all. In fact, he and the rest of his family began to resent Jacob and his growing wealth. After acquiring enough wealth to survive on his own, and having entered a situation where he was no longer welcome, Jacob's time to return to Canaan had come.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What God wants to give you, no man can take away. Try not to be discouraged when people in a position above you abuse their power or use you for their own personal gain. God is able to bless you no matter what others may do to you. Stay true to God and keep your eyes and ears open for His wisdom. You'll be surprised what He can do to improve your situation. Also, don't forget the eternal inheritance you have through Jesus Christ that cannot be destroyed or stolen.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 31:13-55
Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land. - Genesis 31:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
Jacob may not have behaved in a godly way, but he did what the Lord asked of him. He was essentially retracing Abram's journey—although his grandfather wasn't being chased at the time because he hadn't left in secrecy.

Jacob, on the other hand, chose to obey God through the back door. He managed to flee with his entire household without Laban's knowledge until the third day of his journey. The Hebrew phrase translated “deceive” in verse 20 (and again in v. 26) literally reads that Jacob stole Laban's heart from him. Translators traditionally interpret it as an expression for deception, but it seems to convey a nature of cruel betrayal as well. By not telling Laban that he was fleeing, Jacob robbed him of any chance to say goodbye to any of his descendants (whom he would never see again after this chapter). Jacob had no reason to fear that Laban would prevent his departure, as the Lord proved with His message of protection when He appeared to Laban in a dream.

Rachel, though, robbed Laban of his idols, and many scholars debate why she would have stolen them. The fact is that Scripture doesn't give a clear indication that Jacob's wives, or even Jacob himself, had been solely devoted to God. They had seen Him protect them and bless them, but they had yet to make a clear commitment to worship Him exclusively.

The reunion between Laban and Jacob started bitterly. The search for the stolen idols is a strange story because Jacob made a very risky vow that unknowingly placed Rachel at risk—but justice was never served. Rachel's crafty lie may have saved her life and preserved the idols for herself, and beyond that, the case of the missing idols was never solved. Jacob and Laban then made a covenant that sealed their separation for good. More important, it guaranteed that Jacob would continue on his return to the land of his father, the land of the inheritance. It also would bring him face to face with the brother he had so strongly offended.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
By leaving in secret, Jacob did the right thing in the wrong way. We should never feel ashamed or afraid of doing God's will. When you find yourself in a hostile situation, ask God for the conviction to do the right thing, the courage to do it openly, and the humility to do it in a way that glorifies God rather than yourself. If the Lord wants you to take a certain action, He will certainly make it possible for you to succeed.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 32:1-32
“I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” - Genesis 32:30
TODAY IN THE WORD
Before leading his troops across a river, Oliver Cromwell proclaimed, “Put your trust in God. . . . But mind you, keep your powder dry.”

When Jacob learned that Esau was coming, he prayed, but then he took every precaution to help God protect him. But at the end of that day, Jacob found himself grappling not with his brother, but with the angel of God (v. 24, cf. Hos. 12:4).

Even though Jacob had for the second time witnessed the presence of angels in his camp (28:12), he still feared the wrath of Esau. In his message to his brother, he ignored the leadership role that Isaac had assigned to him in his blessing (27:29) and instead called Esau his master. He planned an extravagant gift for his estranged brother and resigned himself to the possibility that half of his company might be destroyed. Then he prayed.

Taken on its own, Jacob's prayer resounds with the heartfelt expression and genuine humility of a devout man of faith, and it shows a thorough understanding of the promises of God. Funny how a life-threatening situation can revitalize one's prayer life. But after the prayer was over, Jacob still took every precaution to save his own skin rather than relying on the faithfulness of God to save him. He prepared Esau's gift and sent out everyone else, even his wives and children, ahead of him to face the potential threat of Esau and his 400 men.

The reason for the nighttime wrestling match is unclear, although it may have been to teach Jacob and his descendants a lesson about his relationship with God. His new name, Israel, meant “God fights” or “he fights with God.” The wound the angel inflicted on Jacob after the fight was over showed that God was superior in strength, but had not used His power to defeat Jacob. In effect, it communicated grace, as did the blessing. He did not need to tell Jacob His name. He had shown Himself to Jacob. As the limp would prove, this was no dream. Israel had come face to face with the God who would fight for him!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It's one thing to ask God to protect you and sustain you. It's quite another to live like you believe it. Jacob had been privy to special revelations of God Himself, and he still lacked confidence in His protection—so how much more difficult is it for us? On our own power, we can't hope to improve on the faith of Jacob. But with the Holy Spirit, we have infinitely more help than we can imagine. Submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and He will give you strength.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 33:1-20
Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him. - Genesis 33:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
Most people remember Esau for two main things: the foolish trade of his birthright and his angry reaction at being swindled out of his blessing. Basically, Esau's weak spot was a lack of self-control, a quality that thankfully can develop over time. Jacob, on the other hand, had a more chronic heart issue—he was deceitful, and indeed lies and distrust seemed to surround him all of his life.

Twenty years after running away from his angry twin (cf. 31:38), Jacob didn't expect much to change in the heart of Esau. But Esau's anger had actually dissipated—his heart had softened, although we never learn exactly why. But Jacob's heart hadn't changed. He was still frightened of Esau. He arranged his family in order of importance, putting his most beloved family members farthest away from Esau's approaching clan. Notice who was at the back of the line: Joseph and Rachel. Even as he was about to meet his brother—who had wanted to kill him as a result of their parents' favoritism—Jacob singled out his own favorite.

At least Jacob had the nerve to move ahead of his family and greet Esau first, bowing to him as if he were royalty. But Esau didn't want to be treated like a king, nor did he want to be feared. His only desire was to have his brother back and to see his children. But Jacob still couldn't trust his brother. Esau was essentially inviting Jacob to accompany him to his home in Seir, just south of the Dead Sea. At the time, they were probably less than a hundred miles away from Esau's home. Jacob made excuses why he wouldn't travel with Esau and even rejected his offer of a guard. He assured Esau that he would meet him there, but Scripture gives us no record of Jacob ever making the trip. Instead of heading south, Jacob eventually settled west.

This incident, which might seem like a joyful reunion of brothers, was actually a sad, awkward parting between twins separated by selfish, twisted love. However, despite Jacob's inability to truly reconcile with Esau, God did provide a crucial element in their relationship—peace.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Have you ever found yourself at a family gathering or social setting where your only desire was that there would be no fighting? Sometimes in those situations, we sacrifice honesty and genuine personal connection for the sake of keeping the peace. Wouldn't it be better to rely on God to soften the hearts of those around you, as he did with Esau, and use the opportunity to openly, sensitively communicate your faith? Ask God to help you glorify Him by showing His love.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 35:1-7
I will build an altar to God . . . who has been with me wherever I have gone. - Genesis 35:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
High school science teacher and baseball coach Jim Morris made a conditional promise to his team, the Reagan County High School Owls. He vowed that if they won the league title, he would try out as a pitcher for a major league team. The team held up their end of the deal, and even at the age of 35, Morris tried out and in 1999 earned a position on the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He said, “God has a funny way of bringing some things around and knocking you in the head with the ultimate destination. Something I should have achieved quite easily took me a long time to get around to.”

Jacob's promise to God at Bethel was a long time in being fulfilled, but finally he came around to doing something that should have been quite easy—making the one true God his only God.

When God called Jacob to return to Bethel, what memories must have flooded his head! Jacob had sworn that if God protected and provided for him on his journey to Mesopotamia and back, then he would worship God alone. Since making that vow, God had more than fulfilled his request. He had given him eleven sons and great wealth—far exceeding the food and clothes that Jacob had requested (28:20). And He had also given him miraculous protection. Although we didn't have time to study it in this month's reading, Levi and Simeon massacred every male in the city of Shechem to avenge their sister Dinah (see Gen. 34). But the fear of the Lord prevented the surrounding cities from retaliating against Jacob or his family despite the fury it must have caused (35:5).

Jacob's cleansing of his household's idols just may be the crowning achievement of his life, for it was motivated not by distrust or selfishness, but rather by faithful allegiance to the Lord. He rightly prepared himself and his people to worship God—what higher calling is known to man?
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Jacob gave his heart to God, and that allowed him to cleanse his family. Make today a turning point in your life by taking an inventory of anything that detracts or distracts from your worship of the Lord. This isn't an exercise in legalism—you don't need to make a list of what is okay and what isn't. Just allow the Holy Spirit to examine your heart and point out to you any attachments you may be grasping instead of pursuing the Lord with all your heart.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 35:9-20
A community of nations will come from you, and kings will come from your body. - Genesis 35:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
When Mozart was two years old, he visited a farm with his family and heard the squeal of a pig. The toddling prodigy instantly proclaimed, “G-sharp!” After consulting a piano, his family verified that he had correctly noted the pig's pitch. At such a young age, Mozart left no doubt that greatness awaited him.

Israel was still in its infant stages, far from being a full-fledged nation and only recently receiving its name—but through God's blessing, Jacob knew that great things would come from his descendants. Yesterday we studied Jacob's decision to finally commit himself and his family to God alone. Today we read God's response, which was no small “thank you” for Jacob's allegiance.

Some of the blessing would have already been very familiar to Jacob, including his new name, Israel. He also would have recognized the exhortation to “be fruitful and increase in number,” since it was the same assignment God gave to Noah after the flood (9:1). And the fact that the land of Canaan would belong to Jacob's descendants was a renewal of the promises given to Abraham and Isaac. But this blessing contained a new fact—Jacob's line would include kings (35:11). This fact would take on additional importance after Israel conquered the land. When the people eventually sought a king for their nation, their command was not an inherent violation of God's plan (even if the spirit of their request was; see 1 Sam. 8:7).

Couched at the end of this reading is a miraculous blessing mixed with tragedy. We're given no warning that Rachel had conceived for a second time, but her life ended giving Jacob his twelfth son, Benjamin. When the text says that Rachel's tomb is marked “to this day,” it's almost prophetic. Although a series of renovations have added a dome, walls, and other barriers, Rachel's Tomb continues to this day to be a beloved attraction for tourists and would-be mothers and fathers praying that God would give them sons and daughters as He did for Rachel.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Especially here in the “New World” of North America, where eighteenth-century structures are considered old, we often lack a sense of the ancient—and we also fail to understand the enduring consequences of our actions. But the mark that Jacob and Rachel left on this world included kings, even the King of kings, and vast cultural implications. How will your life and the lives you touch affect the world, especially since you're armed with the truth that brings eternal life?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 37:1-36
His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind. - Genesis 37:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the Gospel of John, Jesus said, “The truth will set you free” (8:32). The statement caught Jews off guard because, as descendants of Abraham, they claimed not to be slaves to anyone. Jesus informed them that they were indeed slaves to sin.

Throughout our study of the Patriarchs, we've seen them act as slaves to one sin in particular—the sin of deception. Interestingly, in today's reading we see that telling the truth indirectly led to their enslavement in Egypt for over 400 years.

At seventeen years of age, Joseph had yet to master his family's art of deception. He gave his father what was surely a candidly honest report of his brothers' work—it's hard to tell if this was one incident or just a developing trend, for it seems as though Joseph was never assigned to work with his brothers. It may have just been his role to report on their progress (vv. 13-14). His honesty gave him favor with Jacob, but certainly not with his brothers (vv. 2-4). Joseph's brothers hated him even more after his next bit of honesty, telling them his dream that saw their sheaves of grain bowing to his. But then his free expression of the truth of his second dream crossed the line even with his doting father (v. 10). While Joseph's decision to relate his dream to his father and brothers may have been unwise or even arrogant, it stands in stark contrast to the pattern of secrecy and deception that dominated Jacob's life.

Jacob's other sons didn't have a problem with bending the truth. They took their first opportunity to plan his death and blame it on wild animals. Reuben attempted to save Joseph's life, and his method included tricking his brothers (v. 22). The only way that Joseph actually emerged from the cistern or well was because of his brothers' greed (v. 26). The cycle of favoritism and jealousy was made complete by the sale of Joseph to the descendants of Ishmael, whose departure from Abraham came as a result of Sarah's jealousy and preferential treatment of Isaac.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Jacob's mourning was in many ways his own doing. He passed on to his sons his habit of telling lies, and it caused him considerable pain. This circus of lies told in today's passage stands as a stern warning to us to tell the truth. Joseph survived his brothers' attack—and so did his integrity. The rewards of deception are the inability to trust, the indignity of being deceived, and the infliction of deep, enduring suffering. The truth will set you free—cling to it.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 45:1-28
It was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. - Genesis 45:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
One day in 1999, a New York nurse named Penny Brown just happened to get the day off at the last minute so that she could attend her son's Little League baseball game. During the game, batboy Kevin Stephan's heart stopped after being accidentally hit in the chest with a bat. Penny performed CPR and saved his life. Seven years later at a restaurant in New York, it was Penny's life that needed saving. She began to choke, and employees at the restaurant called for a volunteer firefighter who just happened to work there. He performed the Heimlich maneuver and saved her life. That hero just happened to be . . . seventeen-year-old Kevin Stephan.

Of course, that kind of thing doesn't just happen. God in His sovereignty orchestrates the acts of men to accomplish His purposes, and that was obviously the case in the life of Joseph.

By the time we see Joseph here, his own brothers couldn't recognize him. Their imaginations were too limited to consider that Joseph could possibly be in charge, even though they knew that the last they had seen of him he was headed to Egypt. Joseph knew that God had planned his stay in Egypt because it ultimately gave his family the means to survive a seven-year famine. They could live in peace and luxury because of Joseph's position, and the nation that would rise from these twelve brothers was given safe harbor . . . for now. But that wasn't the only providential benefit. Without Joseph's disappearance into Egypt, the reconciliation in their family would have been impossible, and that's what they needed more than any food.

No two brothers in the history of the Patriarchs had ever coexisted for the long term. Abraham and Nahor, Ishmael and Isaac, Esau and Jacob—they had all gone their separate ways. But these twelve brothers and their ever-growing families were destined by God to stay together as one nation. Joseph couldn't have known that by the time his family left Egypt they would be a nation of some two million people, but he did know that it was God, not his brothers, who was in control.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Complaining is easy. Seeing the plans God has in store to use your trial as a means for His purposes may be impossible—but you can know that He can use anything to accomplish His ends. While you may not have control over your circumstances, you can control your attitude and your availability to be used by God. Whatever might be troubling you today, bring it before the throne. No earthly problem can thwart the plans God has for you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 46:1-4; Genesis 15:13-16
I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. - Genesis 46:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
How long is too long to wait for a promise to be fulfilled? A couple of days? A month? A year? After 430 years, you'd probably start to get a little impatient.

That's precisely how long, to the day (see Ex. 12:41), that the nation of Israel would have to wait for the fulfillment of the promise in today's verse. Jacob may have been afraid to go to Egypt both for fear of what might happen to his sons, especially Benjamin (42:4)—or he may have feared that leaving would be unfaithful to God's promise to give him the land of Canaan (35:12). When God assured him that there was nothing to fear, believing that assurance was a great leap of faith. By heading to Egypt, Jacob was entrusting the future of all his sons to the protection of God in an unfamiliar land.

Jacob's faith was well-placed. God had foretold this excursion into Egypt in the early stages of Abram's nomadic life in

Canaan. The full weight of that prediction was probably not on the minds of Jacob and his sons, for God had predicted enslavement and mistreatment—not exactly an assuring thought. But the fact that God foresaw this four-generation detour is an amazing encouragement. Egypt was a sort of cocoon for Israel, and when they emerged from it, they were a mighty nation.

But for Jacob, God promised more than just many descendants and national prosperity—He gave him a personal promise, similar to the one he had given Abram, of a peaceful death in the company of his beloved son Joseph. That might not seem very significant, but for Jacob, it meant a lot. After the excruciating grief he endured when he believed Joseph to be dead, Jacob couldn't have wished for more than to see his son again. The knowledge that the Lord had cared for his sons and arranged for their futures allowed Jacob to die in peace and be buried in Canaan (50:13)—but the record of his faith has endured to this day.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What are you waiting for? Christ's return? A loved one's salvation? Peaceful relationships? Don't lose heart. God's timing doesn't usually match our scheduling preferences, but the lives of the Patriarchs testify to the faithfulness of God. Be sure to set aside time every day to focus on God's faithfulness. What you see and experience throughout the day may remind you that the wait goes on—but put your faith in the powerful promise of Him whom you cannot see.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 48, 49
Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come. - Genesis 49:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
When Jacob blessed Joseph's sons and then all of his own sons, he assembled the fathers of the nation of Israel, and he blessed them and prophesied about their future. The author of Hebrews describes this blessing as Jacob's act of faith (Heb. 11:21). It was this faith that was passed down through the tribes of Israel, on through their descendants including Jesus, and through Him to everyone who believes on His name.

In chapter 48, Jacob adopted Joseph's sons Ephraim and Manasseh. Jacob passed on the primary blessing to the younger of the two (48:19). Unlike the blessing Jacob tricked from the lips of his father, this blessing was intentionally given to a son other than the firstborn. It's interesting that no firstborn son in the history of the Patriarchs was ever the recipient of the preferred blessing—perhaps that's God's way of showing that His plan is distinct from the adopted plans of men.

One blessing that stands out from the rest is Jacob's blessing of Judah because of the clear messianic implications, especially the claim that the “scepter will not depart from Judah” (49:10). Even at this early stage, God gave His people insight into His plan for bringing the King of kings to the throne.

Perhaps the most descriptive blessing, though, is found in 48:15-16, not for what it predicts, but for the past events it recounts. Jacob called God his shepherd throughout his life and an angel that delivered him. This is the first time in Scripture that God is described as a shepherd, and it's so apt in the lives of all the Patriarchs. They weren't perfect. They didn't always make the wisest decisions. They spent their entire lives wandering as nomads through the land God had for them. But they, like sheep, found their salvation in their allegiance to the Shepherd. They followed Him, and they recognized Him as their protector. More than anything, from looking at the lives of the Patriarchs we learn about our God who is faithful, good, and gracious. Now, thousands of years later, we still serve and obey that same God!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
No matter what your nationality is, the descendants of Abraham have blessed you, not because of any marvelous thing they did or skill they had, but because of their faith and God's faithfulness. Praise God for His elaborate plan of simple faith. Since He first called Abram, God has been giving out the gift of faith to people like us who follow Him like sheep. As hopeless as we are on our own, how encouraging to know that our Shepherd is the Lord Almighty!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Chronicles 22:2-19
The house to be built for the Lord should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations. - 1 Chronicles 22:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
A will, in addition to serving important legal functions, has the potential to show the life-purposes of the one who left it. What a person has amassed (or not) to leave behind says much about how a life has been spent. What people choose to do with what they're leaving behind says a lot about what they value or how they most want to be remembered. A will is a legacy, not only in a material sense but also in a spiritual sense.

More than almost anything, David wanted to leave behind a godly legacy. And while God had told him that he wouldn't be the one to build the temple, He hadn't told him he couldn't make preparations. So David figured the best legacy he could give his son Solomon would be to have everything ready to go. After all, the job was too big for an inexperienced king to tackle from scratch (v. 5).

God had already taken care of the real estate, so David made more physical preparations, gathering materials including dressed stone, cedar logs, iron, bronze, silver, and 3,750 tons of gold. He organized the necessary personnel, such as stonecutters and other skilled craftsmen. He also used diplomacy—for example, negotiating with Tyre for cedar—and charged the Israelite leaders with the responsibility of aiding Solomon after David died (v. 19).

This charge, recounted in part in today's reading, was probably given on a somewhat formal court occasion, reminiscent of Moses passing on national leadership to Joshua (Josh. 1:6-9). While the materials and human resources were important, spiritual preparations and resources were even more so. David told Solomon of his desire to build a temple for God's glory and His promises about that and even greater matters. Solomon would inherit this covenant, and it would be his responsibility to carry out the task of building. The keys would be obedience and courage, exercised with God-given understanding and discretion (vv. 12-13).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
This week, we're studying the godly legacy David left for Solomon. Over the next few days, we'll discuss four specific actions you might take to prepare a similar legacy for those you love. First, have you considered annotating a Bible for your children or younger relatives? Buy a Bible with large margins, and as you read through it, jot comments and responses as to what certain stories and verses have meant to you personally. This project may take several years, but it will encourage the recipients for a lifetime.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Chronicles 23:1-5
One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. - Psalm 27:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
Baseball great Rickey Henderson, who played for the Oakland A's and San Diego Padres, left behind a tremendous record of sports excellence. In 2001, for example, he became the career leader in runs scored, breaking a record that had stood since Ty Cobb retired in 1928. He was also the career leader in walks and stolen bases, as well as holding the single-season record with 130 stolen bases in 1982. He additionally held the major league mark for lead-off home runs.

David spent many years building a tremendous legacy for his son Solomon. The occasion described in today's reading was probably more public and official than the court ceremony of chapter 22. Perhaps that occasion was a first step in the transition of power, a declaration to let the court know who would be the next king and what his priorities should be. Many years have passed as chapter 23 begins, as the story skips many historical events that the writer assumed were known to the original readers.

Today's verse shows that the yearning of David's heart was to dwell in the presence of the Lord. Ultimately, the desire to build a temple wasn't just about a building, but rather about a heart of worship. Organizing the Levites was done with the same motive. He counted the ones thirty years old or more because that was the age at which they were legally entitled to minister (Num. 4:3). This age was flexible, however, as it had been adjusted to 25 (Num. 8:24) and David would later change it to twenty (v. 27). Notice that this census was clearly done with right purposes and was within God's will. The 38,000 Levites had assigned duties that included temple staff and security, judges and civil servants, and musicians. David aimed to leave his son a well-organized government and religious structure. Even more, he aimed to leave him a spirit of praise.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Following on from yesterday's application, a second way to build up a fruitful spiritual legacy is to start or deepen a habit of family worship times. These should be centered around the Bible, of course, and might include reading, studying, singing, praying, drawing or painting, acting out, writing, or any other activity that helps your family dig humbly into the Scriptures. Accurate understanding and personal applications are the goals, along with developing a disciplined delight in God's Word.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:1-3; Acts 18:1-17
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TODAY IN THE WORD
A recent re-telling of the flight of Apollo 13 has spurred a renewed interest in the details of space travel. It is hard not to be fascinated by the prospect of journeying so far into space, beyond the borders of our familiar world.

After all, the farther an arrow has to travel, the less likely it is to hit the target. Sending a person to the moon is like aiming a grain of sand at a basketball several blocks away! The laws of space travel are, by necessity, very precise.

Scientists count on the consistencies of God's universe. But man-made rockets aren't quite so consistent. No matter how carefully scientists aim at the moon, they have to continually make mid-course corrections through steering jets that adjust the spacecraft's direction.

Life, as they say, is a lot like that. God gives precise directions, but we respond with imprecise obedience. It seems that even when we are traveling along the narrow way of living for God, we require constant mid-course corrections. The problems come not from God's inability to guide us but from the fact that we are ""spacecrafts with will."" We make bad choices and wander in flight. We need God's daily dose of correction and direction.

Acts 18 describes the launching of the church in Corinth, a city on the huge peninsula we now know as Greece. God used a team of five on that mission: Paul, Aquila, Priscilla, Silas and Timothy. Although Paul sought out the Jewish community as his evangelistic starting point, the gospel quickly outgrew the synagogue. In fact, a house church made up of Jewish and Gentile converts flourished next door.

The gospel was planted in very mixed soil in Corinth. The city was a moral, cultural and ethnic melting pot. Religions of every type competed for followers. From its earliest days the church was under constant pressure to compromise with practices forbidden by the Scriptures, to condone or accept sinful choices, practices and lifestyles.

Paul's letter addresses many of these issues. He wanted his Corinthian brothers and sisters to remain true to God's Word. His letter is a series of mid-course corrections.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to ""all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"" (1 Cor. 1:2). We are included in this greeting! We may not be struggling with the same specific issues that Paul confronted, but the principles he used still apply to us today.

With 1996 rapidly approaching its mid-way point, God may be offering us some mid-course corrections. As you study 1 Corinthians, purpose to apply the principles Paul used as he dealt with the pressing questions of people just like us. Praise the Lord for His Word!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:4-9
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TODAY IN THE WORD
The long shadows of afternoon blended into night. The stadium lights created an artificial daylight on the track. Cheers faded into echoes.

Out of a dark tunnel stumbled the last of the Olympic marathon runners. While the race had been won hours before, this runner had been delayed by an accident. Having fallen during the race, he lurched toward the finish line bruised, battered and bleeding. The clean-up crew and a few officials were his only audience. His effort seemed wasted. Exhausted, he staggered past the empty timer's stand and stopped.

The few who watched marveled. Someone asked him, ""Why did you keep running when there was no hope of winning?"" He smiled rather painfully and said, ""My nation didn't send me all this way to run only if I could win. They sent me to finish this race. I couldn't let them down.""

Paul wanted to make sure the Christians in Corinth finished the race they had begun.

He was thankful to God for the Corinthian Christians, a church unusual in its diversity. While God had blessed the Corinthians, Paul wanted them to remember the source of their strength and spiritual gifts. Today's passage expresses thanks for what God has done, is doing and will do for the Corinthians. God gave them grace and spiritual riches. God made sure that they didn't lack any necessary gifts. God would keep them strong until the end of their race. ""God,"" says Paul, ""is faithful.""

Each of the six verses in today's reading mentions Jesus Christ. Paul wanted his Corinthian friends to see how little they had on their own and how much they had in Christ. We will see, however, that they were misusing gifts, abusing one another, and treating the Lord disrespectfully.

But none of those obstacles could keep Paul from rejoicing over how much God had done for the Corinthians. Paul wasn't about to downplay the resources of the church. Instead, his objective was to redirect their use to running the race God had set before them.

God had given the Corinthian church everything necessary. Paul wanted them to give it all back in service, worship and genuine fellowship. Now that they were in the race, he wanted to make sure that they finished!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to ""all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"" (1 Cor. 1:2). We are included in this greeting! We may not be struggling with the How long have you been a Christian? What have been the most significant experiences you have had in your relationship with Jesus? In what ways have you let others know of God's faithfulness?

Ask someone today for permission to share what God has been doing in your life. You may find yourself having real fellowship with a brother or a sister in Christ. The kind of thanksgiving for other believers that Paul describes in this passage can happen only when we really get to know one another. God gave us one another to help us reach the finish line!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Some families make church their home. Others find other uses for the church.

Take the notorious Tate family, for example. Perhaps you've met some of them. The chief of the clan is old Dic Tate, who insists on running everything in church. His brother Ro Tate wants to change everything. Aunt Agi Tate has a knack for stirring up trouble; and her husband, Irri Tate, always lends a hand.

The next generation of Tates has its own characteristics. Hesi Tate and his wife, Vege Tate, would just as soon wait until next year whenever a new project is suggested. Aunt Imi Tate would love to create the first generic church. Devas Tate announces constantly that the church is doomed, while her husband Poten Tate promises he can lead the church out of trouble.

Although the church in Corinth was still young, it seems to have had more than its share of the Tate family. When Paul got wind of the quarrels (v. 11) among the believers at Corinth, he was disturbed. Suspecting that the Corinthians were about to choose sides, he drew their attention once again toward Christ. Instead of divisions, Paul encouraged them to agree. He appealed to them to be ""perfectly united in mind and thought.""

Paul's desire for unity echoes Jesus' prayer for His disciples and for us. ""I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me"" (John 17:22-23). No wonder Paul feared the end result of divisions in Corinth-""the cross of Christ [would] be emptied of its power"" (1 Cor. 1:17).

The apostle's comments about baptism were not meant to minimize the importance of that act of obedience to Christ. Paul didn't want the Corinthians to make ""I follow this leader because he baptized me"" the battle cry of division within the church. He realized how easily small matters can become the cause of huge fights. By contrast, a church unified around the cross of Christ won't quarrel over such things.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to ""all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"" (1 Cor. 1:2). We are included in this greeting! We may not be struggling with the How long have you been a Christian? What have been the most significant experiences

How many Christians do you have regular contact with outside of your church? Have you discovered that when you have Christ in common you aren't strangers for very long? Make it a personal focus today to pray for unity among Christians. There may be some specific situations of division or disagreement that you know would be helped by God's intervention. Ask God to help you see His purpose in those situations. Praying for unity will put the spotlight on your own commitment to Christ. His being ""in us"" occurs instantly in salvation; in a sense, our being ""in Him"" gets worked out throughout life.