Time Spent:
Main Idea: God gives Jacob a new name based upon His grace and mercy
What I learned about God: God redefines our lives through giving us a new identity in Christ
Summary: Jacob has had a turbulent life thus far in Genesis; he flees from his homeland, serves 20 years under Laban, has marital trauma with his wives, deceives his father-in-law, wrestles with God, and meets up with the person who hated him most, Esau his brother. Now after going through these ordeals, God had decided well that Jacob would be given a new name to Israel. His name went from meaning "deceiver" to "He strives with God". The significance of names in the OT was to 1.) show dominion over the thing you name (like Adam in the garden) 2.) sharing a portion of someone's personality in the meaning of the name. Jacob was transformed to one that strives after God not by the good things that he had done, but rather because of the promises that God had made to Abraham (vv.10-11). The new identity came as a result of God's faithfulness to His promises!
Application: God has changed my identity through the faithful work of Jesus Christ. Paul talks about this "new identity" in Col. 3:12-17 from Scripture. Our identity matches the characteristics that Jesus has. Thus, we must put to death our earthly, sinful nature and "put on" Christ in our lives.
Now, putting on Christ is not just having a propensity to do right, but is one that sets their minds and their hearts on Jesus Christ. I have noticed the "delay" in doing my QTs have prevented me from "putting on" Christ for the day. It is true that you do not need to do QTs in the morning, but it's difficult to apply your QTs when you do it so late in the day. Thus, I am resolved to start my QTs as EARLY AS POSSIBLE so I can apply them as the day goes on : ). Put on the new identity of Jesus by learning and applying what He said!
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