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A Place or a Person?
Genesis 28:16-17, 19
“‘Surely the Lord is in this place and I was not aware of it.’ He was afraid and said, ‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.’…He called that place Bethel…”
Jacob’s first experience in God’s presence deeply impacted his life. First experiences leave an imprint and shape how we understand things. Jacob was focused on a place more than a person throughout the impact of his dream. Cross-cultural mission experiences are often similar to this; people encounter God in new and fresh ways when they travel to other places and cultures. They take more time to pray and reach out and God meets them in those steps of faith. It’s easy to associate God’s presence with those places, and then attempt to re-create the circumstances of what happened, by visiting those places again. The second visit, however, can rarely deliver what they experienced the first time.
Why?
Because God, a person, is more important than a place, God desires to meet us wherever we are as we humble ourselves and seek him.
Lord Jesus, you are my focus. Thank you for your presence this day.
Genesis 28:16-17, 19
“‘Surely the Lord is in this place and I was not aware of it.’ He was afraid and said, ‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.’…He called that place Bethel…”
Jacob’s first experience in God’s presence deeply impacted his life. First experiences leave an imprint and shape how we understand things. Jacob was focused on a place more than a person throughout the impact of his dream. Cross-cultural mission experiences are often similar to this; people encounter God in new and fresh ways when they travel to other places and cultures. They take more time to pray and reach out and God meets them in those steps of faith. It’s easy to associate God’s presence with those places, and then attempt to re-create the circumstances of what happened, by visiting those places again. The second visit, however, can rarely deliver what they experienced the first time.
Why?
Because God, a person, is more important than a place, God desires to meet us wherever we are as we humble ourselves and seek him.
Lord Jesus, you are my focus. Thank you for your presence this day.
Scripture
About this Plan
Join Randy Friesen as he follows the Bible reading plan of the Life Journal and shares his reflections with you. Each entry includes three parts: a highlighted passage from the reading, a brief reflection, and a prayer. We trust that you will be inspired by the messages that God is speaking through his Word.
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We would like to thank Randy Friesen, VIce President for Leadership Development with Global Disciples, for providing this plan. For more information about Global Disciples, please visit www.globaldisciples.org
