Mission Blessings is a daily devotional to bring a blessed day for viewers.

MISSION BLESSINGS

“But now listen, Jacob, my servant, Israel, whom I have chosen. 
This is what the Lord says— he who made you, who formed you in the womb, 
and who will help you: Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, 
Jeshurun,[a] whom I have chosen.Isaiah 
 
Isa 44:1-6 
 
 “But now listen, Jacob, my servant, 
Israel, whom I have chosen. 
2 This is what the Lord says— 
he who made you, who formed you in the womb, 
and who will help you: 
Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, 
Jeshurun,[a] whom I have chosen. 
3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land, 
and streams on the dry ground; 
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, 
and my blessing on your descendants. 
4 They will spring up like grass in a meadow, 
like poplar trees by flowing streams. 
5 Some will say, ‘I belong to the Lord’; 
others will call themselves by the name of Jacob; 
still others will write on their hand, ‘The Lord’s,’ 
and will take the name Israel. 
 
“This is what the Lord says— 
Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: 
6 I am the first and I am the last; 
apart from me there is no God. 
 
I have a Biblical name. It is Jacob. I don’t use it very often. It’s not even a legal name. I used the name when I published a book. But that’s the biblical name that I have chosen as mine from a long time ago. Among the Old Testament biblical figures, I want to be like David. But I know that I am more like Jacob. Jacob was a sinful man. He cheated on his brother and his father and many others. He was a greedy and ambitious man who even wrestled with God. There’s nothing much commendable in his human nature. But he was a man chosen by God. And God was with him always from birth to death. To me, the main human character of the book of Genesis is Jacob, neither Adam nor Abraham. More pages of the book of Genesis was devoted to Jacob than to any other. 
Why did God choose him? No one knows but God. It seems like a bad choice for human eyes. But God's sovereignly chose him, loved him and blessed him and his descendants. That’s why I have chosen the name, Jacob. Being Jacob seems to be the best deal that any human can get from God. We have a glimpse of the mysterious love of God toward Jacob in today’s passage. God says to Jacob, “I have made you. I have chosen you. I pour out all my blessings upon you. I will bless your sons and daughters.” In short, God who is the king of kings, the first and last pours out the greatest love and blessings to Jacob. What could Jacob do in return? Nothing! It is impossible to return God’s favor. But if there’s anything, Jacob can boldly witness what God has done to him and who God is to the world. Indeed that’s what Jacob did at the last phase of his life. I am Jacob. I believe you are Jacob too whether you like the name or not. And it’s the most wonderful thing to be Jacob in God’s eyes. Let’s keep it that way for us and for our descendants from generation to generation.

“But now listen, Jacob, my servant, Israel, whom I have chosen.
This is what the Lord says— he who made you, who formed you in the womb,
and who will help you:   Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant,
Jeshurun,[a] whom I have chosen.Isaiah 

Isa 44:1-6

 “But now listen, Jacob, my servant,
Israel, whom I have chosen.
2 This is what the Lord says—
he who made you, who formed you in the womb,
and who will help you:
Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant,
Jeshurun,[a] whom I have chosen.
3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
and my blessing on your descendants.
4 They will spring up like grass in a meadow,
like poplar trees by flowing streams.
5 Some will say, ‘I belong to the Lord’;
others will call themselves by the name of Jacob;
still others will write on their hand, ‘The Lord’s,’
and will take the name Israel.

“This is what the Lord says—
Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty:
6 I am the first and 

I am Jacob  (Isa 44:1-6)  Mission Blessings

The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name (Exodus 15:3) 
 
 
 
“The Warrior God" 
 
 
 
Exodus 15:1-8 
 
 
 
15 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: 
 
“I will sing to the Lord, 
 
 for he is highly exalted. 
 
Both horse and driver 
 
 he has hurled into the sea. 
 
2 “The Lord is my strength and my defense; 
 
 he has become my salvation. 
 
He is my God, and I will praise him, 
 
 my father’s God, and I will exalt him. 
 
3 The Lord is a warrior; 
 
 the Lord is his name. 
 
 
 
 The Israelites who were blood descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were barely maintaining their identity as a people of God in Egypt. It was no wonder because they have lived in Egypt for 430 years after Jacob brought his whole family to Egypt to flee from famine. It was a long time. The story of their ancestors and their God probably passed down from generation to generation. But the personal relationship between God and the Israelites were not as strong as it should be. They did not have strong personal relationships with God like their ancestors. Most of the Israelites did not know who God is. Even Moses didn’t seem to have a good knowledge of God when he first met God. That probably was why God kept identifying Himself to Moses and Israelites as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Israelites are getting to know God of their ancestors personally only after they went through the ups and downs of the Exodus and Wilderness period. Today’s passage which is generally known as Mose’s song describes God whom they met through the Exodus from Egypt. This is the first impression of God for the Israelites. Who was God like? The song says that He is a great warrior. He hurled Pharaoh’s army into the sea with all of their horses and chariots. When He unleashed His anger, it consumed those who opposed Him like a stubble. By the blast of His nostrils, the waters piled up. His right hand shattered the enemy. What kind of God can you visualize from the song’s description of God? With a childlike imagination, I can visualize a big huge giant God that no one has ever seen before. His arm is so strong and powerful that He can easily lift and throw the whole army of Egypt. His feet are so strong that when He stumps the whole world thunders. His nose and mouth are so huge that the breath and blast from them whip the sea like a huge storm. No one dares stand before Him. Whoever stands in His way will be thrown away. That was a pretty strong first impression, wasn’t it? We know that there are many other aspects of God. But we should all always keep this warrior God vividly in our hearts before anything else like Israelites. Like the Israelites, the children sing “My God is so big. He is so strong and mighty that nothing My God cannot do.” Do you sing that in your heart too? Do you have this warrior God in your life? Awesome! Then, you shouldn’t be afraid of any enemy in your life. Hallelujah!

The Lord is a warrior;  the Lord is his name (Exodus 15:3)



“The Warrior  God" 

 

Exodus 15:1-8

 

15 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord:

“I will sing to the Lord,

    for he is highly exalted.

Both horse and driver

    he has hurled into the sea.

2 “The Lord is my strength and my defense;

    he has become my salvation.

He is my God, and I will praise him,

    my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

3 The Lord is a warrior;

    the Lord is his name.



          The Israelites who were blood descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were barely maintaining their identity as a people of God in Egypt.  It was no wonder because they have lived in Egypt for 430 years after Jacob brought his whole family to Egypt to flee from famine.  It was a long time.  The story of their ancestors and their God probably passed down from generation to generation.   But the personal relationship between God and the Israelites were not as strong as it should be.  They did

Warrior God  (Exodus 15:1-3)

Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentation 3:22-23) 
 
 
2 kings 23:1-3 
 
 
 
Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 2 He went up to the temple of the Lord with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. 3 The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant. 
 
 
 
 “New Every Morning” 
 
 
 
 We want to remain faithful to the Lord all the time. But we know we don’t. We are so easily distracted from the right path for various reasons. Sometimes we are too busy with other things. We also easily fall into laziness and boredom. Most of all, we still have strong sinful nature that drives us from God. It takes to endeavor to keep the faith. But we lose faith so easily and so fast. In a very short period, we can become totally indifferent to spiritual life. That’s why we need to keep ourselves awake and be renewed every day. Israel was a chosen nation. God has been with them throughout the history of Israel. God led them out of Egypt through the Red Sea. God was with them through the wilderness period. God went ahead of Israelites to the promised land. God fought with them and for them. God gave them the law through Moses. They had a temple of God among them. It seems that they cannot be forgetful of God even for a moment. But Israel departed from Go so easily and so often. Sometimes they completely lost the track of God. This was exactly what happened before the revival of king Josiah. They were completely forgetful of the covenant and promise of God. One day the high priest found a book in the temple while they repair the shabby temple. The book must have been gathering all the dust for years at one of the temple rooms. It was the book of the covenant between Israel and God. After King Josiah read the book, he tore his garment. He found out that they were completely breaking the covenant with God. Israel was filled with idols that were passed down from previous generations. They had idols even inside the temple. They have built altars for foreign idols at various places. They were burning incenses at high places and worship the constellation. So Josiah ordered a great covenant renewal campaign. He fought against idols as he fought against enemies. 
 
Same thing can happen to us. We can be so easily accustomed and assimilated to the ungodly environments. Without renewing our mind, we can be fastly distracted from God and become nonchalant and indifferent to God. How can we keep ourselves awake and remain faithful to God? We have to do what Josiah did every day. As the Israelites received the Manna from God every day, we have to interact with God daily with the word of God and prayer. In fact, God renews His grace and love 
 
every morning. Lamentation 3:22-23 says “ Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” God keeps His grace and loves fresh every morning. We should keep our faith in Him fresh too. Are you renewing it every morning?

Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed,   for his compassions never fail.   They are new every morning;  great is your faithfulness.   (Lamentation 3:22-23) 


2 kings 23:1-3

 

Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 2 He went up to the temple of the Lord with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. 3 The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.

 

                       “New Every Morning”

 

     We want to remain faithful to the Lord all the time.   But we know we don’t.  We are so ea

New Every Morning  (2 Kings 23:1-3)

Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 
 
 
 “Crown or Cross?” 
 
 
 
 John 12:17-19, 23-25 
 
 
 
17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!” 
 
23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 
 
 
 
 Jesus did many miracles during his public ministry. The climax of those miracles was calling Lazarus from the tomb and raising him from the dead. It was the most dramatic miracle. When Jesus called “Lazarus come out!”, The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face (John 11:44). The miracle was done in Bethany which was in the vicinity of Jerusalem at the time of the festival. The unusually large crowd has witnessed the miracle in person. The reports of the amazing miracle quickly spread throughout Jerusalem. Everybody wanted to see Him and enthrone Him as King while established leaders such as Pharisees about to give up fighting against Jesus. This is the highest time of Jesus’ public ministry in human eyes. Jesus was now in a position that He can easily grab the power of Jerusalem. Jesus also knew that this is the time that He was going to be glorified, but in a very different way than many would have expected. He said He will be glorified by becoming a kernel of wheat that falls to the ground and die. Yes, He knew His time. He knew the way to go. And He stuck to it. We often wonder like disciples what would happen if He went on to the way that many expected and encouraged. We will never know. But whatever may have happened, it would never measure up to the glory of the cross. Through the cross, He not only saved Jerusalem but the whole human history that stretches out even to you and me. Why do we glorify Jesus now? We glorify the Lord for the cross, not for the crown. I am so glad that Jesus knew His time and His way to the cross when the whole world was cheering Him for the crown. But If we have the same choice between cross and crown, can we follow His footstep? “Stick with me. I will carry you my way.” A voice from above is speaking softly but clearly to our hearts.

Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 


 “Crown or Cross?”

 

  John 12:17-19, 23-25   

 

17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”

23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

 

        Jesus did many miracles during his public ministry.    The climax of those miracles was calling Lazarus from t

MISSION BLESSINGS Videos

I am Jacob (Isa 44:1-6) Mission Blessings

Warrior God (Exodus 15:1-3)

New Every Morning (2 Kings 23:1-3)

Crown or Cross? ( John 12:17-19, 23-25 )

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