The Blessed Deceiver

 THE BLESSED DECEIVER

Kingdom Kids devotions authorize Jesus’ LORDship over our lives.

Genesis 25:26-34

 Genesis 25:24-25a: “When the time came for her [Rebekah] to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 

“The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau.

“After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob.”

            Jacob received God’s Covenantal blessings (promises) that his grandfather, Abraham first received (Genesis 15:5, 18).  Abraham’s son Isaac received God’s promises (Genesis 17:19).  Isaac’s second son Jacob is different from what we’d expect from a Christian faith-father.

              The name Jacob means deceiver.  He was a skilled trickster.  Although Jacob dreamed big, he needed God’s blessing in order to realize all that God purposed him to receive. 

            Esau had been hunting all day and entered the house which smelled of stew.   Esau drooled at the smell.  Jacob bribed Esau to swear an oath selling has birthright to him first.  (Genesis 25:27-34).  

            The birthright was one’s right to receive the bulk of inheritance after dad’s death.  

  

            Esau sold his covenantal blessing from God to Jacob for stew. 

            Isaac was old and almost blind.  He asked Esau to prepare some tasty game   meat before receiving his blessing.  Rebekah helped Jacob to deceive dad.  She covered his smooth skin with hairy goatskin while fixing some yummy meat.  Isaac gave Esau’s blessing to Jacob in Genesis 27:28-29.

 

            Afterwards, Esau shocked Isaac by entering the house prepared to receive his blessing.  Esau complained, “He has deceived me two times: He took my birthright and now he’s taken my blessing!”

            Rebekah advised Jacob in Genesis 27:42-43, “Esau wants to kill you!  Flee at once to my brother Laban!”

            The twins grew up and agreed to meet.  The night before the meeting, Jacob sent his family away.  A man wrestled with Jacob till daybreak.  When the man could not overpower Jacob, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip.  Then he said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”

            Jacob replied, “I won’t let you go until you bless me.”

            “What is your name?” the man asked.

            “Jacob.”

            “Your name will be Israel from now on, because you have struggled with God and men and have overcome.” the man said.  The man blessed Jacob then.

            Genesis 32:22-30 says that Jacob limped from then on because of his hip.  

        

Take Home Nugget

            Our Father blesses His kids when He transfers divine favor and authority.   The only way one receives God’s blessing is through brokenness.   

            You are Jacob.

            See lesson linked below to understand Jacob’s careful preparations before meeting Esau.

Holy Father, I am Jacob.  Please bless me, too, after I am broken before Your might.  Amen.  

  

Adapted from “God Used Jacob, the Liar” by Dr. Tony Evans.  August 7, 2018.  The Alternative at www.LightSource.com.

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for The Blessed Deceiver

 For a personal, private lesson experience with our staff

Written for www.Biblestudyforkids.com

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Latest Christmas eBook by J.D. Griffith:  

To purchase "Star Watchers" for only $0.99 USD, click here  

This eBook shows Mary’s adventure traveling to Bethlehem right before Jesus’ birth.   This Biblical fantasy weaves supernatural delight into facts surrounding His birth. 

Here’s another eBook by J.D. Griffith:  

Twelve-year-old Jeremy befriends “Aunt” Rita when lured up her front steps after football practice one fall day.  Her piano music isn’t the only thing that makes Rita especially different.  She is intrigued by Jeremy.  God uses Aunt Rita to transform Jeremy into a true follower of Christ. 

Click here to purchase "Your Salvation is Jesus' Passion"     Only $2.99

      

     Click here for inexpensive Christian eBook and app offers

How God Operates

 HOW GOD OPERATES

Kingdom Kids devotions authorize Jesus’ LORDship over our lives.

Hebrews 11:17-19:  “By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice.  He who received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son

“even though God had said to him, ‘It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.’

“Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac from death.”

            When a parent or someone in authority makes a promise, we trust that the promise will be granted.  Because Abram (Abraham) never doubted God, God made His covenantal promises to him (Genesis 15:17-21).  Genesis 15:6 says, “Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.”   

            Trusting someone to believe promises they make takes faith. 

            We learned from God’s Purposed Elect devotion that Abraham’s son Isaac became the second guy, and his son Jacob, became the third who trusted that God’s promises would come true.  These three are patriarchs [PAA-tri-arks], or fathers of our Christian faith. 

            How does God operate to develop great faith in simple believers?

            Check out the lesson linked below to see that Abraham developed great faith through obeying God from one command into another.  Abraham’s faith in God grew with each successive challenge he obeyed.   His obedience built trust.  Trust in God developed Abraham’s great faith.

            Faith is a gift from God.  However, people develop our individual faith through obedience in small things.  That’s how God operates.  Isaac had to obey God in small things before developing his great faith. 

            Isaac innocently asked his dad Abraham, “Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” in Genesis 22:7.  Was Isaac concerned when dad laid him on top of the wood on the altar?  Did Isaac hear God’s angel stop Abraham from slaying him?  “Do not lay a hand on the boy … Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from Me your son.” (Genesis 22:12).  

    

            And Isaac’s son Jacob developed his great faith by depending on God and never giving up!  Check out Jacob wrestling with God all night in Genesis 32:24-32. 

            God operates His will through our obedience in small things.

Take Home Nugget

            Each small step of obedience builds upon earlier times when we remember that God was trustful in the past.  When we have the courage to obey God in difficult challenges, our faith grows.  As our faith develops into greatness, we’re never shaken from our sure foundation.

 

            Whoever can’t trust God for big things ignored His Spirit’s promptings to obey Him in small things. 

            That’s how God operates!

Holy Father, Strengthen me to dare to obey You when You challenge me in following Your will. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.  

Adapted from “Acquiring Great Faith” by Dr. Charles Stanley.  April 1, 2016.  www.InTouch.org. 

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for How God Operates

 For a personal, private lesson experience with our staff

Written for www.Biblestudyforkids.com

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Latest Christmas eBook by J.D. Griffith:  

To purchase "Star Watchers" for only $0.99 USD, click here   

This eBook shows Mary’s adventure traveling to Bethlehem right before Jesus’ birth.   This Biblical fantasy weaves supernatural delight into facts surrounding His birth. 

Here’s another eBook by J.D. Griffith:  

Twelve-year-old Jeremy befriends “Aunt” Rita when lured up her front steps after football practice one fall day.  Her piano music isn’t the only thing that makes Rita especially different.  She is intrigued by Jeremy.  God uses Aunt Rita to transform Jeremy into a true follower of Christ. 

Click here to purchase "Your Salvation is Jesus' Passion"     Only $2.99

     

     Click here for inexpensive Christian eBook and app offers

Show Me Ministry

 SHOW ME MINISTRY

Kingdom Kids devotions authorize Jesus’ LORDship over our lives.

John 13:34-35:  “A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

            I launched a “Greeting Card Ministry” once.  What is better than to bring a smile by sending a greeting card delivered by mail to one’s front door?  The United States Postal Service (USPS) did all the ground work, providing everyone in the USA an address. 

Stamps are reasonably priced, considering mail can travel thousands of miles in a few days.

            Remembering someone’s birthday, sending comfort that supports another during hard times, or celebrating anniversaries all share love.  The opening Scripture commands Christians to love one another.  Jesus followers seek creative ways to serve each other as He has loved us.

 

            Ministries are closer to home than travelling to Third World countries.  Many disciples of Jesus aren’t prepared—nor are called—to spread Christ’s resurrection Gospel in foreign lands.  Since their beginnings, those ministries have evolved from teaching (preaching) to mercy ministries that include health clinic, disaster relief, agriculture rotation or well-water drilling.  Everyone seems to prefer hands-on “show me” to simple talking now. 

 

            How well does Show Me Ministries work?  Words that are softly spoken accompanied by real acts of service deliver a dynamic witnessing “POW!”  

            Jesus commissioned His disciples (you and me) in Matthew 28:18-20.  Language is necessary to share Christ’s resurrection Gospel.  Baptizing people and teaching provide speaking and show me ministries.  His mighty acts—miracles that are still sought—are recorded history and still happen today. 

            One such miracle is recorded in Matthew 15:30-38.  After Jesus gave thanks for a boy’s lunch of seven leaves of bread and a couple small fish, His disciples fed 4,000 men, women, and children.  Plus, seven baskets of scraps were collected after everyone was satisfied!  

            Christians are prepped for community service these days.  Our world is starving for real love and churches reach out with child care, care for the elderly, teen mentoring, food and clothing distribution, and compassion for the disabled.

            Jesus sent out His twelve disciples in a “Show Me Ministry,” too.  Check out the lesson linked below for what Jesus authorized them to accomplish and how they were to go. 

   

Take Home Nugget

            But Jesus also commissioned His disciples to love people.  That height of devotion can only be achieved with a servant’s attitude—how Christ Himself served us. 

   

Heavenly Father, enable me to serve others with the love You showed me.  Strengthen me to love others with a servant’s attitude as Your Son served me.   Thank You for hearing my prayer in Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Adapted from “Don’t tell me, show me” by Pastor Mark Jeske.  March 24, 2018.  www.TimeOfGrace.org   

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for Show Me Ministry

 For a personal, private lesson experience with our staff

Written for www.Biblestudyforkids.com

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Latest Christmas eBook by J.D. Griffith:  

To purchase "Star Watchers" for only $0.99 USD, click here 

  This eBook shows Mary’s adventure traveling to Bethlehem right before Jesus’ birth.   This Biblical fantasy weaves supernatural delight into facts surrounding His birth. 

Here’s another eBook by J.D. Griffith:  

Twelve-year-old Jeremy befriends “Aunt” Rita when lured up her front steps after football practice one fall day.  Her piano music isn’t the only thing that makes Rita especially different.  She is intrigued by Jeremy.  God uses Aunt Rita to transform Jeremy into a true follower of Christ. 

Click here to purchase "Your Salvation is Jesus' Passion"     Only $2.99

     

     Click here for inexpensive Christian eBook and app offers

God's Purposed Elect

 GOD’S PURPOSED ELECT

Kingdom Kids devotions authorize Jesus’ LORDship over our lives.

Genesis 27:41:  “Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him.  He said to himself, ‘the days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

            God chose Abraham to make him father to as many descendants (natural and adopted) as there are stars in the sky (Genesis 22:17). 

            But before Abraham and his wife Sarah could conceive a child, Sarah gave her maidservant to Abraham as a wife.  The maidservant gave birth to a son named Ishmael.  (Genesis 16:3-16).

            Genesis 21:1-5 shows that Sarah gave birth to a son named Isaac.  The Christian religion is founded by the patriarchy begun by Abraham, passed by faith to his son Isaac, and grandson Jacob.  

            God told Abraham in Genesis 21:12:  “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your maidservant.  Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”  Reckoned [REK-ond] means to be accounted for, figured as, or totaled among. 

            Genesis 25:19-34 begins the fascinating story of Isaac and Rebekah’s twins, Esau and Jacob.  Check out the lesson below for two things that Jacob did to anger Esau so much that the opening Scripture promises brother-murder.   See how their relationship ended many decades later. 

            Why was the Christian religion founded by the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?  Romans 9:11-13 says, “Before the twins were born or dad had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls—she was told, ‘The older will serve the younger.’  Just as it is written: ‘Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.’”  (Genesis 25:23, Malachi 1:2-3).  Emphasis mine.

 

Take Home Nugget

             Esau messed up big time.  After selling his birthright to Jacob, Esau married two women outside his Dad’s faith.  He grieved his parents.  He never took responsibility for his actions.

            Esau’s choices are why God gave people the gift of free will.  He knows who we are in our hearts by the choices we make.  

  

            God’s elect are not random choices.  His purpose will never be stopped. 

  

            Isaac was chosen as God's purposed elect, but Ishmael was not.  Jacob was chosen.  Esau was not. 

            Esau’s flesh battle happens to Believers-in-Christ all the time.  Are places in your life not yielded to God’s Spirit?  Let’s not allow poor choices to interrupt the Spiritual Blessings that our heavenly Father wants us to have. 

Heavenly Father, I confess where I messed up today.  Forgive me when I sin.  I am asking for Your Spiritual Blessings in Christ more than any others that I think I want, in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.  

Adapted from “A Father’s Blessing” by Pastor David McGee .  October 7, 2017.  www.CrossTheBride.com  

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for God’sPurposed Elect

 For a personal, private lesson experience with our staff

Written for www.Biblestudyforkids.com

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Latest Christmas eBook by J.D. Griffith:  

To purchase "Star Watchers" for only $0.99 USD, click here  

This eBook shows Mary’s adventure traveling to Bethlehem right before Jesus’ birth.   This Biblical fantasy weaves supernatural delight into facts surrounding His birth. 

Here’s another eBook by J.D. Griffith:  

Twelve-year-old Jeremy befriends “Aunt” Rita when lured up her front steps after football practice one fall day.  Her piano music isn’t the only thing that makes Rita especially different.  She is intrigued by Jeremy.  God uses Aunt Rita to transform Jeremy into a true follower of Christ. 

Click here to purchase "Your Salvation is Jesus' Passion"     Only $2.99

     

     Click here for inexpensive Christian eBook and app offers

Human Vs. Angelic Holiness

 HUMAN VS. ANGELIC HOLINESS

Kingdom Kids devotions authorize Jesus’ LORDship over our lives.

Exodus 22:31a: “You are to be My holy people.”

            Biblical scholars claim that when Moses climbed Mount Sinai to receive God’s Word, the angels protested.  They wondered why mere humans were receiving God’s Word.  God’s Word was hidden and angels never knew it!  The angels only knew that God’s Word is a great treasure and anyone who receives it shares His mission. 

            Angels are mission-oriented.  Although angels were created to be messengers, they have no self-esteem.  They simply do what God created them to do—nothing more and nothing less.

            But the angels were shocked when God chose Moses—a flawed human to carry out His special mission!  The angels cried out Psalm 8:4-5 to God: “What is mankind that You are mindful of him; the son of man that You care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.”

 

            God told Moses to respond to the angel’s complaints. 

            Moses addressed God in the angel’s presence, “What’s in Your Torah?”

            God answered, “I am the Lord your God who took you out of Egypt.”

            Moses asked the angels, “Where you in that place of darkness called Egypt? Why is the Torah important to you?”

            The angels grew silent.  Moses explained, “Yahweh gave me laws—commandments—which people must obey.  No commandment applies to angels since you never deal with temptation, jealousy, challenges, or conflicts.  You live in perpetual light!”

            Moses sighed before informing the angels, “People deal with darkness all the time—both inside AND outside of human hearts.  That’s why God gave His Word to people.  God created humans so He could invite us to play our parts in His kingdom.

 

            Side by side, people can overcome evil with God’s help.  People can bring light into the darkness by extending kindness where there’s hatred.  People can grow spiritually into Christ likeness!  With God’s help, nothing is too hard for humans to do!”

            Check out the lesson linked below for stewardship that God assigned to humans.  Angels have their place in God’s kingdom.  They sing God praises 24/7.  They care for and protect people.  While humans need angelic help, angels don’t need humans. 

Take Home Nugget

            Despite God creating people a little lower than the angels, we have the power to rise above our limitations.  People’s gift of free will allows us to choose light when faced with darkness.  We can always choose to act right .  People’s greatness can conquer our weakness.  We crave the challenge to overcome.    

            Menachem Mendel, an 18^th century rabbi comments, “You shall be holy, but as a people … The Lord of the universe has no lack of angels in heaven.”  

Adapted from “Greater Than Angels” by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein.  February 10, 2015.  www.HolyLandMoments.org

J.D. Griffith

Click here for an Interactive-Online-Lesson for Human Vs. Angelic Holiness

 For a personal, private lesson experience with our staff

  

Written for www.Biblestudyforkids.com

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

Latest Christmas eBook by J.D. Griffith:  

To purchase "Star Watchers" for only $0.99 USD, click here  

This eBook shows Mary’s adventure traveling to Bethlehem right before Jesus’ birth.   This Biblical fantasy weaves supernatural delight into facts surrounding His birth. 

Here’s another eBook by J.D. Griffith:  

Twelve-year-old Jeremy befriends “Aunt” Rita when lured up her front steps after football practice one fall day.  Her piano music isn’t the only thing that makes Rita especially different.  She is intrigued by Jeremy.  God uses Aunt Rita to transform Jeremy into a true follower of Christ.

 

Click here to purchase "Your Salvation is Jesus' Passion"     Only $2.99

     

     Click here for inexpensive Christian eBook and app offers