Focus on Eternity

Introduction      As we explore the second half of this story, we will be turning our attention from the accounts in Genesis to a passage found in Luke chapter 20.  I hope you will forgive me for using a football analogy, but to me with the Super Bowl approaching, it seemed like a unique way to review the effects of Levi’s curse and Judah’s blessing.  If you’ve missed Part One of this story, click here to read it first.       Over the years the Levites had been appointed to ‘religious’ duties, and their anointing goes back to the time of Aaron, the older brother of Moses.  We learned that not all Levites were priests, but all priests were Levites.  Likewise, the Judeans received the legacy of kingship.  Although the first king, Saul, was a Benjamite, God had allowed the Israelites to appoint him king, when God instructed Samuel to anointed him as a prince. (1 Samuel 10:1 ESV)  God was the true King of...

       Today I want to tell you the story of two brothers, both of whom were born to the same mother.  It is the story of the legacy of Leah’s third and fourth sons.  If you have read the post called “Women Behaving Badly – Part One and Part Two”, you will hear more of the back story behind this one (Click Here for Part One) ,  (Click Here for Part Two) .  Levi’s Story:      The third son of Jacob and Leah was named Levi.  The birth of this son gave Leah a feeling of entitlement.  She reasoned that bearing three sons for her husband would earn his respect.  She was the unwanted wife of Jacob and she felt neglected.  We read, ‘“Now this time my husband will be attached to me because I have borne him three sons.”  Therefore, his name was called Levi.’  (Genesis 29:34 ESV) We later learn the legacy of this young man’s life when his father provides his final blessing in Genesis chapter 49, ” Simeo...

When I was a child, I took piano lessons from the age of eight until I was about twelve years old.  I was required to practice the piano about thirty minutes a day.  So after school, I would race my brother to the piano bench.  Whoever's butt hit the bench first got to go first.  I know that neither of us was overly excited about our practice time.  We were eager to check the task off our 'to-do' list', I'm sad to say.  Today I would love to have a piano.  One day I can remember racing my brother to the bench, and as we arrived at the same time, we hit the seat so hard that one of the legs broke off the bench.  That was not a very good day.  Both of us feared the words coming from our mother's lips, "wait until your father gets home."  Well, that wasn't the story that I intended to tell, but the memory came back so vividly that I knew I needed to share it.  Here's where I was going...I remember having a little beginner piano ...

Many years ago when I found myself working in network marketing, I met a man who wrote a book called "Sometimes It's about the Money".  That title always made me cringe as I felt the focus was on the pursuit of money.  As we read in Luke, there are side-by-side examples of two wealthy men who had entirely different outcomes so we are given instructions from Jesus showing us where to place our values.  The first story you will read in Luke 18:18-30, and the second story you will find in Luke 19:1-10.  Both stories would be familiar to anyone who sets their eyes upon this gospel. In the first story we meet the 'Rich Ruler', and in the second story, we are introduced to Zacchaeus the Tax Collector.  In the first story we do not know how the man acquired his wealth, but what we do discover is the man considers himself to be righteous.  In the story of Zacchaeus, we learn that he knows he is unrighteous.  Both men come to Jesus and seem to be seek...

       When we are willing to place our eyes in Scriptures, we can study with an expectancy that the Holy Spirit is guiding us into practical truths to help us prepare for the future that He already knows and that we cannot yet see.   We may call this guidance either equipping us for the journey or investing in our future.   Finding my way to Luke 16 this morning the Holy Spirit gave me insight on where I needed to place my attention and highlighted practical ways that I could take action.   In God’s righteousness, He looks for those willing to be faithful to His calling.   If you are reading my words and have not yet spent time in God’s Word today, I encourage you to bookmark my page and read it later.   You are missing out on wise counsel.   If you are still reading, I am guessing that you’ve been faithful in renewing your mind with Scriptures.   As much as I hope that this message is meant for you, I feel confident...

      As part one concludes, we have received an introduction to "praise", the fourth son of Leah called Judah.  We learned that Judah's name meant to praise.  We know that because of "praise",  the world has hope.  This hope came through the descendants of Judah when God became flesh and dwelled among us.        Now the story shifts to the younger sister, Rachel.  How has her barren condition placed one more nail in the coffin?   Rachel expresses her grief to Jacob telling him that she is dying inside.   Scriptures tell us, “When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister.   She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die!”   (Genesis 30:1 ESV)   At first glance, it may seem that Rachel is a drama queen, but think about this:  How would you feel if your words of envy, at a hormonal moment, were broadcast as a permanent record for millions of people to read,...

    Have you heard the story of two sisters who married the same man and found no personal satisfaction in their marriages?   Who could have predicted?   This story will show two women behaving badly , but the disharmony found in this story, existed before this story began.   At an earlier time, we learn of a younger son outsmarting his father and receiving a blessing for which he was not entitled .   This blessing would change the course of his life.   The plan, the eldest shall serve the youngest had already been announced to their mother before the birth of these twins.   Esau was born first, and his father loved him best because they shared many things in common.   Jacob, born second, was favored by his mother.   Rebekah, the mother of these twins, instigated the plan that her youngest, Jacob, would gain his father’s blessing.  He had already stolen his brother's birthright.  Could God’s plan have taken place witho...