Devotional by Deven Averett
Have you ever tried to use an outdated phone? My iPhone, for example, would get overheated, run slowly, and making phone calls would prove to be quite difficult. This past Tuesday, however, Apple released their new software update: iOS 16. So, I downloaded it and now my operating system is way better!
It was time for an update.
Updates are great because they provide new features, intuitive processes, and improve efficiency. But, updates don’t just happen on their own. There are rules that need to be followed and a correct order in which things must take place.
The same processes can be applied to our lives in Christ. We can learn about how to update our lives to reflect a lifestyle of obedience by looking at the story of Jacob wrestling with God. Let’s learn the steps that are required in order for us to live out our lives for Jesus.
“So Jacob was left alone, and a Man [came and] wrestled with him until daybreak. When the Man saw that He had not prevailed against Jacob, He touched his hip joint; and Jacob’s hip was dislocated as he wrestled with Him. Then He said, “Let Me go, for day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let You go unless You declare a blessing on me.” So He asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” And He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked Him, “Please tell me Your name.” But He said, “Why is it that you ask My name?” And He declared a blessing [of the covenant promises] on Jacob there. So Jacob named the place Peniel (the face of God), saying, “For I have seen God face to face, yet my life has not been snatched away.” Now the sun rose on him as he passed Penuel (Peniel), and he was limping because of his hip.” Genesis 32:24-31 (AMP)
The first step to getting an update is to Establish a Connection.
Without a connection, it is impossible to receive the update. Jacob had an encounter with God and during his encounter, the Lord gave him a new identity. He received an update. Apart from Jesus, we might not even realize that our ways, our decisions, or our thinking are of the darkness. But when we connect with the Lord and spend time with Him we realize who we are apart from Him and how much we need Him. Through our relationship (connection) with Jesus, we begin to grow into who He has called us to be.
The next step to getting an update is to Download the Update.
Now that a connection is established, it’s time to download the proper update. To download something is to transfer data from one computer to another network; usually a larger server to a user network. When Jacob was with the Lord, his understanding of God was changed. God showed (downloaded to) Jacob who He was, His ways, and the calling He had for him. From this we can see that God is interested in us as individuals and has a specific plan for our lives. Jacob didn't wrestle with an idea or a concept, he wrestled with the Creator of the universe! In that moment God was preparing him for a greater purpose. Jesus is face to face with us, in our real lives, and has a plan for us. As we spend time with Jesus, we begin to (download) learn about who we are, who He is, what He has called us to do, and then He equips us for His purpose.
The last step to getting an update is to Install the Update.
Now that everything has been downloaded, it's time to install it and put it to use. Jacob wanted a blessing and after wrestling all night, God finally blessed him and gave him what he needed. Jacob walked away with a new identity, new understanding of God and His calling for him. He walked away confident and in obedience and through Jacob’s [now called Israel] obedience came a legacy. When we spend time in God’s presence and He calls us and equips us for His plans, we must act in obedience. Jacob’s (Israel’s) new calling and blessing was not just for him but for people – for God’s purpose.
God’s purpose is people and to spend time with His creation. But sin entered in and separated us from God. His ultimate plan to deal with sin was to send Jesus Christ, who died in our place. It was for you and I and the next person to read this post, and the person who was behind the counter at the gas station, that Jesus died. He died a sinner's death so that we could have a relationship with the Father and share the good news of the Gospel with others (The Great Commission).
Jesus came to earth and He lived in constant connection to His father, and He understood God’s heart and plan to save humanity. Praise God that Jesus was living in obedience, so that now we have a way to reconnect to the Father through relationship with Jesus. The people in our lives need to hear about this amazing love and that we have eternal life through Jesus!
It's Time for an Update. It’s Time to Live our Lives in Obedience to Him.
