"Reunion" - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

“Reunion"

"Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept." (Genesis 33:4, NASU)

Jacob had long been separated from his brother Esau, going back to the time when Jacob did a bit of deceptive work and ended up with Esau's birthright. (Genesis 27-28) Having done that to Esau as Jacob dis, I would suspect that quite possibly you and I would have felt the same towards Jacob as Esau later did. Maybe not so much murder, but close to it. Or at least a little bit of animosity to say the least?

After all, none of us can declare that which would say, "I never had bitterness nor hatred towards anyone." At least I know I can't.

Many examples are written in God's Word, all are for our benefit, as Paul states in 1 Cor 10:11-12
"Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come." (NASU)

When Esau ran and embraced Jacob, it gives us several reasons that he was able to do this. You will have to read some of the preceding Scriptures for the full picture, but let me summarize as to what I think happened in Esau's heart.

1. "Esau ran to meet him". During the years of separation between the two brothers, the Lord had worked a change in Esau's heart. Maybe he realized the temporal here on earth, his birthright lost, wasn't worth the pain and agony, or hatred, toward his brother. He knew he hadn't been the perfect brother either. 

It is known that carrying these attitudes towards another, as in unforgiveness, eats away at your mind, soul, and spirit. Hopefully, as you grow older in the Lord you become aware of this, and turn, with repentance, from this sin.

When Esau ran to meet Jacob, he had already left all that behind. Nothing was holding him back now from expressing joy and love towards his younger brother.

2. "embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him" Esau led the way in showing total forgiveness and repentance on his part. Having already known the Lord's forgiveness on his part, he was able and willing to express that totally, and not hold back. It takes a mature believer to lead the way.

3. "they wept." I trust you too have known the release of years having pent-up emotions, and when a reunion occurs between friends and relatives that had been separation due to hurt, injustice, lies or selfishness, having a good cry, a fantastic flow of tears and all, feels really good. They let it all go. and let it all out.

I love when a reunion takes place between father and son, mother and daughter, cousin and cousin, employee and employer, pastor and congregant. Forgiveness is a great gift from our Father, Who Himself is always the first to express forgiveness. Having sent His Only Son Jesus, Yeshua, to die for our sins in order that we to may be forgiven was the very first ultimate step in restoration and reunion.

This week the Louis and Lila Martin clan celebrate another time of gathering in our biennial (once every two years event - I had to look it up myself). There certainly have been times of separation and individual reunions, but through the ongoing grace and mercy of our Lord, this family of 8 siblings has held together over these 60+ years. Thank God!

May the Lord give you the grace and love to express forgiveness in your relationships, because Lord knows we need it. And if you have a family or friend reunion coming up this summer, have a great time!

Now think on this, and see what good things the Lord has in store for you and those around you.

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

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On July 5, 2019, Strength will be having our first Friday of the month meeting in The Barn at Antioch International Church in Fort Mill, SC. Come and celebrate the goodness of our God!

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Now Think On This #433 - in the year of our Lord 06.18.19 – “Reunion” – Tuesday, 6:00 am

Christopher Wants A Baby; Catherine Wants A Cookie - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Christopher Wants A Baby;

Catherine Wants A Cookie

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” 

(Psalms 37:4, NKJV)

“Christopher wants a baby; Catherine wants a cookie.”

Have you ever dreamed of such a thing? Weird, huh? But I have, and I still am not sure what exactly it means, if in only partiality. I can speculate and then draw my own conclusion – the man wants one thing while the woman in the relationship wants another. Happens all the time, right?

Really, I did dream this recently, and have been asking the Lord what it is supposed to convey. I know there are multiple times when two people may want different things, as even a man and a woman in marriage do. The one’s desire may seem lofty and admirable, while the other’s may seem trivial. Our concepts and perceptions certainly do not always agree in relationships, and yet we are called to pursue love and understanding in them.

When I consider this dream I would almost think that it is backwards – that Catherine would be the one who wants a baby, granting her a God-given desire for motherhood, while Christopher, where in today’s society considers men to be weak, babyish, selfish and egotistical, would be content with just having a cookie. His choice would not be a life-long commitment to raising a child as unto the Lord, but to have a cookie in place of it, with more selfish desires that follow. Kind of like being satisfied with getting a bowl of soup when one is hungry in exchange for giving your natural birthright away.

Sounds like Jacob and Esau.

“When Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished; and Esau said to Jacob, "Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished." Therefore his name was called Edom. But Jacob said, " First sell me your birthright." Esau said, "Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?" And Jacob said, " First swear to me"; so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.” (Genesis 25:29-34, NASU)

But let’s just for a moment give this guy in the dream, Christopher, a little slack, and believe he really wants to be responsible man, raise a family, and lead both wife and child(ren) into the ways of the Lord. Let’s also give it a real possibility that there are indeed other men out there who are wanting to do the same. (I personally know of two close to me, right now, who would love to have a wife, desiring both of them to then live for the Lord in marriage. It has been a real struggle for them as they wait on the Lord, for a woman to come along who also desires this type of relationship, and not one who would just be content with having a “cookie”.)

Before our society totally loses it, when it comes to a man and woman being solidly joined together in a godly marriage, giving of each other to each other, and then bringing forth children to care for and raising up to bless the Lord and their parents, my prayer is that the “Christophers” out there, who desire to have a scared relationship, are indeed given that opportunity in finding a “Catherine” who too desires more than a “cookie”, and is willing to also lay her life down in order to realize the blessing the Lord still grants upon the union of one man and one wife, living for Him and His purposes.

My dream may not be so weird after all.

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

  

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

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If these messages have ministered to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $10-$50 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families in Israel whom we consistently help monthly through our humanitarian work. Your tax-deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

  

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Now Think On This #345 - in the year of our Lord 04.03.18 – “Christopher Wants A Baby; Catherine Wants A Cookie”, Tuesday, 11:00 am