Paul presents the truth of God‘s common grace in his address to theAthenian philosophers: God "gives everyone life and breath and every-thing else" (Acts 17:25). - P99
I have come to realize that I often take thoseseemingly simple blessings from God for granted. And when thishappens, my sense of gratitude wanes. - P99
It is only when these everydayblessings are taken away, like when I fall sick and go to the hospital, that I become more
conscious of them. The medical bill becomes areminder of how precious life is. - P99
We should not have to wait to fallsick to live a life of gratitude. We can develop a grateful attitude bytaking time every day to thank God for His blessings and commongrace in seemingly mundane things. - P99
Heavenly Father, thank you for Your unchanging love toward me! - P99
Help me togrow in the knowledge of Your grace so that I may reflect that grace in the wayI live and relate to those around me. In Jesus‘ name, amen. - P99
3 Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first signof my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.
4 Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, foryou went up onto your father‘s bed, onto my couch defiled it.
- P100
6 Let me not enter their council, let me not join theirassembly, for they have killed men in their anger andhamstrung oxen as they pleased.
7 Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel!
I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel." - P101
Jacob gathers all his sons together so that he can bless them before hedies. This is a solemn and defining moment, not only for each son butalso for the future nation of Israel. - P102
People usually leave a will to providefor their children‘s future after they are gone,
which sets out the materialpossessions to be bequeathed to each child. - P102
Jacob‘s prayer, however, isnot focused on the material possessions he will leave behind—thoughhe had an abundance of them but on the spiritual direction of his de-scendants‘ future. - P102
Let us not lose sight of the importance of our spiritualdestiny as well as that of the children God may give us. - P102
Jacob‘s blessings to his first three sons seem rather strange. One mighteven wonder if they can be called blessings at all. - P102
Jacob recalls their pastfailures in which Reuben dishonored his father by sleeping with one ofhis concubines, and Simeon and Levi slaughtered the defenseless peoplein the city of Shechem. - P102
Their father‘s blessings now outline the
consequences of those actions. - P102
Our actions, too, have their consequences.
Although God forgives all our sins when we repent, we still have to livewith some of the regretful consequences of our mistakes. - P102
This warns usto live wisely and carefully by submitting to the leadership of the HolySpirit so that He can guide us on the right path. - P102
Thank you, Father, for the eternal blessings that I have received from You throughYour Son Jesus Christ. - P102
Help me to honor You by living according to Your will inevery area of my life. In Jesus‘ name, amen. - P102
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