09/05/21 WASTED LIVES, ENERGY, FOCUS

09/05/21 WASTED LIVES, ENERGY, FOCUS

It is a tragedy that people incessantly repeat the same complaints, criticisms, disappointments, failures, losses and focus constantly on same troubles.

If they would use that energy and would lock their attention on Jesus, His word and then hold on to Him until they were delivered from their negativity, self orientation, problems then they would experience Divine intervention, transformation, life.

As Jacob wrestled and held on to the Angel and said he would not let go until the Angel blessed him, so it is with us. We need to spend time, energy,
determination, tears in our pursuit of the One Who has has pursued us and we should declare that we will not let go and we will not be denied. This comes when we realize that our best efforts end in failure, but our relentless determination for God's blessing (His deliverance and salvation) results in victory. We don't have a greater desire for our own salvation than God has for us to be saved. However, we will not be a recipient of God's blessing until we realize the futility of our own strengths and efforts.

...UNLESS YOU BLESS ME
Genesis 32:25-31
25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was strained, as he wrestled with him.
26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for thou hast striven with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for, said he, I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
31 And the sun rose upon him as he passed over Penuel, and he limped upon his thigh.

(I find this passage is somewhat complicated to pressent therefore i added a note, but then I removed the note. Let me give a short statement).
Basically, my response is that I have problems with the way commentators and translators sometimes present passages. This is because translators sometimes act more like interpreters (telling us what they think a passage means, rather than what it says).
There are various passages that translators arbitrarily use capitalization, thus confusing the narrative.
I have no problem seeing that the angel recognized the resistance of Jacob but i don't view it as the Angel doubting His own victory over Jacob. I do think that God will use extreme measures to subdue a rebel, as in this case. I believe the Angel made it clear to Jacob that his only hope for victory would come through supplication.

APPREHENDING THAT WHICH APPREHENDED ME
Philippians 3:12-14
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

OUR WORK AND GOD'S WORK IN US TO WILL AND TO DO
Philippians 2:12-16
12 So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
13 for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without murmurings and questionings:
15 that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world,
16 holding forth the word of life; that I may have whereof to glory in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain neither labor in vain.