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“Then the Lord said to him (Jacob), Go back to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.” Genesis 31:3 (HCSB)

Twenty years seems like a really long time to be away from home. Jacob’s deception had sent him on the run from his brother, Esau. (Genesis 27). His father-in-law, Laban’s deception had kept him bound to work for him. (Genesis 29). False never serves us well. Perhaps Jacob’s eyes were finally opened to the deceptive web his life had borne.

Despite his unjust treatment by Laban, Jacob worked hard for 20 years. Despite changing his wages, Jacob worked hard for 20 years. But now his desire was to leave, go home and take care of his family. After several attempts to move on, God paves the way saying, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.”

Don’t know about you but sometimes in the heat of the battle, we wonder if God sees. When injustices reign high and we know we’re giving our all discouragement settles in. False surrounds us and we’re doing all we can do to hold on to truth despite the circumstances. We look all around us and attempt to run, but God allows us to stay in the midst of it all until He says, “Go.”

Welcomed words, I’m sure for Jacob. To hear God’s release and know that He had seen it all. To realize freedom was just steps away and the chains had been loosed. To not wonder if God would continue to bless him once he left; the sweetness of God’s reassuring presence for the journey home echoing in his ears.

A stolen blessing had sent Jacob fleeing for his life and tore apart his family. A blessing given would follow Jacob back home and restore his relationship with Esau. Beyond his imagination – more than he could have ever conceived. What deception sought to destroy, God rebuilt and used for His ultimate glory.

Sweet friend, don’t think for a moment that God doesn’t see or isn’t fully aware of all that’s touching our lives. His memory is never short. He knows our heart – the ache, pain and misery birthed in the pit of deception. Hold on tight, do the right thing even if it’s hard and you will find He is the great rewarder of those who place their trust and faith in Him alone.

“Father we’ve ridden both sides of this journey deceived and deceiver. Missing out because false leads us in the wrong direction. Help us to stay close to You so truth will cover everything we do.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

As I was throwing on my sweats and a t-shirt for the 623rd day in a row working from home this morning, my mind flashed back to a thing many of you may never have heard of: Casual Friday. It was instituted probably in the early 90s (maybe the late 80s?), and it was a concession on the part of employers to relax the wardrobe rules of the business for the last day of the workweek. For some companies, it meant women could wear slacks (versus a dress/skirt) and men could wear khakis and a polo shirt or button down. Other businesses—the forward-thinking ones—actually allowed jeans. It was quite shocking at the time. I remember going up the elevator at my downtown Richmond office building where there were several financial firms. The big joke with them was that on Casual Friday they got to wear the tie of their choice. (There’s something to be said for that workplace standard, but that’s another conversation for another time.)

Anyway, this mental trip through the past got me thinking about the spiritual parallel to Casual Friday.

See, upon becoming believers, we are made new creations—the old passes away (2 Corinthians 5:17). We’re no longer slaves to sin, but we become servants of the Lord (Romans 6:6; Colossians 3:23-24). Once saved, we are called to be holy, as He is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16), representing the Kingdom to which we are now citizens (Philippians 3:20). We are to hold up every thought, word, and action to the Truth of the Bible. We have a new standard by which to live.

If you’re a Christian, there may be quite a contrast between your standards before and after surrendering to Jesus. (There sure is for me.) And, although the above-noted attributes are to be our benchmark, we are all still living in a fallen body and walking through a fallen world. So, we’re not going to always be holy…but we need to always be walking in the direction of holiness and obedience.

So, where does the whole “Casual Friday” thing come in? Well, just as employers loosened their standards for workwear once a week, we must ask ourselves a similar question: Are there days or circumstances where we choose to talk or act below the standard that has been set for us in God’s Word? Maybe it’s around the conference table (real or virtual), when the blue jokes start flying—and you laugh right along. Perhaps, when Friday night rolls around, you go out for a few too many drinks with the girls (or guys). It could be the Netflix or HBO show you binge watch over the weekend—you know, the one with all that gratuitous casual sex. You get the point.

Friend, God has not allowed for Casual Friday—or any other casual day of the week. He does not wink at sin, no matter how “small” we think it is. (He doesn’t say, “Hey, that’s cool to sleep with your boyfriend—I know you’re in love.” Sorry, nope.) God’s standard is non-adjustable and non-negotiable, regardless of how “cultural irrelevant you think it is.

Again, I’m not saying we won’t sin. We will. But the longer we walk with the Lord, the quicker we’ll recognize that sin, repent, and keep going in the right direction. And don’t misunderstand—we don’t maintain God’s standards to keep on His good side or check off the right boxes. We keep God’s standards because we love Him. And bringing Him joy is our joy.

“Thank you, Lord, for Your standards, clearly spoken in Your Word, and the true freedom it brings.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life