The Strugglers

One of the amazing blessings we have is that although God loves us more than we could ever love him, yet he is not discouraged. From the beginning of our lives he holds out his hand to each of us and watches every move we make. There is a limited window of opportunity to respond. It’s called a lifetime, and then we are harvested like wheat, and a new crop of human beings takes over the earth. 50 generations between Christ and us and so far the people still keep coming.
In each generation some are called by the Holy Spirit to be the church, to carry on the ministry of Christ. We are, as we say, Jesus Today. When we are gone, a new generation will be Jesus Tomorrow. At all times those who make up the church are the ones who seek God’s face, who pray to Him to know his Spirit, who come to the table of God on Sunday morning to receive his blessing and to align their spirit with His. And these are the ones, who instead of walking away, “having loved this present world”, have struggled to stay in relationship with him…refusing to let him go. The Apostle Paul says they are the true Israel of god…for the name Israel means those who wrestle with God.
And who was the first to be called that? Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, Jacob: the successful business man and conniving liar, Jacob the cheat and swindler, who despite his failings, through one amazing night until daybreak, wrestled with god, and won.
So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.
Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”
But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
The man asked him, “What is your name?”

“Jacob,” he answered.

Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, (he Struggles with God) because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.”

And so despite our weakness, we stay engaged with God. Faith is not an emotion and we don’t mistake it for one. Faith is a choice we make to surrender to God. God will let you wrestle for as long as you like. You can’t hurt him, but you cannot prevail. Then with a touch of His hand you will be weakened to the point of submission, and you’ll hang on to him and beg for His blessing. As He gives it, Revelation 2 says you too are promised to receive a new name.
As with Jacob, at the end of the night a new day will dawn bright and clear and if you’re limping a little it’s because He wants you to lean on Him. Such is the love He has for you.