Jacob is flawed, blessed, troubled, forced to sleep outside, a stone for a pillow.  A dream danced in his head:  a ladder spanning from earth to heaven, angels ascending and descending.  God spoke:  "I will still use you, I will be with you, I will not stop until I've done what I promised."  Jacob woke up, startled but moved:  "Surely the Lord is in this place - and I did not know it" (Genesis 28:13-16).

   Wherever you are, God is in this place.  Have you noticed?  Do you feel like Jacob - not the kind of superb person you think God would deploy?  You wrestle with your faith.  At times you run headlong from God.  Can you see your future isn't up to you? that it is in God's hands?

   Angels are popular in our culture (especially at Christmas), perched atop our trees, sparkling in jewelry - but are they real?  If so, what is their mission?  The Bible's angels do not pamper people.  Instead, they announce that God is about to invade our comfortable places and rock our world.  "If an angel ever says ?Be not afraid,' you'd better watch out:  a big assignment is on the way" (Elie Wiesel). 

   Lord, send angels down:  I am ready for a big assignment.

James

james@mpumc.org

Sunday's sermon on Psalm 85 may be heard by clicking here.

The complete eAdventWithMatthew series can be found on our web site.