datethewordtest

Category: Verse to DATE

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 30 (11/30) is Proverbs 11:30

    Our verse to DATE the Word on November 30 (11/30) is Proverbs 11:30.
    Proverbs 11:30 says, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.  
    Living a Life that brings and gives LIFE!

    If there is ever a question of whether there are any benefits to living right Proverbs 11:30 gives one of the greatest!  Living life right brings life to life in your life!  And BTW living wrong (sinfully) brings death to life in your life. If you are wondering where that thought comes from notice James 1:14 -15. “But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15  Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”  When you yield to a temptation it gives birth (or life) to sin and then the sin gives birth (or life) to death.  When you do wrong (sinning) you bring death to life in your life.  But from Proverbs 11:30a when you do right you bring life to life in your life!  I have to believe you would rather bring life to life in your life than death to life in your life!  

    The person who is living right and experiencing an abundant life will also want others to have life. Proverbs 11:30b tells us that a WISE person wins souls.  The wise have come to understand their need for Christ and have gotten saved and now they want OTHERS to know how they can be saved.  

    It has been said that soul-winning is one beggar telling another beggar where to find food!  

    Are you witnessing for the Lord?  Are you sharing Christ with anyone presently?  Do you have a burden to see a friend, a relative, an associate, a neighbor, or even a stranger come to know Jesus?  One of the characteristics of a wise person is they want to see lost people saved and will look for opportunities to share Christ with the lost!

    As we head into the Christmas season, I challenge you to think, to look, for ways to share the good news of the gospel.  One way is to send a gospel-centered Christmas card.  One of my favorites is God sent us a Savior,  It reads:
    f our greatest need had been information, God would have sent an educator.
    If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist.
    If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist.
    But since our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior!

    It looks like this:
    Christmas Boxed Cards God Sent Us a Savior -- Click image to ...
    Be praying and proactive to be a soul winner, especially over Christmas!

    The verse to DATE the Word on November 30 (11/30) is Proverbs 11:30. It says, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.”

    Continue Strong living right and being the light!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 29 (11/29) is Hebrews 11:29

    Our verse to DATE the Word on November 29 (11/29) is Hebrews 11:29
    Hebrews 11:29 says, “By faith THEY passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.”
    THEY!!!!  

    Hebrews 11 is the HALL OF FAITH and obviously, it has the best of the best of men and women who BELIEVED GOD to do what HE SAID! It tells of ABEL and of NOAH! It tells of ABRAHAM, who is the father of faith.  It tells of SARAH and of ISSAC and of JACOB and of JOSEPH and of MOSES.  If the writer had the time he would have told of DAVID and DANIEL and ISAIAH and GIDEON for the OT is filled with individuals who BY FAITH.  However, as we look at Hebrews 11:29 we see a most unusual word in that the writer does not give a NAME but rather says, “THEY.”  

    I don’t know about you but seeing “they” caught me a little off guard.  I was not ready for “THEY.”  When I think of a Hall of Fame I think of individuals.  I think of an individual doing something spectacular.  Yet here we have THEY and we don’t know who THEY ARE.  What do know is WHAT THEY did as they PASSED through the RED SEA on dry land which was SPECTACULAR!

    To get the significance of “THEY” faith recall the story of Exodus 14.  THEY were coming out EGYPT, having been freed from brutal Egyptian slavery, and were now headed to the PROMISED Land.  As THEY followed Moses following God they were brought to what can only be called a DEAD END as they faced the Red Sea with high mountains on both sides and the Egyptian army coming after them in the rear.  At this DEAD END, God tells Moses to tell them (THEY) to MOVE FORWARD!  (Ex. 14:15).  Exodus 14:21 now tells us “Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; And the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. 22  So the children of Israel (THEY) went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.”

    Wouldn’t you have loved to have a drone flying above with that birdseye view of “THEY” taking the first steps onto God’s solid and dry road through the sea?  Wouldn’t you have loved to see THEY’S faces as THEY walked with the WALLS of water on both sides?  Wouldn’t you have loved to see them taking one step after another?  THEY were putting spectacular faith on display!

    Martin Luther King, Jr said, ‘“Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”  THEY took the first step and they keep walking even with walls of water on both sides!

    Are you a “THEY” with a ministry?  Churches need more than a pastor with FAITH.  It needs God’s people, the “THEY,” to have FAITH!  Churches need THEY who take that first step and MOVE FORWARD even when THEY can’t see the WHOLE staircase!  

    Maybe it is time for some of you to get off the bank and STEP OUT with the THEY of a church or a ministry and make something happen for the Lord.  

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 29 (11/29) is Hebrews 11:29. It says, “By faith THEY passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.”

    Continue Strong being a THEY by faith in a church or ministry!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 28 (11/28) is Matthew 11:28

    Our verse to DATE the Word on November 28 (11/28) is Matthew 11:28, Matthew 11:28
    Matthew 11:28 says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” 
    COME TO JESUS!

    Matthew 11:28 is the first great general invitation extended by Jesus as He says, “Come to Me.” The purpose of the invitation is to provide REST for any and everyone who is under the burden of sin.  The invitation comes personally from Jesus as only He will be able to provide the REST.  He does not say GO AND SEE or GO AND DO.  He says Come to ME! 

    Considering the verse, notice the conditions of the invited for they are those “who labor and are heavy laden.” This speaks of those laboring for salvation.  The word conveys very hard labor making no progress.  Along with the labor is the weight of sin that continues to pile up. The conditions of those invited are one of helplessness and hopelessness.  Without someone else helping there is no hope.  A sinner cannot get themselves out from under the burden of sin and nor can other sinners help them.  It is these horrible and hopeless conditions that make this invitation from Jesus so wonderful.  He invited the hopeless to find the help they needed!

    Now notice the PROVISION from the inviter; “I WILL GIVE YOU REST!”  REST means one is to be totally free from having to do anything, and totally free from any weight upon one. Coming to Jesus means Jesus handles all of our sin problems. For instance, the entire penalty of sin is removed.  What a relief the sinner finds coming to Jesus!

    Now notice the little word “ALL.” This is the extension of the invitation and it is not just to a select group of people but to ALL.  ALL means ALL and that is ALL that ALL means!  The invitation is to ALL! It is to EVERYONE in the world regardless of color or nationality; regardless of being Jew or Gentile; regardless of social or economic status; rich or poor; educated or uneducated; male or female; young or old!  Everyone is included in the word “ALL.” 

    ANYONE AND EVERYONE CAN COME TO JESUS and He will give them REST!

    Come to Him today and receive REST for your soul!

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 28 (11/28) is Matthew 11:28, Matthew 11:28 says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

    The invitation to have your sins removed so that you might have rest is extended to ALL and ALL includes YOU!  What a SAVIOR!!

    Continue Strong by coming to Him,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 27 (11/27) is Hebrews 11:27

    Our verse to DATE the Word on November 27 (11/27) is Hebrews 11:27
    Hebrews 11:27 says, “By faith Moses forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.“
    FAITH CONQUERS ALL FEARS

    This is one of my favorite statements in the Hall of Faith list as MOSES was not AFRAID of an earthly king (who happened to be one of the most powerful of all time at that time) because – BECAUSE – he had His eyes clearly set on God – described here as INVISIBLE!  Comparing the powerful earthly king to the ALL POWERFUL CREATOR of the universe caused Moses’ fear to disappear!! FAITH conquers FEAR!!!  Moses moves forward fearlessly by faith forsaking Egypt!  He endured or persevered, never looking back because by faith his eyes were fixed on the Invisible! 

    As we consider faith, specifically the faith of Moses, we conclude that faith sees the INVISIBLE hand of God.  Faith sees the INVISIBLE heart of God! FAITH SEES THE INVISIBLE WHO IS ABLE TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE!!!

    FAITH SEES THE INVISIBLE WHO IS ABLE TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE!!!

    Today I pray for you to see the INVISIBLE who is able to do the impossible with your life!

    May FAITH in GOD conquer all your fears about doing what God has for you!!! May you move forward fearlessly into the future God has for you, walking by FAITH, not sight! 

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 27 (11/27) is Hebrews 11:27.  It says, “By faith Moses forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.”

    What fears do you have that require FAITH in GOD to conquer?

    Continue Strong by FAITH!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 26 (11/26) is Acts 11:26

    Our verse to DATE the Word on November 26 (11/26) is Acts 11:26
    Acts 11:26 says, “And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch.
    So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”

    Living up to your Name

    Our verse to consider speaks of three actions.  First, we read of Barnabas going to Tarsus to search for Saul (soon to be called Paul), and when he finds him, he brings him to Antioch, where God is working and blessing. Barnabas will be a tremendous encouragement to Saul in his spiritual development.  With Saul now in a place where God is working, we see the second action in which Saul and Barnabas start teaching.  And then a third action takes place as people begin to notice that people who follow the teaching about Christ are living like Christ and they are called CHRISTIANS.  A CHRISTIAN is one who is a FOLLOWER of CHRIST.  This name or title comes after a time in which those who followed Jesus had been called followers of THE WAY or Galileans or Nazarenes.  Now in Antioch, those who follow Christ are called CHRISTIANS.

    I would like to present two questions to you based on this word “Christian.” 
    First, are you a Christian?  In Acts 26:28, “Agrippa said unto Paul, you almost persuade me to become a Christian;” While King Agrippa knew the truth, he still was not a CHRISTIAN.  Are you almost persuaded to be a Christian?  Are you still considering the claims of Christ?  Or has there been a time when you understood you are a sinner in need of a Savior and that Jesus Christ is that one and only Savior and you called on Him for salvation?  I respectfully but seriously ask are you a CHRISTIAN?  

    My second question is for those who said yes to the above question.  Are you living like a Christian?  Are your beliefs and behavior like that of Christ?   Are you living up to your new title of being a Christian?

    A story is told of Alexander the Great that there was a day in which after a battle he saw a group of his men being marched to the back of the lines to be executed by his men.  The rules of battle from Alexander the Great was that if you deserted during battle you were to be executed.  Upon seeing the deserters Alexander the Great noticed one very young man, basically still a boy.  Alexander the Great rode up to him he asked the young man what had happened.  Trembling the young man said how he was in the very thick of the battle and seeing men die all around him he became fearful and he turned and ran.  

    At this moment Alexander the Great has compassion and extended a pardon to him.  Alexander the Great then asked the young man what his name was.  The young man lifted his head to say proudly that his name was like his, Alexander!   At this moment the smile on Alexander the Great’s face disappeared and he spoke firmly to the pardoned young man, “Either live up to your name or change it.”

    Are you living up to the name Christian?   The apostle Paul would write to the Philippians in Philippians 1:27, “Only let your conduct be WORTHY of the gospel of Christ.”

    I trust you are a CHRISTIAN because you have been born again!  I trust that you are living up to the name Christian, giving clear evidence in belief and behavior that you are a follower of Christ!

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 26 (11/26) is Acts 11:26. Acts 11:26.  It says, “And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”

    Continue Strong Living up to the name Christian!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 25 (11/25) is Proverbs 11:25

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 25 (11/25)
    is Proverbs 11:25
    Proverbs 11:25 says, “The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.”
    Our verse to DATE the Word on November 25 (11/25) is Proverbs 11:25. Proverbs 11:25 says, “The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.”
    KJV: Proverbs 11:25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
    ESV: Proverbs 11:25  Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.
    HCSB: Proverbs 11:25  A generous person will be enriched, and the one who gives a drink of water will receive water.
    NLT:  Proverbs 11:25 The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

    The multiple BLESSINGS of being GENEROUS!

    I wanted to have you see a few translations of Proverbs 11:25 as the word Hebrew word in which we get generous can be translated as LIBERAL or as BLESSING.   When we think of someone being generous we think of one freely giving and freely giving really more than what is expected and that which is given is a tremendous blessing.  I would think you have been the recipient at some point of someone’s generosity. I know I have been a multitude of times.  My hope is that you are also one who has been the one who extended generosity to others.   Our verse is APPEALING that we choose to be generous as it reveals the advantages, the benefits, of being generous.  

    There is an old saying that tells us you can’t outgive God.  Proverbs 11:25 conveys that saying.  As you are a blessing you will be blessed.  As you provide water you will be receiving back water.  You just can’t outgive God.  

    So how is your thinking when it comes to YOUR MONEY?  On a scale of 1-10 with 1 low and 10 high, are you a KEEPER?  On a scale of 1-10 with 1 low and 10 high, are you a GIVER?  

    For me, it is hard to look at Proverbs 11:25 without looking at Proverbs 11:24. It says, “There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.”  

    The stingy tight-fisted person thinks they are going to be better off because they are KEEPERS.  The picture of Proverbs 11:24 is from the world of agriculture and pictures the scattering of a seed like wheat.  Being stingy with the seed wheat leads to a small harvest, but a bountiful scattering of seeds leads to a bumper harvest! 

    You do get to make your choice with your money.  Proverbs 11:25 lets you know that being a blessing brings blessings!  BEING A BLESSING BRINGS BLESSINGS.  Your blessing to another blesses them and it will bless you!  

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 25 (11/25) is Proverbs 11:25. It says, “The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.”

    BEING A BLESSING BRINGS BLESSINGS.

    Continue Strong being generous.
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 24 (11/24) is Acts 11:24

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 24 (11/24)
    is Acts 11:24
    Acts 11:24 says, “For (Barnabas) was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.”
    HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
    Our verse to DATE the Word on November 24 (11/24) is Acts 11:24. Acts 11:24 says, “For (Barnabas) was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.”

    A Life Verse!

    Acts 11:24 is a verse that one should use as a guide for their character and their contribution during life.  It should be a verse one would want to have read and used to describe their life at their funeral!!  What an excellent description of a person!  

    Barnabas, the encourager, was a GOOD MAN!! Good instead of bad! Good because of doing right instead of doing wrong! Good as in UPRIGHT!  As well he was GOOD because of his service. He was known for DOING good!

    Barnabas was a good man who was good at doing good work doing many good works! 

    Are you good? As the Christmas season grows closer, we pose the question to children “Have you been good this year?” However, this question is not a seasonal question. It should be a daily question. Are you good in character?  Are you doing good in contributing to others? 

    BTW – It is said that Ben Franklin asked himself in the morning, “What good shall I do today?” and in the evening, “What good have I done today?”

    Not only was Barnabas a good man he was full of the Holy Spirit.  He was empowered by the Spirit of God to be and do good! He was filled – controlled – led by the Spirit of God! He walked and worked by the POWER of GOD!  He was DEPENDENT on GOD to do the GOOD that he did!

    He was a man of FAITH! The faith spoken of here is not faith for salvation but faith to believe God to do what God was placing on his heart to do. He walked and worked by FAITH! He moved fearlessly forward! 

    As a result of such living, we learn that many were saved!  

    What a one verse TESTIMONY! He was GOOD and DID GOOD! He was EMPOWERED by God, being FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT! He lived and worked by FAITH in God!  AND many are SAVED! 

    Some might say such a person is rare and maybe so but I would pray that there would be many who are Acts 11:24 people!

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 24 (11/24) is Acts 11:24. It says, “For (Barnabas) was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.”

    Continue Strong being good and doing good!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 23 (11/23) is Acts 11:23

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 23 (11/23)
    is Acts 11:23
    Acts 11:23 says, “When he arrived and saw the evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord.
    Our verse to DATE the Word on November 23 (11/23) is Acts 11:23. Acts 11:23 says, “When he arrived and saw the evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord.

    The JOY of A Testimony

    There are numerous things that bring happiness and yes, true joys to our lives.  If I asked each reader to tell what has brought the most joy to your life, we would get a wide variety of answers.  For some, it would be the birth of a child.  For some, it could be a special celebration with your spouse.  It could be a sports team FINALLY winning a championship.  It could be getting a promotion at work.  It could be getting accepted at a desired school.  As you can see from the shortlist, there are numerous things that can bring happiness and joy to our lives.  I do however wonder if on your list of things that bring great joy is learning of God’s working and blessings. 

    In our verse to DATE for November 23 (11/23) we see in Acts 11:23 that Barnabas was filled with joy because he had learned by seeing firsthand that God was blessing the ministry at Antioch.  Knowing that lives were being changed by God was exciting.  Knowing that God’s people were learning and growing and living like Christ and making Christ known to others was thrilling. 

    Barnabas, the encourager, then did what he did best, and he lived up to his name and spoke words of encouragement to the believers that they might stay true or fully committed to the Lord.   

    May I ask you if you are on the lookout for evidence of God’s blessings?  Do you ask people to share how God is working in their lives and in the ministries where they are involved?  I encourage you to do so!!  

    May I also ask how do you respond when you do hear of God’s blessings in a ministry or at a church or in a person’s life?  Do you find yourself filled with joy (you might need to brace yourself, and put on some steel-toed shoes), or do you find yourself having feelings of jealousy?   It is a real possibility that upon seeing or hearing of God’s work and blessings you can become dismissive or jealous instead of filled with joy.  I hope you will be like Barnabas and be excited and overflowing with joy as you hear of God’s work and blessing!  

    Now may I ask one more question?  Are you sharing with others what God is doing in your life?  As Christians, we do have to balance being boastful with being humble.  I would encourage you to make sure you are bragging about God, not yourself.  And I would encourage you to SHARE what God is doing!! I heard a Christian leader say one time that if we don’t tell our story no one else will. 

    The sharing of a testimony will bring joy to other believers.  I know that you know to share your burdens with one another but also share your blessings with one another!  

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 23 (11/23) is Acts 11:23. It says, “When he arrived and saw the evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord.”

    Be filled with joy when you hear of God working and blessing and share your testimony of God working and blessing so other will be filled with joy!

    Continue Strong looking for the evidence of God’s blessings,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

    PS.  An easy question for Thanksgiving Dinner asking for testimonies of how has God been working in your life this past year. 

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 22 (11/22) is Hebrews 11:22

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 22 (11/22) is Hebrews 11:22
    Hebrews 11:22 says,  “By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.”  
    Our verse to DATE the Word on November 22 (11/22) is Hebrews 11:22.  Hebrews 11:22 says,  “By faith Joseph when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.” 

    Joseph is the last of the 4 major characters of the book of Genesis.  We start with ABRAHAM. He is regarded as the FATHER OF FAITH.  Then we have ISSAC and then JACOB.  Starting in Genesis 30 we have the adventures of JOSEPH, adventures filled with adversities.  He would go from being his father’s favorite to being cruelly sold into slavery BY HIS BROTHERS.   While finding favor as a slave he is promoted to the overseer of Potiphar’s house in Egypt, yet he will be cruelly falsely accused of sexual assault by a very wicked and ungodly woman, known only as Potiphar’s wife. He was persecuted for his conviction to live PURE!  The decision of Joseph to live pure and the lie of Potiphar’s wife landed him in PRISON.  He finds favor in prison but is painfully FORGOTTEN.  God, though, had not forgotten him and at just the right moment Joseph is raised up to be the PRIME MINISTER of Egypt.  Having the ability to interpret dreams he is able to prepare Egypt for the coming famine.  This famine will then allow him to be reacquainted with his father, Jacob, and with his brothers.  What a story to read!

    With the quick summation of the life and times of Joseph we pause to ponder our verse for November 22 from Hebrews 11:22. Unlike the faith of Abraham or Issac or Jacob, Joseph’s faith was futuristic.  The faith he has is not for himself but for the children of Israel in later years.  He knew that one day THEY would return to the promised land and he wanted his bones to be buried in the promised land.  By faith, HE KNEW!!  He knew they would be returning one day!

    Please allow me to highlight one very important piece of information.  Many times it seems we believe Joseph’s last word in Genesis was his perspective on his life.  You might recall in Genesis 50:20 he had said to his brothers, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.  As great as that is it is not his last words. Hebrews 11:22 says when he was dying, he made mention of the departure, which is the end of Genesis 50.  In making mention of the departure, he was letting them know of his confidence, his faith, in God’s PROMISES.  And it was not just the promise to get them back to the promised land but that God would take care of them.  Notice Genesis 50:24 as Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”

    Oh, friends, GOD WILL SURELY TAKE CARE OF YOU!!!   Until you get to your heavenly home hear this dying man’s last words.  GOD WILL SURELY TAKE OF YOU!

    The verse to DATE the Word on November 22 (11/22) is Hebrews 11:22. It says, “By faith, Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.” 

    GOD WILL SURELY TAKE OF YOU!

    Continue Strong knowing of God’s great care for you!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 21 (11/21) is Hebrews 11:21

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 21 (11/21) is Hebrews 11:21
    Hebrews 11:21 says, “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.” 
    Our verse to DATE the Word on November 21 (11/21) is Hebrews 11:21. Hebrews 11:21 says, “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.”

    The story of Jacob begins in Genesis 25 with the birth of him and his twin Esau to Rebekah and Isaac. Jacob’s story is then weaved through the rest of the book of Genesis with a concluding statement in Gen. 49:33, which says, “And when Jacob had finished commanding his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.” 

    As we look at our verse from Hebrews 11:21 we see that just before he would die he would not just bless his sons but would bless Joseph, whom he had for years thought was dead.  And not only did he bless Joseph he was able to bless the sons of Joseph, Ephraim, and Manasseh.   

    What a moment that must have been to bless Joseph and then bless his sons!  If you have read Jacob’s story you will recall that for many years, he only had a memory of a most precious and cherished son that left him struggling with the promises of God. There came a point with Jacob that he hit rock bottom as not only was Joseph “dead” but his wife Rachel had died and they were in a famine, and after going to get grain in Egypt Simeon was kept as a prisoner and to get more grain Benjamin has to go down to Egypt.  In this low moment, Jacob cried out in anguish in Genesis 42:36 “You have bereaved me: Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me.” 

    Let 4 words and then 6 words sink in:
    YOU HAVE BEREAVED ME! ALL THESE THINGS ARE AGAINST ME. 
    Read them again slowly
    YOU HAVE BEREAVED ME!  ALL THESE THINGS ARE AGAINST ME.

    That is the mind of Jacob in Genesis 42:36. God has bereaved him or God had ROBBED him as that is what the word bereaved means.  From the standpoint of Jacob God has robbed him and EVERYTHING IS AGAINST HIM!   

    But now, at the end of his life, he is seeing both Joseph and his grandsons and he tells them as he blesses them that God is the One “who has fed me all my life long to this day.” (Gen. 48:15) 

    Please don’t miss the keyword spoken in Hebrews 11:21 as one reads “AND WORSHIPED!” What a great ending for Jacob!  While his story is filled with wondering about God, even being very upset with God, it ends with him WORSHIPPING!!  

    And you too can have a great ending!  Know that what you see today happening in your life is not the whole story. While Jacob was thinking all things were against him God was working all things out for his good! So keep trusting God! 

    The verse to DATE the Word on November 21 (11/21) is Hebrews 11:21. It says, “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.”

    Continue Strong believing that God is WORKING ALL THINGS OUT FOR HIS GLORY!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD!
    PS. I find with the story of Jacob it is good to read Footprints in the Sand!