Today I want to give you a place to start your week. It’s Monday and in the wake of a great weekend and long workweek ahead, sometimes you just need a “kickstart” to get focused. So grab some coffee let’s start a great week together.
We wrapped up our series at Kfirst. “Pivot Point” has been our study of the life of Jacob. Even though he didn’t have the “model life”, God always had something beautiful in store for him. Our goal yesterday was to help people understand: “The church isn’t a gathering of perfection but place of progress.” (Click here for yesterday’s notes.)
Far too many misunderstand progress. And perhaps the biggest issue in it is we mistake progress for “product.” We fail to see how much someone has developed because we’re distracted by where we think they should be. But progress is what we should be noticing AND celebrating. When it comes to our walk with Christ, progress is realized when we see the image of Christ being revealed in and through us.
From the narrative of Genesis 32 and 35, we discovered simple ways to pivot into progressing in our walks with Christ:
- Position yourself for progress – Genesis 32:23-24
- Jacob got alone with God. When we get alone with Him, and give Him all of us, we can be in position to get all of Him.
- Understand: Progress is not passive. – Genesis 32:23-26
- Jacob had to wrestle more than a man, he had to deal with who he’s been the past 90 years. Progress will push you out of your comfort zone; it will challenge you beyond where you are at.
- Progress will require patience. – Genesis 35:10-15
- About ten years have passed. Instead of disciplining Jacob for not taking up his new name, God reminds him that his name is Israel. Too many people abandon the direction of progress because they don’t see the scope (or degree) of progress. God didn’t give up on Jacob; he just reminded Jacob of his calling.
- Progress will cost you. – Genesis 35: 19-21
- We want to see God move but don’t want to pay a price for what we want Him to do. Can I challenge you with something: Don’t pray for what you are unwilling won’t pay for. If God is challenging you to do something, it will demand some cost/change on your behalf. Be open to what God wants to do and watch His blessings follow.
Why is this last message of our series so “pivotal”? Because of this:
Your two next steps this week:
- Make what God says about you bigger than what happened to you.
- Take a next step; See your life as a vessel of progression and not a finished product
Also, if you need a scripture reading plan to go along with our message, check out this one.
Love you all. See you this Sunday as we kick off a new series!
BTW, here’s a song this week for your devotions playlist:
pdave.me 
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