Portraits with Purpose

19. Back to Bethel

Scripture: Genesis 28:10-22; Ephesians 1:17-23

Hymn:

"The Light of the World Is Jesus"

Meditation: Bethel means “a place of light.” It was the site, recorded in Genesis 12:1-3, where God established His covenant with Abraham to raise up the Hebrew people out of his seed to bless the entire world. In this place, God renewed that same covenant with Jacob in that great vision of the ladder into heaven according to Genesis 28:10-22. Genesis 35 notes a renewal of these vows between God and Jacob once again at Bethel. This vision of Jacob’s experience with heaven’s entryway assists every believer to realize the heavenly and spiritual contents of FAITH as revealed in Ephesians 1:17-23.  Know Your Calling Is From Above (Eph. 1:18a) “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened” refers to the Holy Spirit’s intervention in the believer’s life to make the Word of God understandable and the mission of God evident in one’s call to action from above.  Know Your Reward Is Kept Above (Eph. 1:18b) “…That you may know…what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” clearly indicates that the believer’s reward is yet to come, stored up in heaven where Jesus prepares a place for His own.  Know Your Strength Is From Above (Gen. 1:19-23) “According to the working of His power” ensures believers that the insufficiency of self is fully backed up by the sufficiency of God’s power in Christ Jesus through His witnesses to live for His purposes!