[Membersandfriends] Wednesday, October 06, 2004

Tue Oct 5 22:01:55 PDT 2004

The Upper Room Daily Devotional -- E-mail Edition
Brought to You by Upper Room Ministries
Wednesday, October 06, 2004

_________________________

E-Mail Alert

If you receive an e-mail purporting to be from The Upper Room and it contains an attachment, do not open the attachment. The Upper Room never sends unsolicited mass e-mails containing attachments. Delete without opening e-mail claiming to be from The Upper Room if it's unexpected and if it contains attachments.  Learn more:
http://www.upperroom.org/ur_home_viewer.asp?item_id=196356
_________________________

A SURPRISING EMBRACE
_________________________

Genesis 33:1-11 (NRSV)

Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two maids. He put the maids with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. He himself went on ahead of them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near his brother.
     But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he said, "Who are these with you?" Jacob said, "The children whom God has graciously given your servant." Then the maids drew near, they and their children, and bowed down; Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down; and finally Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down. Esau said, "What do you mean by all this company that I met?" Jacob answered, "To find favor with my lord." But Esau said, "I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself." Jacob said, "No, please; if I find favor with you, then accept my present from my hand; for truly to see your face is like seeing the face of God--since you have received me with such favor. Please accept my gift that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have everything I want." So he urged him, and he took it.

_________________________

[Jacob] himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.  But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him.  And they wept.
-- Genesis 33:3-4 (NIV)
_________________________

AFTER stealing his brother Esau's blessing, Jacob had to flee because Esau had vowed to kill him.  Jacob avoided Esau 14 years before returning to his homeland.  He brought with him two wives, eleven children, and hundreds of servants and cattle.  He went out to confront an oncoming band that included his dreaded brother and 400 men.  Jacob sent gifts in advance to pacify Esau.  When the brothers finally met, Esau surprised Jacob by gladly embracing him.

I'm a lot like Jacob.  In the past, I remember making my own anxious and elaborate peace offerings when approaching the Lord after any failure - promising to do better, to pray more, to work harder as if these were a prerequisite to forgiveness.  I was surprised to discover that all my attempts to appease God were unnecessary; the punishment I feared had been inflicted already, on God's son.  The only offering I bring now is humility, candor, and faith in God's merciful goodness.  God always stands ready to forgive.

Prayer:  Thank you, Father, for being willing to forgive.  Remind us of the cross, that we may stop bargaining with you and rest in your love.  Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
When we return, God welcomes us with open arms.

-- Steve Husting (California, U.S.A.)

PRAYER FOCUS: For trust in God's promise to forgive

_________________________

RELATED READING ...

In Flora Wuellner's sensitive and compassionate book, RELEASE: HEALING FROM WOUNDS OF FAMILY, CHURCH, AND COMMUNITY, she addresses the emotional burdens and the psychic wounds we inherit from our families and communities. This book offers guided meditations that help us overcome our anger and find God's healing presence.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/desc.asp?ep_id=30&item_id=12473

PLEASE SHARE THIS MINISTRY with a friend. Invite them to sign up for the free E-Mail Devotional by visiting: http://www.upperroom.org/devotional/email/.

_________________________

QUESTIONS?  If you reply to this e-mail, you'll receive an automated message answering our readers' most frequently asked questions.  If your question remains unanswered, please write to us at the special "help" e-mail address you'll find in the automated message.

TO UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.upperroom.org/unsubscribe/

TO CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS: Visit the My Account page: http://www.upperroom.org/myaccount/. Log in, using your current e-mail address and password. Once logged in your account, click on the "Edit Personal Information" link. Edit your e-mail address and any other information, and click "Update" to complete the change.

FORGOTTEN YOUR PASSWORD? Visit the My Account page: http://www.upperroom.org/myaccount/. Click on "Forgot My Password." Enter your e-mail address, and if there is a password associated with it, the password will be e-mailed to you immediately.
_________________________

The scripture quotation is from the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION of the Bible, copyright (c) 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.