#DailyDevotion Why You Need To God To Church Regularly

Lent Day 18 Tuesday

Read Gen 35:1–29

Gen 35:9-12  God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan-aram, and blessed him.  (10)  And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name.” So he called his name Israel.  (11)  And God said to him, “I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come from your own body.  (12)  The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your offspring after you.”

 

The Lord God appeared a number of times to Abraham and to Jacob. Each time, the Lord retold to them his covenantal promise. Here God even renews his naming of Jacob to Israel even as Abram became Abraham. The renaming made him a new person. We see in the New Testament. Simon becomes Peter and Saul becomes Paul. The renaming establishes a new relationship. In earlier days, a Christians middle name, given them at baptism, was his Christian name.

 

The Lord renews his covenant that nations would come from Jacob and kings. The land they sojourned on would become theirs. Indeed some five hundred years later that promise would become fulfilled.

 

Which brings us to today. People often ask, “Why do I need to go to confession so often?” “Why do we need to have the Lord’s Supper so often?” “Why do I even need to God to Church?” Apparently we need to because we haven’t seen or heard with our eyes and ears the Lord as Abraham and Jacob did. These two the Lord apparently felt the need for them to hear the words of the covenant he made with them numerous times. How much so we who are only given the word through the witness of men long since who have gone to be with the Lord! Jesus has only given us the witness of those who heard from those who heard, from those who heard, from those who walked and ate with Jesus and saw him risen from the dead.

 

It is part of our nature to need to hear God’s promise of salvation and receive his gifts…often.  If we did not then we would be like those Israelites who turned to other gods and trusted in them for all good things in life. We would be like them and spurn the mercy and kindness of our Savior Jesus Christ. All we need to do see those who have quit meeting together around his Word and his Sacrament to see their love of Jesus run cold.

 

Heavenly Father, continually provide for us the word of promise that we may be gathered around it, be changed by it, and have our faith in Christ Jesus strengthened by it so we may not lose the prize of eternal life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen,