Nuggets 12:   Driving Down Stakes of Identity

Jacob had been looking back over his shoulder all day, fleeing from the anger of his brother.  When fatigue overcame fear, Jacob slept with a stone for a pillow.  He dreamed of angels on a stairway to heaven.   Awed by this encounter with God, Jacob prayed, "Lord, if you will help my on my journey and bring me safely home again, you will be my God, this pillar I have set up will be God's house, and I will give you a tenth of all you give me."  No longer living on the coat tails of his father's faith, Jacob in this crisis decided who he was and who God was.

Some of us are God's person one day and someone else the next.  Years ago our Bible Institute students were mostly young people starting out their adult life.  We used to challenge them to drive down four stakes of identity to clearly define their direction in life: 

1.  Honor your parents by staying in touch and make things right with them if needed.  This relationship affects all other relationships.

2.  Make it a priority to be there when the church meets.  We are not saved by our own achievements.  But dedicated church attendance shouts to the world and to our children about Who is the center of our life.

3.  Form the habit of giving a tenth of all your income back to God.  While tithing is not a law for Christians, it has always revealed God's thinking about what honors him.

4.  Do whatever it takes to have a daily quiet time for Bible reading and prayer.  "What gets your attention gets you."*  If you do not spend time with God, he can never become the controlling love of your life.

Genesis 27:41-28:22;  James 4:8;  Exodus 20:12;  Ephesians 6:2,3;  Hebrews 10:25;  Genesis 14:18-20;  Leviticus 27:30,32;  1 Thessalonians 5:17;  Mark 1:35;   Acts 10:9;  John 15:7;  1 Peter 2:2;  Psalm 119:11,105;  Matthew 6:33

*N.E. Rhodes, Jr.

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