Beth-el
Beth-el
The Place of Revelation and Worship
Jacob knew not the barren and rocky land through which he traveled to Padan–Aram, in his flight from Esau, was to become his Beth-el. The place of revelation and the first act of personal worship.
“And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not.”
Genesis 28:16
Worship and service unto God is the consequence of a free and willing heart captivated in the seeing of Him. There is something spontaneous and free that arises out of our touching of Him.
“And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it”
Genesis 28:18
In the Book of Acts, we see a hardened religious man filled with self-righteous rage for any and all who confessed the Name of Jesus. His murderous ways, his vehement anger spewed forth in zeal and indignation. Yet he too would have an encounter with the ONE he knew not. Within an instant he was apprehended, he was captivated by the piercing light of Jesus and the response was immediate and irresistible.
Two questions from the blinded Saul…
“And he said, Who art thou, Lord?”
Acts 9:5
The supremacy of Christ was instantly made known. Though not yet revealed by name his submission confessed. The Lordship of this shinning One complete and that Lordship implied servitude…
“Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”
Acts 9:6
Lordship implies service. Lordship communicates a temper of heart, it denotes His supremacy and our submission. The greater our seeing of Him the more complete our surrender to Him. Love conquers all and fills all. Love is the spring from which obedience arises.
Beth-el is the place of revelation, it is wherever and however, God takes the initiative to make Himself known to us personally. It is the place of His unveiling and our worship.
“Surely the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not…
…And he called the name of that place Beth–el”
Genesis 28:16,19
Brian Troxel
A person can resist teachings, apologetics, and stories of Christ. But when Jesus Christ Himself reveals Himself, there is no resistance. It becomes an instance where “free will” is now aligned with the reality of who Jesus Christ IS.
Jesus Christ IS irresistible not because He takes away our free will, He is irresistible because He is faithfully Majestic.
Fantastic entry Brian.
I’m not quite articulating the fact that Jesus Himself is irresistible as well as I’d like, but I hope people understand more my intention than my words.
Blessings
Words fail when we talk of Him, as well they should.
Appreciate the feedback.
BT
Words fail when we talk of Him, as well they should.
Appreciate the feedback.
BT
A person can resist teachings, apologetics, and stories of Christ. But when Jesus Christ Himself reveals Himself, there is no resistance. It becomes an instance where “free will” is now aligned with the reality of who Jesus Christ IS.
Jesus Christ IS irresistible not because He takes away our free will, He is irresistible because He is faithfully Majestic.
Fantastic entry Brian.
I’m not quite articulating the fact that Jesus Himself is irresistible as well as I’d like, but I hope people understand more my intention than my words.
Blessings
“Beth-el is the place of revelation, it is wherever and however, God takes the initiative to make Himself known to us personally. It is the place of His unveiling and our worship.”
It’s amazing my friend and I was discussing this earlier today. We called it our first encounter with God that was personal and forever changed our lives. Great post!
Thank you Curleen for the kind words and yes His encounters with us are beyond words and the imprint of His love never leaves us!
Blessings
BT
Thank you Curleen for the kind words and yes His encounters with us are beyond words and the imprint of His love never leaves us!
Blessings
BT
“Beth-el is the place of revelation, it is wherever and however, God takes the initiative to make Himself known to us personally. It is the place of His unveiling and our worship.”
It’s amazing my friend and I was discussing this earlier today. We called it our first encounter with God that was personal and forever changed our lives. Great post!