This is the idea that we reflected upon this week, continuing in our series, A Family Christmas: If You Think Yours is Tough, Wait ‘Til You Meet God’s.
In Genesis 25, we find the story of Isaac and Rebekah, one that continues a greater story about the family that God planned to redeem humanity through. And while this family would turn out to be the family by which Jesus would be born, they were nowhere near perfect. Dysfunction might as well have been their surname.
Isaac and Rebekah started off well, seeking God in the midst of infertility instead of succumbing to creating their own solution to it as their ancestors had. And yet, they still found themselves where we all eventually find ourselves: questioning.
Not that questions are inherently wrong, but through a tough pregnancy, Rebekah’s heart revealed the shame & fear that had entered in. Something begins to feel off to her about the gift God had promised and given. Dysfunction junction, here this family is again.
Thankfully, they do turn to God, and He gives them clarity on the spiritual situation they are in. The twins in Rebekah’s womb were in competition even then. And it would only worsen after they were born. Not only that, but their parents succumbed to the generation-old tale — choosing to deal with the situation by showing partiality, more love to the son they each preferred.
Have you ever been there? Who do you love, and what does that reveal about you? Or, have you even been on the other side of someone’s love or lack thereof?
For Isaac and Rebekah, history was repeating itself in a conniving way. Favoritism was their heart issue, a sin issue. Maybe you’ve grown up feeling overlooked by your family or overburdened by it. Will you allow history to repeat itself?
Every family has its “things,” so to speak. Even God did, but even through imperfection and sin, His purposes, promises, and faithfulness prevailed. Would you allow Him to do the same in this season for you?
“Things” don’t have to keep going with you; they can end with you. Will you allow God to keep writing your story? The story of your family for generations to come?
Through His Son Jesus, we can experience true love without preference or partiality. He truly defied His own family line’s struggles, and history didn’t repeat itself in and through Him. It stopped with Him, and He can do the same for you. You don’t have to live in a world of dysfunction but of peace and love.
As we gather to pray on Zoom at 7 pm tonight, consider the following:
Pay attention to your loves.
Invite the Spirit into your divided places.
Respond with and in Jesus’ love.
Practice impartiality in your life and love.
Rest in the Father’s love rather than the world’s fear.
And let’s pray for the following:
- For God to meet us and others in their pain and suffering this season.
- For God to reveal our loves and places of partiality in our hearts.
- For God’s help to respond with and in Jesus’ love to those within our family, friends and neighborhoods — where we live, work, and play.
- To rest in God’s love rather than operate in fear or succumb to the world’s standards and challenges.
See you at 7 pm!
God Bless,
Bria Johnson
bria@makingamosaic.com
P.S. Is there something specific you need prayer for this week? Just reply—we’d be honored to stand with you.
General Prayer Requests & Updates
For evangelism to flourish so communities and campuses in the greater Fort Worth area will be reached, and the lost will see and experience the love of Christ and be drawn to his kingdom.
For signs and wonders to follow the preaching of His Word.
For team unity and laborers to help carry the load.
For finances and provisions.
For fully funded campus missionaries (2 per campus) to help reach the next generation — Texas Christian University (TCU), Tarrant County College (TCC), Texas Wesleyan University (TWU) and Tarleton State University – Fort Worth (TSU), University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), and Dallas Baptist University (DBU).
Bria Johnson, a Houston native and University of Texas at Austin alum, has dedicated nearly a decade to Mosaic Church and six years to Every Nation Campus, holding multiple leadership positions. Her fervor lies in mentoring students, especially young women, to unearth their worth and identity in Christ through discipleship. Witnessing her family’s conversion, Bria embodies our mission to impact students and their families with the Gospel’s transformative power.
