January 16 ▪ Day 16

Scripture Readings

Proverbs 4:23
Genesis 31–32
Matthew 16
Psalms 16

Verse Focus (Proverbs 4:23)

Above all else, guard your heart,
     for it is the wellspring of life.

Meditation

Hello! Welcome! Proverbs 4:23 has long been a favorite verse for me. As I memorized this verse in the NIV translation of 1984, it said, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” The NIV today says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” NASB says, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” CSB says, “Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.” Or, CSB adds, alternately, “Guard your heart with all diligence, for it is the source of life.” Whichever translation you prefer, the meaning is clear: we must protect our hearts because this is the source for all we do.

So, how exactly do we guard our hearts? In casual conversation, the only time we talk about guarding our hearts is in relationships — people who have been hurt before are slow to trust someone new. And usually we talk about this when we have become too self-protective, to the point that we are unable to get close to someone because we fear being vulnerable. While I believe this kind of guarding your heart is part of what the Bible is talking about (think of Paul’s injunction not to be yoked to unbelievers!), I don’t think it’s the main thing at all.

Be careful what you love. That’s also part of guarding your heart. What things pull you? Television? A good book? Cheesecake? Sunsets? Skiing? Just about any thing we love can be either a good gift or an idol. It depends on how we value that person or thing in relation to God, other people, and other things in our lives.

Be careful to love God with all your heart. Love God with your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

I don’t have all the answers, not by a long shot. But if you pray, God will show you how to guard your heart the right way.

Today’s reading in Genesis tells about how Jacob, his wives, and children returned to the land of Canaan and about how Jacob became known as Israel.

Jacob had wanted to return home earlier, but was stopped because Laban had realized that he was being blessed because of Jacob and because they came to an arrangement that allowed Jacob to start building up wealth of his own. Now, however, Laban’s sons start murmuring against him, saying that Jacob was gaining wealth at their father’s expense. Laban, too, “did not regard him as favorably as he did before.” It is at this point that Jacob receives direction from the LORD that it is time to return home.

It is interesting that Scripture tells us in verse 20 that Jacob deceived Laban by running away and not telling him he was planning to go. One wonders if Jacob has learned anything at all in his time away, that he could fall so easily back into old habits! I also think about his name, Jacob. In one meaning, the name means “to follow, to be behind” but it also means “to supplant, circumvent, assail, or to overreach.” Although “supplanter” tends to be the more common English translation these days, “grasper” and “deceiver” have also been used. So, Jacob: the deceiver. Laban’s sons certainly felt that he was supplanting their father! Such an apt name. But I think that makes God’s renaming of Jacob as Israel even more powerful.

Now, of course, in this story of leave-taking we learn how Rachel stole her father’s household gods. This reminds me of when Lot’s wife looked back. I think that’s what Rachel was doing — trying to hold on to something from her former life, even as she urged Jacob to do as God said. And this theft seems to be what angered Laban the most. He chased after Jacob and company and caught up with them seven days later. Jacob, unaware that Rachel really had stolen the household gods, tells Laban to search his camp and vows that if someone has stolen the gods, then that person “shall not live.” Now Jacob is angry when he says this. Angry at being caught sneaking away, angry at having his integrity questioned, angry about the way Laban had mistreated him over the past six years (changing his wages 10 times!). But it was still a foolish vow — his young sons were at a prime age for mischief and it could easily have been one of them. But, fortunately for Jacob, the thief is not discovered and so Jacob is not forced to either break his word or put to death someone he loves.

Jacob and Laban make a treaty of sorts, building a pillar of stones as a “heap of witness.” I was struck by how Laban said that God would be his witness if Jacob were to mistreat either of his wives. Do you ever ask God to be your witness?

So what do you think Genesis 32:1 is all about? “Now as Jacob went on his way, the angels of God met him.” Other than the fact that Jacob gives that place a special name, we learn nothing more of that incident. Hmmmmm.

After Jacob meets the angels, though, he sends a message to his brother Esau. When he hears back from the messengers that Esau is on his way with 400 men, he is frightened. And who wouldn’t be? It sounds like a fighting force to me, too! So Jacob divides his group into two companies, he prays, and then he prepares a gift for Esau. With this prayer starting in verse 9, we have our second example of personal prayer in the Bible. It’s kind of a remarkable prayer: the recognition of who God is and what He has said to Jacob, the recognition of personal unworthiness, the request (save me!) and the recounting of his worries, and finally, the reminder of what God has promised him.

That night, Jacob sends his family ahead of him. And he wrestles with a “man” until daybreak. It is here that Jacob is renamed “Israel” because he has “struggled with God and with men” and has “overcome.” In his very literal struggle with God, Jacob’s hip is dislocated. I find that extremely interesting, that he comes out of this incident literally unable to run away from Esau. Why do you think God left him physically disabled after this encounter?

Matthew chapter 16 starts with the Pharisees again asking Jesus to show them a sign from heaven. Jesus replies that no sign will be given to them “except the sign of Jonah.” I admit to a small case of the shivers when I hear this answer. Although the Pharisees didn’t know what Jesus was talking about, we know that he is talking about his death and resurrection. As Jonah was three days in the belly of a whale, Jesus will spend three days in the “heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40).

We have the story of Jesus warning his disciples about the “bread” of the Pharisees and the disciples’ utter clueless-ness regarding what Jesus was talking about. It seems incredible that they could have been so lacking in understanding, although of course we have the advantage of both history and of being told the answers.

Peter confesses Christ as the Messiah and is told that he will become the Rock of the future church. It is significant that just after this elevation of purpose, the first thing that happens is that Peter is humbled when Jesus tells him, “Get behind me, Satan!” Isn’t this frequently the case? As soon as we think we’re making a difference for the kingdom, something comes along to put us back in our place — and we realize that we are nothing without Christ.

Psalm 16 is another perennially favorite psalm. Today I was noticing verse 4 — “Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows.” Multiply their sorrows. Now, there’s a scary thought!

I especially love verses 5 and 6. But there are other favorite verses too — verse 2 (“apart from you I have no good thing”) and verse 8 (“Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”). The entire psalm is just beautiful. What else can I say? Let the Holy Spirit comfort you today with the words of this psalm.

Father God, thank you that we can remain steadfast because you are here with us. Your Word says, “I will not be shaken.” Thank you for that. Thank you for your strength. Please be with me this day. Teach me how to guard my heart the way I should. Open my eyes and ears; enable me to understand your Scripture. Please work through me so that I minister your grace to those around me. Use me for your glory and for your kingdom. And though I’m a little reluctant to pray this, please also keep me humble. Help me to always remember that I am nothing without Christ Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.