~ A Meeting with God ~

[Lani]

Genesis 28:10-17
10 And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran.
11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.
12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;
14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.
17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.


Jacob said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, - and I did not know it!” Genesis 28:16 (NRSV)




I was sitting in the airport. The noise around me sounded like a swarm of bees. I opened my copy of Meeting Place (The Upper Room edition in Russian) and began to read, observing those around me at the same time. I was sitting in the arrival area, where I saw expressions of love and joy as friends and family were reunited. Then an amazing thought came to my mind: I am sitting here reading Meeting Place in a “meeting place”!

I didn’t know how the business meeting I had come here to attend would go. But thinking about it, I realized that I often wonder about a meeting with Jesus Christ. What if Jesus arrived right now? What feelings would I experience? Would I be ready? Would I be ashamed of some of my deeds, thoughts, or words?

As I delved into the book of daily devotions in my hands, I was amazed at how I had stepped aside from the busyness of the atmosphere around me. There I was, meeting with God. My business meeting had yet to convene, but the most important meeting had already taken place.


Prayer: Lord, give us wisdom and a loving heart so that at every moment of our life we will be ready for a meeting with you. Amen.

Prayer Focus of Day: Airport Personnel

Thought for the Day: Where will I meet with God today?

Story shared by: Y. Parygina (Russia)
Source: Upper Room Daily Devotional: 11/17/11