Stepping Out With God - Pasir Panjang Church of Christ Singapore

We have not exercised our legs but let them go along to the path of least
ressistance, and to do whatever is most beneficial to you, rather than taking
the Lord into consideration.
Strained But Tough Thighs
From legs, we move up to the thighs. Here the Bible tells us of a most
interesting event that shrunk a person's thigh.
Genesis 32:24-32: "And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with
him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not
against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's
thigh was strained, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the
day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And
he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy
name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for thou hast striven with
God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell
me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask
after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the
place Peniel: for, said he, I have seen God face to face, and my life is
preserved. And the sun rose upon him as he passed over Penuel, and he
limped upon his thigh. Therefore the children of Israel eat not the sinew of
the hip which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he
touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew of the hip."
Was it God that Jacob wrestled with or was it an angel or man? Whoever it
was, the point is that Jacob saw the heavenly visitor and will not let go at all
costs until a spiritual blessing was bestowed. Remember that this was the
same man who stole the blessing of the birthright from his brother Esau.
I would to God that all of us be as desirous of a spiritual blessing as Jacob
was - if this were so, our upper room would be overflowing every Saturday,
and Bible classes every Sunday!
The Heart of the Matter
Now to come to the heart of the matter - the heart, these strong bloodpumping
arteries that never stops working as long as we are alive.
Matthew 8:5-13: "And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came
unto him a centurion, beseeching him, and saying, Lord, my servant lieth in
the house sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And he saith unto him, I
will come and heal him. And the centurion answered and said, Lord, I am
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