And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”
Genesis 28:17, ESV
As Jacob was dreaming a heavenly vision, these words came out of his mouth, and when he awoke, he built a pillar and blessed the place where God had met him and called this place Bethel and dedicated himself to the service of God, but with some strings. Thankfully, the blessings of God don’t come with strings. In Christ Jesus, we are blessed in our belief and trust in Him and can know His protection and love. He does not do this in order to keep a bargain with us, but He does it out of His love and commitment to a promise He made to all who believe when He was raised up on the Cross. This is the hope that we can live within as we seek to live out the glory of God in our living and seek to proclaim His glory in all aspects of our lives. The vision was a sign for Jacob but it can stand as a reminder of God’s continued involvement in Creation and the spiritual work that is being done outside of our sight. Let us walk in confidence as God’s people who never truly walk alone.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.