Verse

Jacob vowed a vow: If God stands by me and protects me on this journey on which I'm setting out, keeps me in food and clothing, and brings me back in one piece to my father's house, this God will be my God. This stone that I have set up as a memorial pillar will mark this as a place where God lives. And everything you give me, I'll return a tenth to you. ~ Genesis 28:20-22

Vow

Jacob made a vow. A vow to keep God close.
And a vow to recognize Him through his main promises.
Protection. Provision. Accompaniment.
In effect, to “bring ‘im back alive”.

A lifetime vow to the only God of the universe only bound with a strong rap, a rock, and a tithe.
And then Jacob set out to…live his life.

And his life got lived and throughout the hard moments and the easy times he experienced…
Protection. Provision. Accompaniment.
and he stood by…
A rap. A rock. A tithe.

Growth

Protection. Provision. Accompaniment. A rap. A rock. A tithe.

True growth in Christ, a steadfast relationship with God, happens when we fully embrace God no matter what occurs in the timeline of our lives. No matter what, we always grow our faith when we hold close to the three promises: Protection. Provision. Accompaniment. And, when we recognize him with our declaration to remain faithful to Him, when He becomes our rock, and when we return the best we have to Him. A rap. A rock. A tithe.

Beloved sister or brother, if you are reading this, I want you to understand something. Life itself gives no guarantees. But, God does, and when you walk with Him, you grow the most when you hold tight to his promises in the midst of your toughest circumstances.

In the End

If you scroll through the scriptures from the verse above all the way through Genesis 33, you see how God did return Jacob to his father’s home in one piece. While that exact promise isn’t given to us, through Christ, we can hold fast to the promise that our heavenly Father has a home to which we will return. And when we reach there, all struggles are gone, all pain ends, and every tear will be wiped from our eyes.

Hold tight to the promise. Stay close to God. Walk tall and strong knowing He keeps his promises. And when you can do that daily, with peace and joy in your heart, do you know what that’s called?

Growth.