At the Boundary Line

Introduction

Well, good morning!

If you have a Bible and I hope that you do, go ahead open it up with me to Genesis 31…We’re gonna start in verse 43 this morning as we wrap up a pretty major turning point in Jacob’s life.

Now if you’ve been with us over the past several months, you know this: Jacob’s story, it hasn’t been smooth sailing, right? It's been more like a tug-of-war fight— between promises and problems…between blessing and brokenness.

God chose him. God made a covenant — not just with Abraham and Isaac, but with Jacob. And yet, since stepping into that promise, it’s been nothing but resistance. His brother Esau wanted to kill him. He fled with nothing but a rock for a pillow. He landed in Laban’s household, and for over twenty years, he was stuck under manipulation, and deception, control. You name it — Laban twisted it.

And yet, through all of that, God, He was quietly building something. Behind every injustice, God was preparing a moment — a line in the sand…And listen, this morning…we finally reach that boundary line.

Now here’s the thing, you have to understand this…you have to see what God’s been doing here: Jacob’s story, it’s about what it looks like to live faithfully in a very evil world…a world that’s against God’s people.

We can’t forget that when we follow Jesus, the world’s gonna hate us because of who we follow.

Guys, we live in a world that tries to push us around, that tries to blur the lines between right and wrong. A world that ties to determine truth from lie. And like Jacob, we have to learn to set boundaries — boundaries that protect our faith, boundaries that protect our families, boundaries that protect our future.

But listen, setting those boundaries, its hard, right? Especially when the people around us don’t play fair. When the rules keep changing. When your integrity is constantly being questioned.

Jacob lived that reality. For twenty years, he dealt with manipulation…For twenty years he dwelt with broken promises. But listen, in the midst of his circumstances, God was preparing a boundary — a clear line — that would protect His people and ultimately advance His purposes.

I mean imagine for just a second, you’re trying to build a fence around your property…But every time you nail a post down, your neighbor, he moves the stakes around. Every time you try to protect your space or outline it, someone pushes the boundary a little bit further.

It’s frustrating, its exhausting.

And yet you keep building because you know that boundaries define what belongs to you — boundaries protect your home, they give you the freedom to live without fear of intrusion. You know that boundaries create the security and space your family needs to thrive.

That’s what this story’s about.

At the boundary line in Genesis 31, God reveals the truth about what’s really been going on beneath the surface. He honors integrity by helping Jacob make a covenant with Laban. And listen, He leads His people forward with peace and protection.

That’s the connection here — that’s why this story matters so much for us today:

Like Jacob, there comes a moment when you and I, we have to draw the line. Not out of pride, not out of bitterness — but guys, out of obedience. We set boundaries to walk in freedom, we set boundaries to protect what God’s entrusted to us (the truth He’s proclaimed), we set boundaries so that we can move forward in what we know it is He’s called us to.

And when we do that, we can trust this: God meets us at those boundary lines.

He sees what’s really going on behind the scenes. He brings truth to light. He leads us forward — not in fear, but in faith.

Which, if you’re taking notes…that’s our three points this morning…At the boundary line, truth’s exposed…commitments are made…God’s people are released in faith.

And so, whether you’re wrestling with a difficult relationship, or you find yourself in a workplace that’s just full of negative influences, or even some spiritual boundaries that just need some resetting…I think you’re gonna find this story to be very helpful or at least instructive for you this morning.

And so, if you’re there with me, let’s stand together as we read in Genesis 31, and then we’ll walk through what God’s doing — right here at Jacob’s boundary line.

It says this, starting in verse 43:

Genesis 31:43–55 ESV

Then Laban answered and said to Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day for these my daughters or for their children whom they have borne? Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I. And let it be a witness between you and me.” So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. And Jacob said to his kinsmen, “Gather stones.” And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there by the heap. Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha (Ge-ger...Say-a-do-tha), but Jacob called it Galeed (Gal...). Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me today.” Therefore he named it Galeed, and Mizpah (Miz-pa), for he said, “The Lord watch between you and me, when we are out of one another’s sight. If you oppress my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no one is with us, see, God is witness between you and me.” Then Laban said to Jacob, “See this heap and the pillar, which I have set between you and me. This heap is a witness, and the pillar is a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, to do harm. The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac, and Jacob offered a sacrifice in the hill country and called his kinsmen to eat bread. They ate bread and spent the night in the hill country. Early in the morning Laban arose and kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned home.

Thank you, you can be seated.

[Prayer]

Again, our three points…At the boundary line, truth’s exposed…Commitments are made…God’s people are released in faith.

Let’s look at this first thing together.

I. Truth is Exposed (vv. 43-44)

Point number 1…At the boundary line, truth is exposed.

Look at verse 43 with me again:

“Then Laban answered and said to Jacob, ‘The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine.’”

Guys, this is Laban’s mask slipping off. For twenty years, his greed was covered, his manipulation was covered with the mask of being a “provider,” a “father,” a “fair employer.” He pretended his actions were reasonable—all while changing Jacob’s wages and tricking him into marrying Leah, controlling the terms of his labor. He wore the mask of legitimacy.

But here in verse 43, at the boundary line, the mask falls off. His words, they expose what he really believed all along: “The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, all that you see is mine.” He never saw Jacob as an equal partner. He saw Jacob as his property, just like everything else.

That’s what sin does—it wears a mask. Jesus said in Matthew 7:15, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” Masks cover the wolves in wool. Masks cover greed with the appearance of care. They cover selfishness with the appearance of fairness. But sooner or later, when God exposes the truth, the mask slips off.

Listen, right here at the boundary line, the truth spills out: Laban really believed that everything belonged to him. Again, the wives, the children, the flocks—everything was his, in his mind. This is entitlement at its ugliest.

Notice the irony too: Jacob had worked fourteen years for his wives, he worked six more years for the flocks, he endured ten wage changes. And yet Laban still says, “All you see is mine.” Guys, sin blinds people to reality. Pride, it twists the facts. Greed makes you believe you own what God’s given to someone else.

And yet, look how quickly Laban’s claims fall apart. At the end of verse 43 he says:

“But what can I do this day…?”

Can you hear the defeat in his voice? He knows he’s lost. He knows God’s hand is on Jacob.

The very man who boasted, “Everything’s mine,” this same man, he’s reduced to saying, “Well, I can’t do anything.”

That’s what God does—He brings truth into the light and He silences deceit.

And then verse 44, it shifts:

“Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I. And let it be a witness between you and me.”

And so, the deceiver who always twisted the story, he’s now forced to acknowledge the truth and submit to a boundary line. He can no longer rewrite the script. He has to live with reality.

Guys, this is God’s doing. Jacob didn’t argue his way into vindication. He didn’t manipulate his way into freedom. God Himself exposed the truth.

That’s why Scripture tells us in Luke 12:2 and 3: “Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light.”

God sees through appearances. He knows what’s real and what’s false. And in His time, He makes it known. Laban’s true heart, its laid bare here…while Jacob’s true faithfulness is upheld.

Think about it like this…a masquerade ball. Everyone’s wearing masks. You can’t see who people really are—metaphorically their intentions, their pride, their selfishness—because they’re hidden behind a very clever disguise, right? And for a while, you might be fooled. You might trust the wrong person. You might even admire them, thinking they’re kind, or generous, or honorable.

But eventually, the moment comes when the masks, they have to come off. Maybe the clock strikes midnight, or maybe someone bumps into the wrong person, maybe the music stops (you pick your fairytale)—but suddenly you see their real face. What you thought was generosity, it turns out to be greed. What you thought was care turns out to be manipulation. What you thought was love turns out to be control. The mask slips, and the truth, it’s revealed for all to see.

That’s exactly what’s happening with Laban in Genesis 31. At this boundary line, God exposes the truth. His mask slips. His entitlement, its laid bare.

And notice again: after boasting, Laban collapses in defeat—“But what can I do this day…?” The mask not only slips—it falls completely. The man who pretended control, he’s now powerless, because God’s set the boundary line, and the truth’s undeniable.

We see the same things in our life, right? People can hide their pride, they can hide their selfishness, they can hide their deceit for a while. Maybe it’s a co-worker taking credit for your work, or a family member twisting your story, or someone in your friend group pretending to care while spreading lies about you. But eventually, the truth comes out. God exposes it. And when He does, those masks begin to fall off, and the world sees what’s really going on.

And so listen, here’s what all this means for us?

First, it’s a warning. If you’re hiding sin, deceiving others, manipulating the story—then I want you to hear me: God sees it. You may convince others. You may even convince yourself. But you can’t deceive God.

Numbers 32:23 says, “Be sure your sin will find you out.”

Listen, its better to confess it now, at the foot of the cross, than it is to have it exposed later in judgment. Some of us, we’re playing with fire…and listen, sooner or later, you play long enough, you’re gonna get burned. Confess it now…repent, turn to Christ.

Second, what we’re seeing here, its also comfort for some of us. Maybe you’ve been slandered. Maybe your integrity, its been questioned. Maybe you’re living faithfully but people doubt your motives. Guys, I get it, I’ve been there…but don’t take matters into your own hands. Don’t try and spin the story. Don’t burn yourself out trying to defend your name. Walk in integrity before the Lord and trust that He will vindicate you as He exposes truth. We talked about that last week.

John Calvin put it like this: “The Lord, although he may for a time pass over in silence the wrongs done to us, he will at length show that he cares for us.”

Guys, listen to me…hold onto that. God’s not blind to your situation. He’s not ignoring your faithfulness. In His time, truth will be exposed—because He is a God of light. Truth matters to God.

As we set boundary lines in our lives, we have to trust that God will expose truth in His time. And for that reason, we’re able to live with integrity right now, regardless of our circumstances…regardless of the people around us…which actually moves us into our second point.

II. Commitments Are Made (vv. 45-52)

At the boundary line, commitments are made.

Now, don’t miss this—Jacob, he could’ve taken the low road here. He could’ve thrown Laban’s words back in his face. He could’ve said, “Fine, let’s fight this thing out. Let’s see who wins.” But instead, verse 45, it tells us:

“So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. And Jacob said to his kinsmen, ‘Gather stones.’ And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there by the heap.”

Notice what’s happening here—Jacob doesn’t answer deception with deception, or manipulation with manipulation. He sets up a covenant marker. He chooses integrity. He chooses peace. He chooses to live inside the boundary line that God’s drawn.

That’s huge. Because what this is showing us, its that commitments require action. You don’t drift into integrity. You don’t stumble into holiness. Boundaries don’t set themselves up—you and I, we have to put the stone in the ground and say, “This far, and no further.”

Verse 46, it tells us they ate there by the heap.

In the ancient world, a meal wasn’t just casual fellowship—it was covenant confirmation. To sit down and eat bread together was to say, “This agreement stands before God.”

Can you see what’s happening? Jacob’s choosing peace, but he’s choosing peace with integrity. He’s not blurring the line; he’s marking those lines more clear.

Look at verses 47 and 48:

“Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha (Ge-ger...Say-a-do-tha), but Jacob called it Galeed (Gal...). Laban said, ‘This heap is a witness between you and me today.’ Therefore he named it Galeed, and Mizpah (Miz-pa)…”

This is something really fascinating, right? The two men here, they don’t even call the heap the same name. Laban gives it a name in Aramaic, Jacob a name in Hebrew. It’s a small detail…but listen, its very telling. Even in their covenant, they’re not the same people, they’re not united in faith. They’re living in two different worlds—two different languages, two different gods. And that’s the point this passage is trying to make.

Jacob’s saying, “This is who I am. I belong to Yahweh. My commitment’s to Him. And I’m not crossing your side of the line.” Laban might claim ownership, but Jacob marks his identity in the covenant-keeping God.

Guys, it should be the same for us—we let the world do their thing, and we do ours. We don’t cross the boundary line. That doesn’t mean isolation, but it does mean refusing to compromise. Compromise, isn’t what we’re called to…compromise is taking what you know to be true and its watering that truth down for the sake of another person’s feelings. Guys, take this with the right heart…I don’t care about your feelings…I don’t care about the feelings of people around us. I care about what my God thinks and I care about what He desires. Compromise, isn’t integrity or peace…its straight up sin. We’re not called to compromise…we’re called to make firm commitments.

Look at verse 49, Laban says something we oftentimes misunderstand:

“…for he said, ‘The LORD watch between you and me, when we are out of one another’s sight.’”

Now sometimes people use “Mizpah (Miz-pa)” like it’s a sweet blessing—they put it on jewelry, on cards—“May the Lord watch between us.” But that’s not what’s going on here. This isn’t a benediction, this is a warning. Laban’s essentially saying, “I don’t trust you, Jacob…So may your God keep His eye on you, because I can’t.”

And Jacob agrees. Why? Because he’s willing to live in the light. He doesn’t need to manipulate, he doesn’t need to bend the rules. He can make a covenant under God’s gaze because he has integrity.

Now verse 50 drives the point home:

“If you oppress my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters… see, God is witness between you and me.”

Do you hear that? Both men, they’re putting themselves under divine accountability. Jacob’s willing to commit to faithfulness, and he’s willing for God Himself to hold him accountable to this commitment.

And then in verses 51 and 52, the boundary’s formalized:

“This heap is a witness… I will not pass over this heap to you, and you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, to do harm.”

That’s the heart of it. The line’s been drawn. Neither man can cross it to do harm to the other. A commitment’s been made, and it’s sealed before the living God.

Now let’s stop and just apply all this.

This heap of stones—this covenant—it teaches us something very crucial: God calls His people to commit themselves in three different ways.

First, we’re to commit ourselves to God. Jacob could agree to this covenant with Laban because he had already entrusted himself to the Lord. Verse 53 says, “So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.” That title—“the Fear of Isaac”—it means the God whom Isaac revered, the God who was holy, set apart, awesome in His presence. Jacob wasn’t just making a deal with Laban; he was pledging before God Himself that he would live within the boundary. That’s the first commitment you and I have to make—our loyalty, our devotion, our obedience, it all belongs first and foremost to God.

Second, we commit ourselves to integrity. The whole point of the heap and the pillar was to say, “This is the line. I won’t cross it. You won’t cross it.” Jacob didn’t manipulate. He didn’t blur the lines. He lived openly before God and others. That’s what integrity is—consistency between what we believe and how we live. It’s saying, “This is where I stand, and I won’t move.”

Third, we commit ourselves to one another, as believers. Notice again what Laban says in verse 50: “If you oppress my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters… see, God is witness between you and me.” Now Jacob didn’t need Laban to tell him that—but it does reminds us that our commitments to God always overflow into commitments toward others. If Jacob broke his word, he wasn’t just harming Laban’s daughters, he was dishonoring God. In the same way, faithfulness to Christ shows itself in how we care for our brothers and sisters. It’s why I’m so vocal about things like church membership. You should join a local church, and whatever that process is to become a full, voting member…you should do it…because you’re committed to your brothers and sisters.

That’s why John MacArthur he gave this illustration of a Christian eating with an unbeliever and another believer where the food, that’s being served, it had been sacrificed to idols. The other believer, being weaker in his faith, he had an issue with the food…he didn’t wanna eat it. Now we know, having read Paul’s letters…we know the issue isn’t the food itself. Biblically, the believers have the freedom to eat that food.

But listen, John MacArthur, he asked…facing this dilemma, who should you offend? Because if you eat the food, you’re gonna hurt your brother. But if you don’t eat the food, you’re gonna hurt the unbeliever.

The answer’s pretty clear according to Scripture…we’d choose to not eat the food…we’d choose to offend the unbeliever. Our call, because we’re committed to Christ, because we’re united in faith, its to our brothers and sisters. It’s a boundary line that God’s created. I don’t care about the unbeliever’s feelings. I care about boundary lines that I’m supposed to live within.

But that’s the problem: too many of us, we’ve abandoned that call for the sake of not hurting the world’s feelings…we’ve compromised because we care more about what they think versus what God and our siblings think.

Let’s be honest—we’ve left our brothers and sisters in the ditch. We’re not standing firm. We’re not making commitments. We’re compromising.

And guys again, compromise is sin. Compromise is disobedience dressed up as “flexibility.” It’s exactly why our culture is the way it is today. Instead of building heaps of witness stones—clear, visible markers of where we stand—we’ve let the world move the boundary lines for us. Instead of Jacob’s faithfulness, we’ve chosen Laban’s shifting manipulation.

The truth is, we’ve become passive Christians—afraid of truth, afraid of commitment. Afraid of saying, “Here’s the line, and I’m not crossing it.”

Guys listen to me—we need more people like Jacob in this moment. We need more men and women who’ll say, “I’m staying on this side of the heap no matter what it costs me.” We need more people like Charlie Kirk, who are willing to live with integrity in the public square, no matter the pressure. People who won’t bow to cultural intimidation. People who refuse to let fear dictate their faith. People who understand that commitments matter—before God, before the church, before their families.

Jacob set up a heap of stones so that everyone would know: “This is where I stand.”

And dear brothers…sisters, we need to do the same. We need to mark our lives with commitments that tell the world: “I belong to Jesus, and I’m not crossing that line.”

At the boundary line…which the Bible’s made very clear, what those lines are…we make commitments…and guys, we live with integrity because we’ve encountered truth and because we’re empowered by the very spirit of God.

III. God’s People Are Released in Faith (vv. 53-55)

Point number 3…At the boundary line, God’s people, they’re released in faith.

Look at the last few verses with me again:

“So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac, and Jacob offered a sacrifice in the hill country and called his kinsmen to eat bread. They ate bread and spent the night in the hill country. Early in the morning Laban arose and kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned home.”

Now, can you see what’s happening here? This is more than just some awkward family goodbye’s, right? This is the moment Jacob’s finally free. After twenty long years under Laban’s thumb—Jacob’s released.

The boundary line’s been set, the covenant’s been made, and for the first time in decades, he’s free to walk forward in faith.

Don’t miss how this unfolds: Jacob swears by “the Fear of his father Isaac.” Which isn’t just some title—it’s a declaration of allegiance. Jacob isn’t swearing by the gods of Nahor or the idols of Laban’s household. He’s swearing by Yahweh—the one true God who struck fear, and awe, and reverence in Isaac’s life. Jacob’s saying, “My life belongs to Him, and my future, it rests in His hands.”

And then, what we see is Jacob offer a sacrifice. Again, that’s not just some filler detail. Sacrifices in the Old Testament is an act of worship, an acknowledgment that God alone deserves the glory for what’s just happened. Jacob doesn’t pat himself on the back, saying, “Look at what I pulled off.” He doesn’t celebrate his cleverness. No—he builds an altar, he slaughters an animal, and he worships. Because faith doesn’t just set you free—it turns you back toward God in dependence and gratitude.

And then look at verse 55, maybe the most surprising part of all: “Early in the morning Laban arose and kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned home.”

The deceiver, the manipulator, the man who for twenty years tried to control Jacob’s life—he’s forced to let go. He kisses his daughters, he blesses his grandchildren, and he leaves. The last words out of Laban’s mouth in all of Scripture are words of blessing—not curses, not threats…And listen, that’s God’s doing. God not only exposes truth and establishes commitments—He releases His people from bondage and He even compels their enemies to make peace.

That’s what it means to be released in faith. Jacob doesn’t walk into freedom because the circumstances are ideal, or because Laban suddenly had a change of heart. He walks into freedom because God set the boundary, God confirmed the covenant, and guys, God released him into His promises.

This is exactly what faith looks like for us today. Faith isn’t just drawing the line. Faith isn’t just making commitments. Faith is stepping forward, trusting that the God who calls you, He’ll also keep you. Hebrews 11:8 says, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”

Listen, Jacob’s walking in those same footsteps—released from bondage, moving toward promise, not knowing exactly what lies ahead but trusting the God who leads.

And so, here’s the application:

Some of us, we’re living like Jacob before this moment—stuck in fear, stuck in people-pleasing, stuck under the weight of someone else’s control. Again, maybe it’s a toxic relationship. Maybe it’s a job where compromise is pressed on you every single day. Maybe it’s sin itself that keeps dragging you back. And you’ve wondered, “Will I ever be set free?”

This passage tells you: yes. In Christ, the answer is yes. Jesus said in John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” That’s not theory—that’s reality. The cross of Christ draws the ultimate boundary line. Sin can’t cross it. Death can’t cross it. Satan can’t cross it. The blood of Jesus secures your release and sends you out to live by faith.

But here’s the key—you’ve got to step forward. Jacob could’ve stayed in fear. He could’ve lived looking over his shoulder for Laban’s next scheme. But instead, he trusted God enough to walk toward the promise.

And that’s the invitation for us today: stop living in fear of what people can do, stop living in bondage to the past…start living by faith in the God who sets you free.

Charles Spurgeon he said this, “Faith is reason at rest in God.” In other words, you don’t need to know every outcome, you don’t need to control every detail—you just need to rest in the God who’s already drawn the line, who’s already broken your chains, rest in the God who’s already secured your future.

At the boundary line, God’s people are released—not into chaos, not into fear, but into freedom. Freedom to worship, freedom to walk forward, freedom to live out the calling He’s placed on your life.

Jacob was released in faith, and the same’s true for us as well—if we belong to Christ.

Closing

And so, let’s just step back for a moment and remember what we’ve seen together this morning.

At the boundary line in Genesis 31, three things happened:

—Laban’s mask slipped off, right? And God revealed what was hidden all along. Truth was exposed

—Jacob set up a heap of stones, marking clearly where he stood, he pledged integrity before God. So commitments were made

—Jacob walked into freedom, not because of his strength, but because of God’s power and promise. God’s people were released in faith

Guys, that’s not just Jacob’s story. That’s our story too. Because at the cross, the ultimate boundary line was drawn. Sin was exposed for what it really is—rebellion against a holy God. Commitments were made—Jesus Christ, the Son of God, willingly laid down His life in covenant blood for His people. And by His resurrection, God’s people were released—set free from sin, free from death, free from condemnation, to walk in the newness of life.

So here’s the challenge for us as believers: are you walking in that freedom? Are you living with integrity inside the boundary lines of God’s Word? Are you trusting Him to vindicate you, or are you still trying to carry the weight of defending yourself? Are you making firm commitments, or are you letting compromise blur the lines? Guys, the call’s clear: draw the line, set the stones, walk forward by faith.

But let me also speak to those of you who don’t yet know Christ. This passage shows us something very sobering: there’s no middle ground. You’re either living like Jacob—freed by God’s covenant grace—or you’re living like Laban—clinging to control, blinded by pride, until God Himself confronts you.

The bad news is this: all of us, by nature, we’re like Laban. Scripture says in Romans 3:23, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The worse news is that sin isn’t just a mistake—it’s rebellion against the God who made you, and the wages of that sin is death…there’s absolutely nothing you or I can do about that. But here’s the good news: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. He died the death we deserve, and He rose again so that we might be set free. And the best news? That freedom is offered to you today, right now, by grace through faith. If you’ll just turn from your sin and trust in Christ alone, you will be forgiven, and redeemed, and set free to walk with Him.

And listen, that’s why communion is such a fitting way for us to end our time together. Communion is our boundary line—it reminds us of who we are and whose we are. The bread reminds us of Christ’s body, broken for us. The cup reminds us of His blood, shed for the forgiveness of sins. This meal, its not just ritual; it’s covenant. It’s the visible, tangible reminder that we belong to the God who’s drawn the line at the cross and who’s released us to live in His freedom.

So here’s how I want us to approach the table today: not casually, not half-heartedly, but with the same seriousness and gratitude Jacob had when he swore by the Fear of Isaac and offered sacrifice to the Lord. Examine your heart. Confess your sin. Commit yourself to Christ. And then come—come eat, come drink, come rejoice in the covenant that’s set you free.

Believers, this is your hope…Unbelievers, this can be your hope if you’ll just turn to Christ.

And so, if you would…let’s bow together, in prayer, as we reflect, before we come to the table. You take this time.

[Prayer]

Matthew 26:26 (ESV)

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”

Matthew 26:27–29 (ESV)

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”