Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“Now when Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his mother’s brother Laban, and the sheep of his mother’s brother Laban, Jacob went up and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of his mother’s brother Laban.”
NL Daily Devotion for Thursday, September 25, 2025
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
This is a cool reversal. When Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac, the servant knew Rebekah was the one when she offered him a drink and watered his animals for him. Now, Rebekah’s son, Jacob, goes looking for a wife, and rather than waiting for someone to give him water, he jumps up and waters her animals! It’s a beautiful full-circle moment. Both stories recognize the role of loving service in forming relationships. When we enter into relationships looking only for what we are going to get out of them, those relationships are doomed to fail. When we enter into relationships looking for how we can mutually flourish, we have a much better shot of weathering any challenges relationships inevitably face. (And boy, does Jacob and Rachel’s relationship face some challenges!)
How does loving service play a part in my relationships? Is there room for improvement in that department?
