Saturday, September 30, 2017
Faith, Power, and Grace
Verse
of the day: Genesis 21:1 And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken.
Is there
anything too difficult, or impossible, for our God to do? The short answer is “no”.
In this chapter we see God do what was impossible for man to accomplish. Both
Abraham and Sarah have had their failures in their walk with God up to this
point in their life. The Word of God does not sugarcoat the failures of the
people God has used greatly. That is both a blessing, and an encouragement, for
us today, as it shows us that God can use anyone who is willing to be used,
even when we do not walk perfectly with God. However, this is really not about
Abraham and Sarah; this is all about God. It is all about God’s faithfulness,
power, and grace in responding to those who have faith, even as small as a
mustard seed (Matthew 17:20). Hebrews 11:11 tells us that, “By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive
seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged
Him faithful who had promised.” We know that Sarah previously had some
doubt about God’s promise to them that she would conceive and give birth to a
son (Gen 18:9-15). Here, in this chapter, we see that her laughter is not one
of doubt, but one of joy and wonder at God’s faithfulness to them (verses 6-7).
In spite of both Abraham’s and Sarah’s bouts of doubt in Egypt, Gerar, and
Sarah’s response to God’s promise, God did not withdraw His promise or change
His mind about using them in bringing about a great nation from which our Savior
would come from. The bottom line in this is that our faithfulness to God or
lack thereof is not what determines whether or not God will continue to be
faithful to us. God is God regardless of who we are or whether or not we
believe. Not only did God demonstrate His faithfulness to them, but He
demonstrated His power to do the impossible (Matt 19:26; Luke 1:37). Over and
over again we read instances in which God demonstrates His omnipotence in His
interactions with man, and His intercession for His people; the parting of the
Red Sea (Exodus 14), or making the sun stand still (Joshua 10:1-15), just to
name a couple. Regardless of what we are praying about, or who we are praying
for, if what we are praying is in accordance with God’s will, and plan, and is
not being asked for selfish reasons, but with God’s glory as the driving force
for our prayers, know that God will answer in His time, and in His way. James
4:3 tells us, “You ask and do
not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” There is so much that we
miss out on because we lack faith in thinking that God can use us in greater
ways than we could ever imagine. Sadly, we fail to believe that God can do
great things in our lives because we often want Him to accomplish things, or
give us things, that are selfishly motivated in nature, or would bring Him no
glory. Finally, we see God’s amazing grace in Abraham’s and Sarah’s life. God
was not obligated to use them or give them anything. God not only saw and dealt
with their moments of failure, when they failed to trust Him completely, but in
choosing to use them, God already knew that they would not walk perfectly
before Him, even before He made His promise to them. Today, we, who know Jesus
as our Savior, and were saved when we called upon Him by faith, were already
known by God. He already knew our past failures, present failures, and future
failures. In spite of that, He did not deny us the opportunity to obtain
eternal life in Christ; for we were chosen in Christ, even before the
foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). What an amazing thought, that God knew
us even before we were conceived, yet today He is still gracious to us,
faithful to us, and works supernaturally in our lives when we live our lives
with even the smallest of faith. Praise be to our God who is God, and is always
good to us, regardless of who we are or how much faith we have. Our God is a
big God; let us give Him room to be God in our lives, and take Him out of the box
we have put Him in, in our lives.
Friday, September 29, 2017
Our Justice vs. God’s Justice
Verse
of the day: Genesis 20:7 “Now
therefore, restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live.
But if you do not restore her, know that you
shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”
Once again
we see Abraham in the midst of a situation he has created for himself for
having a momentary lack of faith in trusting God to keep him and Sarah safe.
However, here we see how God responds to it and how he deals with both Abraham
and Abimelech in resolving this issue in a way that is just, before Him. We see
God’s grace in both their lives, but we also see that God calls each one to
respond in a way that we, as born again believers, are called to respond to
each other, and others, in trying to resolve difficult situations, regardless
of whether we cause the injury or are on the receiving end. Often what hinders
a proper Christian response, from us, in dealing with difficult situations, and
conflicts that we encounter, is that we gauge our response based on what we
deem to be fair or unfair; too often with no biblical basis, or ignoring the
biblical response we know we should give, because it does not line up with what
our flesh is telling us the other person deserves. We often forget that God
deals with us, over and over again, with mercy and grace, and is better to us
than we deserve in His response to our sinful ways; the greatest demonstration
of that grace being that Christ gave His life to bring us eternal life. We see
that God, in dealing with Abimelech who has unknowingly sinned against Him, has
shown Him much grace, but still holds him accountable for his actions. Our sins,
whether intentional or not, are still sins against God; and it is for this
reason that we need a Savior. Regardless of who we are, we sin against God,
even unknowingly, making us guilty before God; proving what the Bible tells us
in Romans 3:10 that there is none righteous, no not one, and Romans 3:23 where
it tells us that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. As far as
how Abimelech is to deal with Abraham, God’s prophet, who has sinned against
both Abimelech, and God, the Lord tells him to treat him kindly, and restore Sarah.
Not only did Abimelech restore Sarah, but he increased Abraham’s wealth, and
gave him permission to dwell anywhere in the land he chose (v. 14-15). Even in
rebuking Abraham, and Sarah, which they both deserved, Abimelech chose his
words carefully, as to not cause further injury to the situation (v. 9-16).
This is not typically how we want to respond to those who injure us in any way.
Our typical response is usually to “give the other person what they deserve or
give them a piece of our mind” (in a not so kind manner), and we measure it by
the severity of the offense committed against us; again, forgetting that God
does not give us what we deserve for greatly sinning against Him (eternal
condemnation). We see this principle repeated for us in God’s command found in
Romans 12:17-21, where the Apostle Paul wrote that we are not to return evil for
evil, but instead live peaceably with all men, not seeking vengeance, but
leaving it to God; and if need be feeding, and giving our enemy to drink,
overcoming evil with good. What an example we would set for the world if we, as
born again believers, would truly learn to live at peace with one another.
Next, we see that in return, God holds Abraham responsible for making things
right with Abimelech by praying for the healing of his house. God could have
chosen to restore Abimelech’s house without using Abraham, for it was God from
whom healing would come from. Instead, God chose to do that which Jesus told us
we are responsible to do when we know that others have something against us.
Matthew 5:23-24 tells us that if we bring our gift to the altar and remember
that our brother/sister has something against us, we are to leave our gift at
the altar and go get things right with him/her, then come back and offer our
gift. How often do we lift up our gift of worship, in the form of praise and
thanksgiving to God; yet we harbor ill-feelings toward someone, or have
offended others who are harboring ill-feelings toward us. This is not right.
Our responsibility, as children of God, is to show the same grace and mercy
towards others, that God has shown toward us. Let us strive today to show the
world that we do not respond to life and its challenges the way it tells us we
should. Instead, let us show them the love of God and how it has changed our attitude
toward one another, and those that offend us; that God would be lifted up and
glorified by our action, attitudes, and deeds towards others, and one another
who have been adopted into the family of God in Christ Jesus.
Thursday, September 28, 2017
A Lie of Any Size Is Still A Lie
Verse
of the day: Genesis 20:2 Now
Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And
Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.
Apparently,
Abraham did not learn his lesson from his interaction with Pharaoh when he went
into Egypt, outside of God’s will and plan for him, during the famine (Gen
12:10-20). Here, once again, even though he now appears to be where God wants
him to be, he still resorts to his own devices in order to avoid the
possibility of being harmed because of Sarah’s beauty. The choice he makes here
to “save” himself is to tell a “half-truth”. Sarah was in fact his half-sister,
but more than that, she was his wife (v. 12). Today we are reminded that a lie
of any sort is never a good thing to be utilized by a Christian, regardless of
the circumstances. Whether we tell a “half-truth” or a “little white lie”, it
is still a lie. Sadly, lying is one of those “acceptable” sins within the body
of Christ; and this ought not to be so when we realize that God hates that sin
as much as He hates murder, adultery, or stealing. We may categorize and
minimize certain sins in comparison to others, but to God sin is sin, and Jesus
went to the cross because of all sin. In Leviticus 19:11, under moral law, the
verse reads, ‘You
shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. In Psalm 119:163,
the Lord tells us that He hates and abhors lying. Proverbs 12:22 tells us that
lying lips are an abomination to the Lord. When we choose to lie, we choose to
act like the devil, which Jesus referred to as the father of lies in John 8:44,
when He rebuked the Pharisees. The Apostle Paul commanded us, in Colossians
3:9, not to lie to one another, since we have taken off the old self in Christ.
In Proverbs 6:16-19, King Solomon listed seven things God hates; among them are
pride, murder, divisiveness, and twice he lists lying. Is there any doubt that
God hates it when we choose to lie? The born again believer who calls
himself/herself a child of God should be known for being honest to a fault. In
this chapter we see that Abraham’s, and Sarah’s, lie affected Abimelech, and
his house. Although he acted innocently, based on what he was told, his actions
yielded great consequences, as God closed the all the wombs of Abimelech’s
house (v. 18). One of the saddest, and most embarrassing, moments in the life
of a Christian is when someone, especially an unsaved person who we are called
to lead to Christ, calls us on the carpet for being dishonest with our words. A
Christian does not honor the Name of Christ by having the reputation of being a
liar. Although God intervened on Abraham’s and Sarah’s behalf, they still
received a rebuke from Abimelech (v. 9-16). Sadly, not only were they rebuked,
but their sinful behavior was revealed to the servants of Abimelech’s house (v.
8). Being dishonest, and failing to resist the temptation to tell lies, even
“little white lies”, can destroy our testimony before the unsaved, and cause
others, even our brothers and sisters, to not trust us. This is not the
testimony or reputation that a Christian should have in the world, where we are
supposed to be representing Jesus; even giving our word that we will do
something for someone, knowing that we have no intention of carrying it out, is
dishonest, and lying. Let us be a people who are known for our honesty, and
trustworthiness. Let us be a people who others will trust, and take us at our
word, simply because we refuse to be deceptive with our words at all times.
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Stop Haggling
Verse
of the day: Genesis 19:30 Then Lot
went up out of Zoar and dwelt in the mountains, and his two daughters were with
him; for he was afraid to dwell in Zoar. And he and his two daughters dwelt in
a cave.
Over
and over again we see God’s grace working in Lot’s life. Yet, over and over
again we see Lot trying to haggle with God and trying to do things his way. How
many of us continually haggle with God, always trying to get things done our
way? Sadly, we rob ourselves of many blessings, and put ourselves in positions
that could be avoided if we just obeyed God and took Him at His Word. In verse 17
Lot is urged to escape to the mountains because the angels cannot destroy Sodom
and Gomorra until Lot and his family have gone. Instead of going he insists on
going to Zoar (v. 18-20), which was not far from Sodom. Proverbs 21:2 tells us
that we (men/woman) do what is right in our own eyes. From the very beginning
man has been doing so. Adam and Eve tried to make coverings for themselves, but
the only ones that were right for them, or good enough, were the ones God made
for them (Gen 3:7; 3:21). Here, God is providing a way of escape for the
judgment that is about to fall upon Sodom and Gomorra, but Lot insists on
coming up with his own way of escape. Man has not changed since that time. God
has provided a Way of escape for the coming judgment, and man still insists on
trying to make his/her own way. Jesus said in John 14:6 that He is the Way, the
Truth, the Life, and no one come to the Father, but by Him. Yet, people still
insist on trying to make religion and rituals the way. Sadly, many will find
out, much too late, that God will not accept man’s way of salvation, for man’s
way is the way of eternal condemnation. We see that here God allowed Lot, by
way of the angels, to have his own way. He and his daughters, for his wife did
not survive because of her love for the things of this world, escaped to Zoar,
which was so close to Sodom that it appears that he was able to see the
destruction of that wicked place. The sight apparently created such great fear
that he ultimately chose God’s way of escape rather than his own. Today, we
have many who still refuse God’s way, and some that even mock Jesus, and His
way of salvation. How eye opening would it be for those who insist on their own
way if God would only allow them to see what is taking place in Hell this very
moment? How would that change our view of witnessing and sharing Jesus with
friends, family, and those we encounter each day if God gave us a glimpse of
the suffering that is taking place, this very moment, just beneath our feet?
What if we could see a family member, friend, or loved one that has gone on
without Christ, and what he/she is suffering this very moment? Would that
change our mind about continually haggling with God, and insisting on our way?
How many opportunities have we missed to lead someone to Christ because we have
insisted on serving God in our own way, because maybe we did not want to be
inconvenienced by doing things His way? The rich man in Luke 16 had a change of
perspective as he opened his eyes in Hell. He desperately wanted Lazarus, who
was in Paradise, in Abraham’s bosom, to go and tell his five brothers about
Hell so that they would not end up there themselves. Let us not be like Lot.
Let us stop pushing against God’s will and plan for our lives; for when we do,
not only is our life and eternal rewards affected, but the eternal destination
of those around us can be greatly affected as well. God has provided a Way of
escape from the coming judgment, and that Way is Jesus. Let us live our lives,
and serve our God, according to His direction, and not our own way. We must
live our lives by what Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge
Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Be Steadfast In Prayer
Verse of the day: Genesis 19:29 And it came to pass, when God destroyed the
cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst
of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt.
How important is prayer in the life of the born again
believer? This is almost a rhetorical question, as the answer is “of utmost
importance!” It is the one area where many struggle, because it is the one area
the enemy will fight us most. Prayer is our lifeline to God, through Christ. I
once had a professor in college who asked a class of future pastors/preachers how
many of them prayed over the sermons they would be presenting in class that
day. When no one raised their hand, he dismissed the class by saying, “If they
were not worth praying over, they are not worth preaching.” That has stayed
with me in all my years of ministry. Today’s verse is a reminder of how
important it is to not just pray for our own needs, and circumstances, but for
the salvation, well-being, needs, and circumstances of others. Jesus
demonstrated the importance of intercessory prayer by praying for those who
were persecuting Him, and by praying for His disciples, and all believers (Luke
23:34; John 17:20-23). James 5:16 tells us to pray for each other for healing.
Ephesian 6:18:20 tells us to pray for other Christians. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 tells
us to pray for all men, including those in positions of authority. In none of
these Scriptures does it tell us to only pray for those that we agree with or
like. As a matter of fact, we are commanded to even pray for our enemies in Matthew
5:44. Sadly, I see too many Christians wasting way too much time posting
critical and slanderous things about our country’s leaders; time that could be
better spent praying for them. In this chapter of Genesis, we see the
importance of Abraham’s intercession for his nephew Lot (Genesis 18). What a
wonderful example of the fact that we do not need 100 people praying for us in
order for God to acknowledge and honor the request. All that is needed is at
least one person who is fervently, earnestly, and regularly praying, in faith,
for us, and we for them. Our God is a God who always answers our prayers. We
often give up because God answers in His time, and His way. We may not always
get the answer we want, but we will always get an answer in accordance to God’s
will, and in a way that will be best for us, and will glorify Him the most.
Romans 8 reminds us that we have a Helper, the Holy Spirit, who helps us in
prayer, when we do not know what, or how, to pray, so that our prayers are in
line with God’s will for whatever the situation is. Let us remember that
whether we are praying for ourselves or for others, the most important answer
to prayer is that God’s will be done, regardless of what that means for us,
because He will always work all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).
Jesus demonstrated this for us in the garden, just before He was beaten and
crucified for our sins (Luke 22:42). Let us be steadfast in prayer, never
giving up or being discouraged, even when God’s response is “no” or “not yet”.
Let us also remember that just because we do not hear an answer or see an
answer, that does not mean that God did not hear us or is not already working
out a solution. We, like Abraham, must be praying, and watching, as we see that
he (Abraham) rose early in the morning, looking toward Sodom and Gomorrah, to
see if God honored his request (verse 27; Luke 21:36). Who are we not praying
for that needs our prayers today?
Monday, September 25, 2017
No Use Looking Back
Verse
of the day: Genesis 19:26 But his
wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
What will it
take for us to learn that looking back is one of the greatest hindrances to our
walk with the Lord? There are great consequences for those of us who return to
the life that was left behind when we accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior. The
purpose of becoming a born again believer is to become a part of God’s family,
allowing Him to change us, making us more like Jesus, leaving the former life
behind, and giving our lives to the Lord for His purposes, and His glory. This
one verse says a lot about both Lot, and his wife. First, and foremost, we see
the consequences of, once again, what happens when we unequally yoke ourselves
in relationships. When Lot set out with Abraham, it does not mention at all that
he was married. This tells us that it is likely that he found his wife in Sodom,
and she was not likely equally yoked to him in his beliefs. Secondly, it is
obvious from her actions in looking back, that she had a great desire to be in
Sodom, and was likely looking back to possibly see if there was anything that
she could salvage. There is that possibility that she was concerned for family
that was left behind; however, those that were left behind had the same
opportunity to escape the judgment upon them, just as Lot as his family did. We
know that the possibility that her heart was on the things of Sodom, and her
possessions, and not on obeying God’s command, by what Jesus said in Luke 17:31-32,
in reference to the day that the Son of Man is revealed, “In
that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house,
let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the
field, let him not turn back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife.” The fact that Lot and his wife were obviously in two
different places as far as their faith, cost their family dearly. We also see
the consequences of what happens when we choose the world, and what it has to
offer over salvation in Christ Jesus. In Matthew 16:26 Jesus said, “For what
profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or
what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” The application that we
see for us who know that Lord is that it is a dangerous place to be in when we
turn back to our old life after coming to know the grace of God in our lives
that has brought us the salvation of God. 2 Peter 2:20-22 tells us, For if,
after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of
the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and
overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it
would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness,
than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own
vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”
One of the worst things we could do to ourselves as God’s children is to return
to the old ways and habits. It is destructive to us, and those we love. There
is nothing that the Lord has led us to leave behind that is worth going back
for. In our walk with the Lord, we are to focus on what is ahead, leaving what
is behind right where it belongs…in the past. Luke 9:62 tells us, But Jesus
said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the
kingdom of God.” The Apostle Paul wrote this in Philippians 3:13-14, Brethren,
I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching
forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for
the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us strive to
move forward, leaving behind that which is of no use for the furtherance of God’s
work in our lives.
Sunday, September 24, 2017
What Difference Is It Making?
Verse of the day: Genesis 19:14 So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who
had married his daughters, and said, “Get up, get out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-law he
seemed to be joking.
What does our testimony say about who we are in
Christ? Do we truly stand out as born again believers, or do we blend in with
the world? Does our character, behavior, and standards of living set us apart
from those who do not know the Lord personally? If we were brought into a court
room and accused of being a true Christian, would there be enough evidence to
prove the accusation true? Does our behavior towards others, our work ethic,
social behavior, service to the Lord, and daily routine and habits reflect a
true dedication and love for Christ? Are we more excited about the upcoming
sporting event than we are about someone coming to know Christ? Do we cheer for
our favorite team more than we say amen when we hear God’s truth? Do we
impatiently look at our watches when the preacher starts to “infringe” on our “game
time” on Sundays? What does our life as a believer truly communicate to the
unsaved world that we are supposed to be leading to Jesus? What does it say to
other believers that we are supposed to be encouraging with our testimony? Does
our testimony tell the world that we are true followers of Jesus, or are we “undercover”
Christians? I am not saying that we are perfect, and never stumble. What I am
asking is, when we do stumble, it that the exception and not the rule in our
lives? Sadly, in the life of Lot, it seems that his testimony for the Lord was
laughable. At a crucial moment, one of life and death, when he tried to warn
his own family members of the impending, and coming, judgment by God, they
reacted as if what he was saying was a joke. Is our Christianity viewed as a
joke by others because of our lack of reverence in our own living? Does our
lack of dedication and honor in living for the Lord cause others to mock our
faith, especially when we have opportunities to tell others about Jesus? This
ought not to be so in the life of a true born again child of God. 2 Corinthians
6:17 tells us to come out from among the unsaved and be separated unto God.
This does not mean that we have no contact with the unsaved; for if we do not
live among them how will we win them? This is an admonishment not to live like
the unsaved. Jesus told us in John 17:16 that we are not of this world as a
follower of Christ. 1 Peter 1:15-17 commands us to be holy as God, who called
us, is holy; and to live in reverent fear of God in our short stay here on earth.
Too many of us forget how important our testimony is in giving the Lord the
ability to effectively use us to win others to Him, and to encourage our fellow
brother/sister in Christ. The bottom line is that our testimony should allow
others to see more of Jesus in our life than they see of us. John the Baptist
put it this way in John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” We must strive
to live in such a way that it becomes obvious to others that we love the Lord
with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind; and our neighbor as ourselves
(Luke 10:27). Lot’s testimony cost his sons-in-law their lives. The sad part
about that is that Lot, in reality, was a righteous man who was vexed by the
environment that he lived in; this is recorded for us in 2 Peter 2:7. However,
it was his own desires that put him in Sodom in the first place, and it was his
apparent lack of demonstrating his faith that made his testimony useless at
such a crucial time. Is our testimony a tool that God can use for His glory? Is
it something He can use to bring the Gospel message to those that are
perishing? Our testimony can be the difference between eternal life and death
for our family members, friends, and those God puts before us for the purpose
of speaking His Name. It can make the difference between the encouragement or
discouragement of a brother/sister who is in distress. What difference is our
testimony making for Jesus here on earth, and what heavenly reward will we
receive or forfeit because of it?
Saturday, September 23, 2017
God Will Not Quit On Us
Verse of the day: Genesis 17:4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and
you shall be a father of many nations.”
What a wonderful demonstration of grace in the life of
Abraham. At this point in Abraham’s life, he is ninety-nine years old, he has
caused turmoil in his family by not consulting with God before going along with
his wife Sarah’s idea for obtaining an heir by Hagar her slave; and yet, God
appears to him once again in this chapter to reaffirm the covenant He made with
Abraham. This is our God. So often we stray from God’s will and plan for our
lives, and too often we give up. We view God on the basis of how people react
to our stumbling, and moments of temporary failure. However, God does not deal
with us as man deals with us. When men treat us in a mean-spirited manner, and
lack love in their approach to correcting us or fail to help us get back on
track in our walk, we have One who will not discard us, or withdraw His Hand
from our lives. God continues to love us, and His desire is that we continue to
walk with Him to accomplish that which He plans to accomplish in us, and
through us. Throughout Scripture we read of men who have failed in their
relationship with the Lord, but God did not give up on them or discard them.
Instead, He restored them and used them greatly. We see this with Abraham, Moses,
Samson, David, and Peter, just to name a few. Note how God approaches Abraham
in this chapter. In verse 1 He reminds Abraham who it is that is before him,
and what He expects of him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.” God’s
desire was that Abraham would walk before Him in truth and with integrity. The
key being that he continues to walk with God. Too often we allow the shame of
our failure to stop us in our tracks, and enemy knows how to keep us stagnant
in our guilt. Sadly, other people, especially other Christians, often
discourage us by the way we are treated when we stumble. Yet, the Word of God
is very clear that we are to approach those who stumble with humility, and with
the ultimate aim to help them be restored in their walk with Christ. Galatians
6:1-3 states it this way, “Brethren, if a
man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual
restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you
also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of
Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he
deceives himself.” Contrary to man’s tendencies to put one aside, God
wants to pick us up, set us straight, and see us walk before Him in a way that
is pleasing to Him. Our moments of failure are best used as lessons on what not
to do or how not to live before God; and He always gives us the opportunity to
try again and get it right. However, let us not dismiss the fact that in spite
of God’s goodness toward Abraham and His willingness to have Abraham continue
to walk with Him, He did not remove the consequences of his decision to act
outside of God’s will and plan for his life. The bottom line is that God is not
a fickle God who changes His mind about what He wants to accomplish in our
lives simply because we stray or stumble. God is a God who will accomplish that
which He sets out to accomplish in us, and through us, if we will humble
ourselves under His Mighty Hand, and do all that we can, in Christ, to walk
before Him in integrity and truth. God not only appears unto Abram, but He also
changes His and Sarai’s name to reflect who He was going to make them. Jesus
did the same to Peter when He called him Cephas (John 1:42). God is a God who
deals with us on the basis of who He will mold and shape us into. He will use
each failure, each trial, each challenge, and each circumstance to accomplish
this end in our lives. So, let us today be encouraged by the fact that we have
a Lord and Savior who does not give up on us. Let us keep our eyes on Him, and
not on those who would discourage us to continue in this battle that will
sometimes cause us to stumble. In the end, we have a God who will pick us up
and use us even when people treat us like they have no further use for us. God
can always use a servant who is repentant, humble, and willing to submit to
whatever God chooses to use them for. Psalm 37:23-24 reminds us that, “The
steps of a good man are ordered
by the Lord, And He delights in his way. 24 Though
he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him
with His hand.”
Friday, September 22, 2017
God’s Plan, God’s Way, God’s Time
Verse of the day: Genesis 16:2 So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain
children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.
Today’s
devotional is a great lesson on the consequences of failing to wait on God, and
presumptuously thinking that our plans, done our way, will work better than
His. Sarah and Abraham are waiting for God to fulfill His promise that they
will have a child from which God will bless them with descendant too numerous
to count. Yet, in their impatience, and Sarah’s failure to completely trust
God, she decided to use worldly wisdom and reasoning to “help” God along with
fulfilling what He already promised He would do. It has been about ten years
since Abraham and his family had settled in the land God led them too, and now
a moment of impatience is about to produce a lifetime of problems that affect
the Middle East, even today. Sarah’s choice to give her servant, Hagar, to
Abraham as a wife, will begin troubles in their family, as well as in the
families of generations to come, right to our present day. Sarah, first points
a finger at God because she still has not bore Abraham a child. She was correct
in that God is the One with the power to open and close the womb as He chooses
(Gen 20:18; 30:22-23); however, can I say at this point that it is okay to
acknowledge such a fact if we are doing so for the purpose of pointing out God’s
power and omnipotence? However, let us be cautious that we not make such a
statement as an accusation that God is intentionally, and wrongfully,
withholding something from us that we think He should be giving us, or doing
for us. Sarah points this out, more so, as a way to justify herself in giving
Hagar to Abraham as a wife to “fulfill” God’s promise. I will say this now…God
does not need our help in carrying out that which He promises to do in our
lives. Abraham, agrees to go along with Sarah’s plan, and does not stop to
consult the Lord in whether or not he should follow the suggestion of his wife.
We must be cautious that we not allow ourselves to follow the advice of another
person, simply because we are of close relation. The measure for deciding whether
or not advice is good advice, or godly advice, is to measure it against what
God has said, and not the source from which we are receiving it. Our close
family members and friends do not always give advice in accordance to what God
want, but is often based on what their desired outcome is. The end result of
this decision to go along with Sarah’s idea is that Hagar and Sarah are now at
odds with each other, Sarah blames Abraham for how things turned out, even
though it was her idea and suggestion, and ultimately Hagar leaves in an
attempt to escape the mistreatment she received from Sarah. The long term
affects of this decision, today, is that we have two groups of people who are
fighting over a land that was promised to the descendants of Sarah and Abraham,
not Hagar and Abraham. All too often, when we choose to do things based on our
own desired end, ignoring God’s will and plan for a situation, we end up
causing serious complications for ourselves, our families, and people that we
did not even consider, or think, would be affected by our selfish choices. When
we become impatient while waiting for God to give us direction, or fulfill a
promise in our lives, we show a lack of faith and trust in God, and we
ultimately create troubles for ourselves that could have been avoided if we
remember a couple of simple truths. First, God’s timing is not our timing, and
God’s ways are not our ways. Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us that there is a time for
everything (and it’s all in accordance with God’s timing). 2 Peter 3:8 reminds
us that a day is like a thousand years to God, and a thousand years like a day.
In Isaiah 55:8 God reminds us that His thoughts are not our thoughts, and His
ways are not our ways. When we do not understand God’s delay in doing
something, we must trust that He has a reason for His timing, and He always has
our best interest, and His glory, in mind, in respect to His timing. One of the
greatest tests of our faith are those moments when God chooses to make us wait
on His timing to fulfill part of His plan for our life and service to Him. Let
us not lean on our own understanding, but in all things, and all our ways, trust
Him with all our heart (Proverb 3:5). God will never fail to fulfill His
promises, in His way, and His time.
Thursday, September 21, 2017
Are We Ready?
Verse of the day: Genesis 15:10-11 Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in
two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not
cut the birds in two. 11 And when the vultures came down on the
carcasses, Abram drove them away.
As born
again believers, we need to strive each day to live in such a way that we hear
from God continually. Sadly, we spend way too much time “doing our own thing”,
then wonder why we cannot figure out God’s will and plan for our lives. Hearing
from God is not some magical or mystical process we go through. Hearing from
God takes preparation on our part, and it is a process that will be challenged
by our enemies (Satan and his demons), because the last place the devils want
to see us in is living a life that is obedient, and dedicated, to serving our
Lord. Therefore, they will do anything within their power to distract us and
spoil that which we desire to offer to God as a sacrifice. In these verses,
Abraham is getting himself ready to hear from God, who has instructed him to
set up the carcasses of these animals in preparation for God to express to Abraham
His promise to him, and reveal to him what God’s people will suffer, and be
delivered from, in the future. How amazing would it be if God would reveal to
us His plan for us as plainly as He did with Abraham! Well, in actuality, He
did. What do you mean, you ask? Well, we do have God’s Word, and He does spell
out for us what is coming in the future of the church, this world, and the
world to come. Intertwined in that is His individual plan for each of us, as we
play our part in the grand scheme of things. However, God has chosen to reveal
His plan for each of us, one step at a time; and for this reason it is so
important that we too prepare ourselves to hear from God. So, my question to us
today is, “Are we ready?” Are we ready to hear from God? What have we done to
prepare ourselves to hear from Him? Have we spent time reading, and studying
His Word, that contains God’s will for each born again Christian? Are we
striving each day to make that a priority? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God,
a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Not only are we to diligently study God’s Word, but we are also to be in
continual prayer. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to, “pray without ceasing”.
Although these commands are simple, the process is challenging. With Abraham we
see that as he prepared to hear from God, he had to remain vigilant so that the
birds of the air, the birds of prey, would not spoil the sacrifices that God
instructed him to prepare. He had to remain watchful and actively do that which
would preserve what he was offering the Lord. This is a picture of what happens
when we are trying to study God’s Word, and praying, and all kinds of
distractions come to interfere with our time. Those ungodly thoughts that
interrupt our most intimate times of prayer. The desires that well up inside of
us to go do something that will cause us to waste the time we want to dedicate
to study, prayer, and service to God. Just like Abraham had to drive away those
birds, we must drive away the thoughts and interruptions that want to disrupt
our time of preparation. The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 10:4-6, in
respect to spiritual war, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down
strongholds, 5 casting down imaginations and every high thing that
exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into
captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all
disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” We must take great
measure, and be steadfast, in making sure that we take time each day to prepare
our hearts and minds to hear from God. He will lead us one step at a time, one
day at a time, on the path to fulfilling His plan for our lives. How will that
happen if we are not careful to protect our time in study and prayer with Him?
Psalm 119:105 reminds us that His Word is a lamp to our feet and a
light to our path. God wants to speak to us, and hear from us, but how
will we share that kind of intimacy with Him if the world, and the thing we
want to do, take priority over our time with Him? How will we hear from Him if
we allow the enemy to distract us from doing that which will allow us to
recognize God’s voice each and every day?
Today, God extends an
invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you
accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing their
sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him
and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Holding Out for a Greater Reward
Verse of the day: Genesis 14:22-23 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have
raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, that
I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I
will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’—
What a testimony we would have, as born again
believers, if we lived here on earth in such a way that it would be clear to
the world that we do not need its dishonest methods, and ways, to obtain that
which God already promised He would provide for us. In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus
clearly tells us that we need not worry about life, what we will eat, drink, or
wear. He promised that God will provide all our needs, and that our first
concern should be our dedication and service to Him. Abraham demonstrates this
in a big way for us. He has just rescued Lot and his family from captivity, and
now the King of Sodom has offered him of the spoil that has been gained.
Abraham’s response demonstrates that he has not forgotten God’s promise of an
inheritance which dwarfs anything the King of Sodom could offer. It also
demonstrated Abraham’s firm conviction, and stance, that he would not align
himself with someone as wicked as the King of Sodom, thereby giving him (the
king) and opportunity to boast that he was the one who made Abraham rich, when
Abraham clearly knew that his provision and riches came from God. We must take
utmost care about our alliances here on earth. We are not to be unequally yoked
with unbelievers in dishonest business practices or earthly gain (2 Corinthians
6:14). Furthermore, we must not be covetous for worldly goods, or be willing to
oppress or rob others in our ambition to gain worldly status, fame, or riches. This
is not becoming of a Christian who claims to trust God for provision or who
claims to live a life that is separated from this world and its ways. Abraham,
along with refusing to take anything from the King of Sodom did not impose his
commitment to the Lord, or his conviction, on those who aligned themselves with
him or that served him in this venture. We must not be like the Pharisees in
our approach to Christianity. In Matthew 23:4 Jesus said, “For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and
lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.” Abraham was willing to deny himself that which was
lawful and customary to do at that time, but instead chose to show his faith in
the Lord’s provision, and at the same time be selfless, once again, in his
actions towards others. We must be careful that we not impose our preferences
or own convictions upon others who do not have the same convictions. God will
reward each of us in accordance to our dedication and service to Him. The
bottom line is that Abraham refused to do anything at this time that would rob
God of the glory that was due Him. He would not give the ungodly the
opportunity to take credit for that which God promised He would do if he only
trusted Him enough to let Him. Because he was faithful to God in this, he
received the greatest reward any of us could ask for. Genesis 15:1 tells us
that God came to Abraham, after this, in a vision, and said, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your Shield, your exceedingly Great Reward.” How often we trade intimacy with God, and the
maturing of our faith, for the sake of gaining that which God has already
promised to provide. How often we pass up on opportunities to glorify God, and
serve Him, because we are chasing after riches, status, and worldly fame. In
the end, the world will brag about how they gave us success in this life, and
it will be reflected in the busyness, and ambition, that we allowed to keep us
so busy that the world could not even tell that we belonged to God. As a
result, God will not get the glory He deserves, and some day, when we stand
before Him, we will come to the realization of how much heavenly reward we
traded for worthless earthly riches that will then be corroded and left behind
when we finally go home. There is nothing this world can give us that is
greater than what God has promised He has in store for us.
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
God’s Grace and Consequences
Verse of the day: Genesis 14:16 So he brought back all the goods, and also
brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 5 & 6 that sin
reigned in death, but that grace reigned in righteousness through Jesus Christ
(Rom 5:20-21). He then asked the question, “Shall we continue in sin that grace
may abound?” His answer to that almost rhetorical question was, “God forbid” or
“Certainly not”. “How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Rom
6:1-2). It amazes me how patient God is with His children, we the born again
believer, and how much grace He shows toward us. Romans 2:4 tells us that God’s
goodness leads us to repentance. Yet, how often we take His grace for granted.
Too often, Christians mistake God’s grace for God’s acceptance, or act as if
God overlooks sin. He does not. He proved it when He poured His wrath on Jesus
for our sake (2 Corinthians 5:21). We see God’s amazing grace at work in Lot’s
life as he is taken prisoner and all his goods taken, but God then allows
Abraham to rescue Lot, who goes back to Sodom with his family and all his goods
intact. It is not long after this that we find Lot back at the gates of Sodom,
back to living the life he was living prior to his short captivity (Gen 19).
Sadly, this is a pattern we see in our own lives sometimes. We put ourselves in
a place we do not belong, we make ourselves vulnerable to temptation, fall to
sin, sin against God; yet, at times God is so gracious as to forgive us with
seemingly no consequences for the particular event. What then eventually happens,
is that we think that God has overlooked our sin, we continue down the same
path, and once again we find ourselves in trouble, looking for God to bail us
out again. With Lot, we later see that the second time he finds himself running
for his life, the consequences are severe, as his wife is turned into a pillar
of salt for disobeying God and looking back toward Sodom, and while taking refuge
from the destruction, Lot’s daughters plot, and involve themselves in an
incestuous relationship with their father (Gen 19:26; 30-37). This time Lot
lost everything. Hebrews 12:3-11 is very clear that God will discipline His
children because we belong to Him, and He loves us. There will be times when
the only way to get our attention, and keep us from repeating sinful behavior,
is to allow serious consequences to come as a result of our refusal to live
righteously as born again believers. Unfortunately, as in Lot’s life, those
closest to him also paid the price for his desire to be in such a wicked place
as Sodom. The sad truth is that whatever we do, whether good or bad, does
affect those around us. God is good, and His grace truly is amazing, but we
must not think that we can go on taking His grace for granted without suffering
some kind of consequence. King David, although a man after God’s own heart,
suffered painful consequences within his family for what he did with Bathsheba,
and what he did to Uriah her husband. In all of this God’s love for Lot, or
even King David, did not waver. God’s love for us will not change or waver, but
He will discipline us, even if it means allowing severe consequences. What
amazes me is that even in the midst of painful consequences, God still shows us
great love and still chooses to help us pick up the pieces and make something
beautiful out of our brokenness. This is the amazing God we serve, and live
for.
Monday, September 18, 2017
Friend of God or the World?
Verse of the day: Genesis 13:18 Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of
Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the Lord.
Where Abram settles, in comparison to where Lot
settles, says a lot about where both men’s heart were. They both lived among
ungodly people, but where they placed themselves opened them up to either
follow God or follow their flesh. Lot positioned himself with his tent toward
Sodom, and was eventually drawn into it (v. 12). Lot’s choice brought him much
trouble, as he was taken captive, along with his family in the next chapter,
but in chapter 19, after God allowed him to be rescued by Abraham, we find him
at the gate of the City of Sodom, which is was a place where you found those
who were of any importance in the city, judges, leaders, etc. His worldly
ambitions, led him to dwell in a city that would eventually be destroyed by God,
and his family destroyed, because of his apparent pursuit of prestige, status,
and more wealth (Gen 19). Abraham, on the other hand, positioned himself far
from the temptation of being drawn into such a vile and wicked place. He
settled on the far side, on the other side of the Dead Sea. For God’s children,
the best place to position ourselves is close to the Lord and far from the
worldly ambitions that pull us away from Him, and draws us in to be tempted and
cause us to find ourselves blending in with ungodly people. James 1 reminds us
that we are drawn away and tempted by our own evil desires. Does this mean that
a Christian cannot be successful in this world? No, it does not. Daniel was a
godly man who was elevated in Babylon. Joseph was a godly man who was elevated
to the second in command in Egypt. Both these men were men of God who did not
compromise their relationship with the Lord to gain success. As a matter of
fact, if all we had was this Old Testament account of Lot’s life to judge
whether or not he was godly, we would question his relationship with the Lord.
However, 2 Peter 2:7 describes him as a just man who was vexed by the
environment he lived in. We must be careful in our walk not to live in such a
way that we blend in with the rest of the world, as this is not the kind of
testimony that glorifies God or is useful to the Lord in our calling to spread
the Gospel. This was evident when Lot attempted to warn his sons-in-law, and he
was mocked, as if he were joking, when he spoke of the coming judgment and destruction
(Gen 19). Abraham, on the other hand, placed himself in a position where He was
once again visited by God, and was given the opportunity to intercede on Lot’s
behalf. Abraham’s attitude of guarding his life from the corruption of the
world placed him in a position to share an intimate interaction with the Lord
(Gen 18). The bottom line is that we, as born again believers, can enjoy
intimacy with God, and still enjoy whatever success God allows us to, as long
as that success comes as a result of our relationship with God, and not the
world. Abraham was a godly man who enjoyed wealth, but it was wealth that came
from God. Where we position our thoughts, and our hearts, will determine where
we eventually find ourselves. James 4:7-8 tell us to, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he
will flee from you. Draw near to God
and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Let us not be nonchalant about how we live for the Lord or how we guard our
lives from that which is corrupt. Where we set our eyes and the ambitions we
set as goals can either move us closer to God, or make us friends of this
world. James 4:4 warns, “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know
that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to
be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
Sunday, September 17, 2017
Trust Him in Conflicts
Verse of the day: Genesis 13:14-15 And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift
your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward,
eastward, and westward; or all the land which you see I give to you and
your descendants forever.
Both Abraham and Lot were wealthy men, and their
wealth is now causing strife between Abraham’s herdsmen, and Lot’s. Once again,
we see the outcome of Abraham’s partial obedience to the Lord’s command to
leave his father’s house. Had Abraham obeyed fully, and left with just Sarah,
as commanded, he would not be dealing with this conflict, with his nephew, now.
Nonetheless, Abraham’s response was one of humility, and faith. In verses 8-9
we see Abraham’s response to the conflict that was now taking place. Even
though he had every right to put Lot in his place because the command to go to
Canaan came to Abraham directly from God, Abraham chose to be a peacemaker, and
deal with his nephew in a selfless manner. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:9 that
blessed are the peacemakers. Can I say this, regardless of the conflict, we do
not always have to get our way. Abraham chose the godly route, and was rewarded
heartily in that he once again heard from God, and the promise repeated. At the
end of any conflict, if the ultimate reward is that we hear from God, then that
is a greater reward than anything else we can receive here on earth. Note the
God waited until Lot separated from Abraham (Abraham now being in complete
obedience to God’s command), before He spoke to him again. God expects complete
obedience from us, and when we only partially obey, we have to deal with the
consequences of it. Nonetheless, we see Abraham’s heart, and faith, in the
choice he makes to allow Lot to choose which direction he would go, and what
part of the land he would choose to settle in, first. Lot, on the other hand,
was very selfish in that he had no consideration for where Abraham would
settle, as long as he (Lot) chose the best of the land for his herds. By
Abraham choosing peace, and allowing Lot to choose first, he demonstrated great
humility, and showed that he trusted God to take care of him and his family,
and herds. This is a big turnaround from what he had just done in going to
Egypt of his own accord. Sometimes we have to fail in going our own way before
we realize that we cannot go wrong trusting God for the outcome of our
conflicts. Although he had the right to choose first, he relinquished that
right and allowed Lot to have the advantage in this situation. In the end, he
received the greater blessing. When we are slow to get angry, and approach
conflict with humility, and a mindset of making peace, God will always honor
our efforts, because in doing so we are emulating Jesus, who did not revile,
even when He was reviled (1 Peter 2:23). Interestingly, we see that this
conflict took place, after Abraham’s return to where he had originally built an
altar to the Lord, between Bethel and Ai (v. 4). Abraham had learned a valuable
lesson in Egypt about God’s grace, protection, and provision; and only after he
came back to that original place of worship and surrendered once again to the
Lord, was he able to now take the proper approach to resolving this conflict
that now arose. He did not forget that God was faithful to him, and so he could,
with confidence, allow himself to be at what appeared to be a disadvantage in
this conflict, trusting that God would continue to be faithful to him and his
family. Why then is it that we so often refuse to humble ourselves in conflict,
and refuse peace simply to try and prove ourselves right? In the end, if our
motives are pure before God, and He sees our heart, what does it matter if we
allow the other person to have the advantage for that moment? Will God not
recompense us with His good, and His blessings, if we choose peace, humility,
and trust?
Saturday, September 16, 2017
Stay on the Path
Verse of the day: Genesis 12:10 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram
went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land.
We said yesterday that Abraham, though a man of great
faith, was an ordinary man like you and I. He further demonstrates this in his
actions here in chapter 12, as we see him going to Egypt, during the famine,
without first inquiring with God as to whether or not he should go there. There
exists a great temptation to seek our own solution, or take our own path, when
we are serving God, and we come upon an obstacle on that path. Although Abraham
is in the land by God’s direction, when the famine strikes, he does not resort
to prayer or turn to God for direction, which we see results in great insecurity,
stress, and causes Abraham to turn to his own devices in attempting to save his
own life, should things go awry in Egypt (v. 11-13). When Abraham first arrives
in Canaan, God is already there, and promises that the land will be given to
his descendants (v. 7). Abraham, in response to this promise, builds and altar
to the LORD (v. 8). So, as he continues southward, and sees the famine. Why
would he not stop and inquire of God, who has already spoken to him? Too often,
in our own journey and service to the Lord, the temptation exists for us to
think that we can solve our own problems. We take a detour on the path that God
puts us on because we experience some challenge or trial, and rather than turn
to the Lord in prayer, and wait for His answer, we “take matters into our own
hands”. The end result is that we are sometimes forced to resort to dishonesty
or deception to rescue ourselves from the circumstances we then create for
ourselves. Abraham now finds himself in a place where he has acted deceitfully,
and ultimately is rebuked by Pharaoh (which is not the best testimony for a
believer), as God reveals to Pharaoh what he has done in taking Sarah to
himself. In the end, God allows Abraham to go his own way, resort to his own
devices, and when he complicates a situation that should not have even taken
place, God still shows him great mercy and grace in rescuing him, and Sarah,
from the situation they put themselves in by being where God did not tell them
to go. We do ourselves, and others close to us, a disservice when we lean our
own understanding of a situation or circumstance, and fail to trust God to see
us through whatever it is that He has allowed. The LORD could very well have
provided for Abraham, Sarah, and Lot, in Canaan, during the famine, if He so
pleased. Even if He had sent Abraham to Egypt, He would have sent him already letting
him know that He had gone ahead, and that he, and his family, would be safe
under God’s protection. However, because Abraham did not inquire with God
first, we see a change in his attitude, and a loss of inner peace, as he and
Sarah approach Egypt (v. 11-13). So is our inner peace disrupted when we choose
to take our own path, based on our own estimation and understanding of a
situation, and fail to seek God’s guidance. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to trust
the Lord with all our heart, and not trust in our own understanding;
acknowledging Him in all our ways, and trusting Him to direct our paths. The
bottom line is that when God sets us on the path He has for us, He does not
abandon us on that path. He remains with us, and regardless of what He allows
on that path, He looks for us to turn to Him for the solutions to the
challenges we may face along the way. Let us stay on the path He has put us on,
and travel it by faith, keeping our eyes on Him, and not the circumstances that
might overwhelm us, and cause us to think that we need to resort to our own
wisdom and devices in finding solutions, or attempting to meet our own needs.
Friday, September 15, 2017
Are We Willing?
Verse of the day: Genesis 12:1 Now the Lord had said to Abram: Get out of your country, from
your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will
show you.
What has God
called us to that we have not completely obeyed Him in doing? Has He called us
to serve Him in some way, but we hesitate because of the price He has called us
to pay in order to carry out His command to go and serve? Are we not willing to
leave the place where we live, or the home that we live in? Will we be too far
away from extended family members or have to leave our birthplace? Are we so
attached to what we have and where we live that we are not willing to leave all
and go to wherever God sends us? Today, we see that this great man of faith,
Abram, was ultimately willing to go and be obedient to God’s call on his life.
However, we will also see that Abram was no different than we are today, and
that God can use even the most ordinary of men (or women) for His purposes, if
we would just obey and go. Hebrews 11:8 tells us that Abraham, when he was
called to go out, went by faith. The greatest thing that we could do in
responding to God’s call on our life is not to just go, but to go by faith. In
other words, trusting God to lead us and provide for us in our journey. What a
lot of Christians do not know or realize is that this event here in Genesis 12
is actually the second time God has called Abram out to go where God has told
him to go. Acts 7:2-4 recounts that Abram’s first call happened while he was in
Ur of Chaldea, before he dwelled in Haran, where God appeared unto him telling
him to leave his country, his father’s house, and go to the land He would show
him. However, instead of leaving, Abram’s father left Ur with Abram, Sarai, and
Lot, and went to Haran, where they stayed for five years. When Abram then
received this second call, he still only partially obeyed because though he left
his country, he did not completely leave his father’s house, choosing to take
Lot, who later proved to be troublesome to him in his journey. My dear
brethren, we do ourselves a disservice when we fail to obey God completely in
what He calls us to. We delay the blessings He desires for us, as we serve Him,
when we refuse to completely obey God’s commands, and direction in our lives,
and when we put others, or our things, before Him in our relationship with Him.
God promised Abram great blessings in return for his obedience; for in exchange
for leaving his country, God promised to make and him a great nation. For his
obedience, God promised He would bless him, and whoever blessed him would be
blessed, and all whoever cursed him would be cursed. The greatest promise, and
blessing, was that all the families of the earth would be blessed, and that
promise has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. We, who are born again, have been
blessed with eternal life in Jesus. Today, we too have the opportunity to enjoy
God’s blessings when we forsake all to follow Him. Like Abram, later Abraham,
we do not need to know specifically where God will lead us, before we go. We
must simply obey and go. Matthew 19:29 reads, “And everyone who has left
houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or
lands, for My Name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal
life.” The bottom line is that we cannot out-give God. All that we have
is his, our families, our belongings, our homes, and anything else we gain here
on earth. So why would we forfeit heavenly rewards in exchange for holding on
to earthly things or relationships that will be of no eternal value once we
leave here to be with our God? We must hold on, loosely, to that which is earthly,
and be ready to give it up and give it to God, if necessary, should He calls us
to leave it all behind for His sake, for His purposes, and for His glory.
Thursday, September 14, 2017
The Rainbow: God’s Reminder
Verse of the day: Genesis 9:13 I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be
for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.
When
we see a rainbow, what do we think of? When we observe its beauty, and scramble
to try and get a good picture of it, does it, at any point, remind us of God
and His promise to us? Sadly, too much of what God has given us has been taken
by the world to symbolize things that were not intended by God. The rainbow has
a specific purpose, and that purpose is God’s. After departing from the ark,
Noah’s first action in this new world was to build an altar, and sacrifice some
of the clean animals, as an act of worship toward God (Gen 8:20). God responds
to Noah with this promise, that He will never destroy man or any other living
thing by way of a worldwide flood, ever again (Gen 8:21). The rainbow was then
given to Noah, mankind, and all living creatures, as a visible sign of God’s
covenant with Noah, and all the creatures with him. When we see the rainbow, it
should remind us that God is a God of His Word. Noah spent many years (about
120 years) preaching righteousness, and warning the people of God’s coming judgment.
Today, God continues to warn us of His coming judgment for sin, and it is our
responsibility to warn others of the same. While Noah preached, he was building
the ark God had instructed him to build, offering man a way of escape from that
coming judgment, if they would just believe. Today, we have the Gospel message
which we are to communicate to the world, as it tells of how God, once again,
has provided a means of salvation from His coming judgment on sin. The fact of
the matter is that even though God promised not to destroy man, and all
creatures, by way of a worldwide flood, He warns that the coming judgment will
be carried out by fire. 2 Peter 3:10-12 reads as follows: But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in
the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the
elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in
it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be
dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12
looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the
heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with
fervent heat? Unlike the “big bang” theory of evolutionist, this here
will be the true “big bang”. This chapter of 2 Peter reminds us that in these
last days there will be scoffers who will mock us because the Lord has not
returned as promised, but God is not slack concerning His promise, but is
longsuffering, and His desire is that none should perish (2 Pt 3:8-9). Knowing
this, we must do all that we can to tell others about Jesus, and the salvation
He has brought to man. We must diligently preach this message until the Lord
returns, or He takes us home. The rainbow is a reminder of God’s faithfulness in
keeping His promise, but it is also a reminder of His judgment, and His grace.
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