Read Genesis 17:1-14
When Abram was 99 years old the Lord appeared to Him and said - I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless.
Imagine this happening to you. Imagine coming face to face and God says who He is and what He expects of you. Just imagine. How would that impact your life? How would you live after this face to face with Almighty God?
God then confirms His covenant with Abraham with the promise we spoke of a few weeks ago. God says I am confirming my covenant with you and you will be the father of many nations. At 99 Abram's hearing this news and if you're anything like me, you're thinking - are you serious? I'm 99, how is that going to happen.
Listen, when God makes a promise, He delivers!
Read Genesis 17:1-14 and just pray about how God makes and keeps His promises. And ask God to help you live blameless just as Abram was called to live in light of who God is and what He expects.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Sunday, November 25, 2012
When Trouble Comes
Read Genesis 12:10-20
After Abraham received God's promise v. 4 tells us he left from Haran and set out for the promised land of Canaan. His response was obedience and yet when we continue reading the story in v. 10 and following we find there's trouble after the promise.
Trouble follows us wherever we go and even after this promise from God it follows Abraham. I don't know to many people who look forward to trouble; most of us want to avoid it and when it comes we wonder where is God in this. So the timing of this trouble for Abraham must have had him wondering what God was up to.
We learn from Abraham's story that he didn't exactly respond the way we'd expect a godly man to respond. But throughout his life he always came back, always realized and remembered the covenant promise God made with him.
No matter what trouble comes our way, what trouble we face, God wants us learning from stories like Abraham's and others in the Old and New Testaments that God is always faithful. Trust in Him, follow Him, believe in Him, rely on Him, listen to Him and love Him all the time because in good times and bad - God always keeps His promises, especially His covenant promises.
After Abraham received God's promise v. 4 tells us he left from Haran and set out for the promised land of Canaan. His response was obedience and yet when we continue reading the story in v. 10 and following we find there's trouble after the promise.
Trouble follows us wherever we go and even after this promise from God it follows Abraham. I don't know to many people who look forward to trouble; most of us want to avoid it and when it comes we wonder where is God in this. So the timing of this trouble for Abraham must have had him wondering what God was up to.
We learn from Abraham's story that he didn't exactly respond the way we'd expect a godly man to respond. But throughout his life he always came back, always realized and remembered the covenant promise God made with him.
No matter what trouble comes our way, what trouble we face, God wants us learning from stories like Abraham's and others in the Old and New Testaments that God is always faithful. Trust in Him, follow Him, believe in Him, rely on Him, listen to Him and love Him all the time because in good times and bad - God always keeps His promises, especially His covenant promises.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
God's Promise to Abraham
Read Genesis 12:1-9
Last week we began a series of devotions in helping us focus on God's revelation. We might think that we should just stay in Revelation - it's a good idea to go back and begin with understanding what God has revealed and ultimately promises.
All of us know what a promise is. We've made promises and promises have been made to us. Some are kept and some are not; that's the nature of earthly promises, they are flawed because we are flawed. However, when God makes a promise He keeps a promise. We see this over and over again in scripture.
Possibly one of the most important promises ever made was God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-9. Take some time and read God's promise to Abraham. His promise has come to be known as the Abrahamic Covenant. This promise is both eternal and unconditional. At it's core we find three basic provisions:
This covenant promise required nothing more from Abraham than faith and trust to follow God. God was offering Abraham blessings and we're told Abraham listened and left his country to a land God would show him. We're told later in scripture that Abraham was a man who believed God and his faith was credited to him as righteousness. God wants us to know His promises, and then believe and follow.
We'll continue unpacking God's revelation to His people as we walk through this Abrahamic and other covenant promises of God. For now, read again the passages in Genesis 12 and cross-references (Gen. 13:14-17; 15:1-21; 17:1-27; 18:17-19; 22:15-18) to get the bigger picture of God's promise to Abraham.
Last week we began a series of devotions in helping us focus on God's revelation. We might think that we should just stay in Revelation - it's a good idea to go back and begin with understanding what God has revealed and ultimately promises.
All of us know what a promise is. We've made promises and promises have been made to us. Some are kept and some are not; that's the nature of earthly promises, they are flawed because we are flawed. However, when God makes a promise He keeps a promise. We see this over and over again in scripture.
Possibly one of the most important promises ever made was God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-9. Take some time and read God's promise to Abraham. His promise has come to be known as the Abrahamic Covenant. This promise is both eternal and unconditional. At it's core we find three basic provisions:
- First, there were personal blessings for Abraham
- There were blessings for Abraham's descendants, or national blessings
- There was a universal blessing, which would include all people
This covenant promise required nothing more from Abraham than faith and trust to follow God. God was offering Abraham blessings and we're told Abraham listened and left his country to a land God would show him. We're told later in scripture that Abraham was a man who believed God and his faith was credited to him as righteousness. God wants us to know His promises, and then believe and follow.
We'll continue unpacking God's revelation to His people as we walk through this Abrahamic and other covenant promises of God. For now, read again the passages in Genesis 12 and cross-references (Gen. 13:14-17; 15:1-21; 17:1-27; 18:17-19; 22:15-18) to get the bigger picture of God's promise to Abraham.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
He's Given a Revelation...
Read Revelation 1:1-3
End times prophecy is probably one of those Biblical subjects many would like to know more about but are not quite sure how to go about learning. Well we're going to engage in a few devotions to help walk through some of the key elements of Revelation. For this week - take a quick look at Revelation 1:1-3.
We're told this revelation comes from Jesus and God gave it to show his servants what events are going to happen in the end times. He presented this revelation to his servant John through an angel and John faithfully reported everything he saw. Now this is just my guess but I'm not so sure John understood everything he saw but he reported everything he saw faithfully.
Verse 3 tells us whoever reads the words of this prophecy to the church will be blessed if they listen and obey the message. So as we approach this message we should pray God will help us to hear clearly and obey what we're told to obey.
Understanding end times prophecy reminds us that:
End times prophecy is probably one of those Biblical subjects many would like to know more about but are not quite sure how to go about learning. Well we're going to engage in a few devotions to help walk through some of the key elements of Revelation. For this week - take a quick look at Revelation 1:1-3.
We're told this revelation comes from Jesus and God gave it to show his servants what events are going to happen in the end times. He presented this revelation to his servant John through an angel and John faithfully reported everything he saw. Now this is just my guess but I'm not so sure John understood everything he saw but he reported everything he saw faithfully.
Verse 3 tells us whoever reads the words of this prophecy to the church will be blessed if they listen and obey the message. So as we approach this message we should pray God will help us to hear clearly and obey what we're told to obey.
Understanding end times prophecy reminds us that:
- God is sovereign
- God is good
- Motivates us to holy living
- Helps us establish proper priorities
- Gives us hope
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Living God's Way
Read Proverbs 3:5-6
We have so many options in life; so many ways we can go with our decisions, our relationships, spending our money and dealing with our health issues. You name it, we have all sorts of ways we can respond to what's happening in our lives. However, God is perfectly clear in how He wants us living. He wants us living God's way not our way.
Often it's easier for us to think of others living one way vs. living God's way. Because we have a different perspective when we're not in the middle of something so we can see things more clearly when it's not us but someone else we're seeing living their way instead of God's. But what about us? Isn't our relationship with God about us and God, and not about others and God? Sure we're supposed to live in relationship with others and encourage Godly living, the Bible is filled with wisdom for all of us to love others in ways that inspire Godly living. But what about us?
It's much more difficult for us to check the way we're living and really see if we're living God's way or our own way. And while it's difficult, it's not impossible. Proverbs 3:5-6 is one of my favorite passages in all of Scripture because in order for us to live God's way, we must follow what this Proverb says.
It all begins with trust. Trusting God in all things with all our heart and not trusting in our way. Proverbs says we're not to lean on our own understanding. You see God's way is filled with wisdom, Godly wisdom that is so much more than just knowledge. It's applied knowledge because it reveals God knows best.
Next, in all our ways we are to acknowledge Him. This shows us that in everything and every area of our lives we're to say to God, "what do you say about this Lord." You see again God knows best; He knows better than you and me because well He's God and we are not.
This proverb ends with a promise that if and when we submit our will to His, God will set our paths straight. Listen our lives won't be perfect but they will be right before Him whom we exist to serve with our lives.
Living God's way is all about trusting and submitting to Him. This isn't about us trying harder or doing more. It's simply about listening and following Him. And the coolest thing about all this is God gives us the power and ability to do this by giving us the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity to come along side us and empower us to listen and follow. So in the end, at the end of the day living God's way is possible because He makes it possible!
We have so many options in life; so many ways we can go with our decisions, our relationships, spending our money and dealing with our health issues. You name it, we have all sorts of ways we can respond to what's happening in our lives. However, God is perfectly clear in how He wants us living. He wants us living God's way not our way.
Often it's easier for us to think of others living one way vs. living God's way. Because we have a different perspective when we're not in the middle of something so we can see things more clearly when it's not us but someone else we're seeing living their way instead of God's. But what about us? Isn't our relationship with God about us and God, and not about others and God? Sure we're supposed to live in relationship with others and encourage Godly living, the Bible is filled with wisdom for all of us to love others in ways that inspire Godly living. But what about us?
It's much more difficult for us to check the way we're living and really see if we're living God's way or our own way. And while it's difficult, it's not impossible. Proverbs 3:5-6 is one of my favorite passages in all of Scripture because in order for us to live God's way, we must follow what this Proverb says.
It all begins with trust. Trusting God in all things with all our heart and not trusting in our way. Proverbs says we're not to lean on our own understanding. You see God's way is filled with wisdom, Godly wisdom that is so much more than just knowledge. It's applied knowledge because it reveals God knows best.
Next, in all our ways we are to acknowledge Him. This shows us that in everything and every area of our lives we're to say to God, "what do you say about this Lord." You see again God knows best; He knows better than you and me because well He's God and we are not.
This proverb ends with a promise that if and when we submit our will to His, God will set our paths straight. Listen our lives won't be perfect but they will be right before Him whom we exist to serve with our lives.
Living God's way is all about trusting and submitting to Him. This isn't about us trying harder or doing more. It's simply about listening and following Him. And the coolest thing about all this is God gives us the power and ability to do this by giving us the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity to come along side us and empower us to listen and follow. So in the end, at the end of the day living God's way is possible because He makes it possible!
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Equal...
Read Romans 3:1-20
When we consider society, any society, at it's core people want to know and believe there is equal opportunity that all people are created and valued equally. Yet there's often this question among let's just call them groups of people where there's this competition. Who's better? It happens in sports, in the arts when you think of the Grammy's and Emmy's and it happens among people of different backgrounds - gender, age, interests - you name it there's this question about who is better.
And it's this question that comes when we read Romans 3. Where Paul is writing to the Jewish people and asking them if there's any advantage to being Jewish. And while his initial answer seems to indicate the Jews are better because he answers saying "yes" to the question is there any advantage, we soon find out all are equal in the eyes of God; no difference between the Jew or the Gentile. And here's why.
Paul tells these Jewish believers in Rome that they have this advantage because they have the word of God and He came to them with His word. However, they are asked another question in v. 9 - Are we any better? Paul emphatically answers Not at all! Instead he says ALL are guilty of sin.
His whole point is no one is right before God based on his or her own merit. It's God who makes us right with Himself by sending and giving us Jesus and His sacrifice. So on our own we all fall short of the glory of God - v. 23. But in Christ by faith and believing in who Jesus is and what He did for us - because no matter our background at the foot of the cross we are all equal and can be justified by faith.
When we consider society, any society, at it's core people want to know and believe there is equal opportunity that all people are created and valued equally. Yet there's often this question among let's just call them groups of people where there's this competition. Who's better? It happens in sports, in the arts when you think of the Grammy's and Emmy's and it happens among people of different backgrounds - gender, age, interests - you name it there's this question about who is better.
And it's this question that comes when we read Romans 3. Where Paul is writing to the Jewish people and asking them if there's any advantage to being Jewish. And while his initial answer seems to indicate the Jews are better because he answers saying "yes" to the question is there any advantage, we soon find out all are equal in the eyes of God; no difference between the Jew or the Gentile. And here's why.
Paul tells these Jewish believers in Rome that they have this advantage because they have the word of God and He came to them with His word. However, they are asked another question in v. 9 - Are we any better? Paul emphatically answers Not at all! Instead he says ALL are guilty of sin.
His whole point is no one is right before God based on his or her own merit. It's God who makes us right with Himself by sending and giving us Jesus and His sacrifice. So on our own we all fall short of the glory of God - v. 23. But in Christ by faith and believing in who Jesus is and what He did for us - because no matter our background at the foot of the cross we are all equal and can be justified by faith.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Blessed?
Read Romans 4:1-8
Do you consider yourself blessed? If so, why? What would you say was the basis of thinking and believing you are blessed? Would it be material things? Relationships? Fianancial blessings? Health? All of these?
Take a look at Romans 4:1-8 and see that Paul talks about a different kind of blessing. He's using the examples of Abraham and David and how by faith they were justified, made right with God and in relationship with Him not by anything they had done but by the forgiveness they had received by accepting the work that Jesus had done on the cross by paying for their sins.
Listen, verses 7 and 8 tell us that if your sins are forgiven and covered, if the Lord will never count your sins against you because you've accepted His work on the cross then you are BLESSED.
Blessed beyond comparison because there is nothing that compares with knowing everything we've done wrong, all our sins will never be counted against us because we have a saviour who justifies by faith. So whenever you think of whether or not you are blessed, always remember if you've placed your faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins you are indeed blessed. Praise God for this blessing!
Do you consider yourself blessed? If so, why? What would you say was the basis of thinking and believing you are blessed? Would it be material things? Relationships? Fianancial blessings? Health? All of these?
Take a look at Romans 4:1-8 and see that Paul talks about a different kind of blessing. He's using the examples of Abraham and David and how by faith they were justified, made right with God and in relationship with Him not by anything they had done but by the forgiveness they had received by accepting the work that Jesus had done on the cross by paying for their sins.
Listen, verses 7 and 8 tell us that if your sins are forgiven and covered, if the Lord will never count your sins against you because you've accepted His work on the cross then you are BLESSED.
Blessed beyond comparison because there is nothing that compares with knowing everything we've done wrong, all our sins will never be counted against us because we have a saviour who justifies by faith. So whenever you think of whether or not you are blessed, always remember if you've placed your faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins you are indeed blessed. Praise God for this blessing!
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