Genesis 16 - Day 16 (click here to read the chapter)
Scripture: Genesis 16:1-3 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal. 3 So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife. (This happened ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan.) Observation: After 10 years of waiting for God to fulfill his promise, Sarai takes matters into her own hands and comes up with her own plan to accomplish her goal of having a child. Application: It amazes me how quickly I can rationalize bad ideas and convince myself that it's God's good plan for my life. Apparently, I'm not the only one who has done this. Like Sarai, when I get tired of waiting, I can come up with some idiotic schemes to accomplish my goals. I need to remember that God's not concerned about my goals for my life. He's more concerned (or in other words, His will for my life) about me being sanctified. Prayer: Lord, forgive me for my arrogance and thinking that my plans are better than Your plans for my life. Help me to remember that You care for me and are in control. Genesis 15 - Day 15 (click here to read the chapter)
Scripture: Genesis 15:17-18 After the sun went down and darkness fell, Abram saw a smoking firepot and a flaming torch pass between the halves of the carcasses. 18 So the Lord made a covenant with Abram that day... Observation: God promised Abram that he would be blessed with descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. Abram believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. Then God promised Abram that he would take possession of the land that he was living in, even though it was currently occupied. Abram questioned the Lord and asked, "How can I be sure...?" Application: God meets us where we are at. Abram had questions and God wasn't offended. No, in fact, God ratifies His promise with a covenant, the equivalent of a legal contract today. That's how much he loved Abram and the same can be said of us. Prayer: Lord, thank You for being patient with me and taking the time to reassure me along the journey. Genesis 14 - Day 14 (click here to read the chapter)
Scripture: Genesis 14:14-16 When Abram heard that his nephew Lot had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men who had been born into his household. Then he pursued Kedorlaomer’s army until he caught up with them at Dan. 15 There he divided his men and attacked during the night. Kedorlaomer’s army fled, but Abram chased them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 Abram recovered all the goods that had been taken, and he brought back his nephew Lot with his possessions and all the women and other captives. Observation: Lot was captured by an invading army who plundered Sodom and Gomorrah. Abram assembles his men and allies to rescue his nephew. Application: Life's not fair, but God never said that it would be. Instead, He promised to walk with us in the unfairness of life. It's often in the unfairness of life that opportunities arise so we are able to distinguish ourselves from others. Abram gave Lot the opportunity to choose which area he wanted for himself and his herds. His nephew chose the Jordan Valley because of its lush, fertile pastures. While being abducted, Lot probably reconsidered his choice and wished he decided differently. In this short story, we're given a glimpse of Abram's true character and what he values. Abram loved and cared for his blood relative and was willing to risk his own life to retrieve him. It doesn't always work out as planned, but this time it did - praise the Lord! Prayer: Lord, I trust that You have a plan for my life and will accomplish all that You have envisioned. Please help me to submit and cooperate with Your will. Genesis 13 - Day 13 (click here to read the chapter)
Scripture: Genesis 13:8-9 8 Finally Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives! 9 The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left.” 10 Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the Lord or the beautiful land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan Valley to the east of them. He went there with his flocks and servants and parted company with his uncle Abram. Observation: Abram gave his nephew the opportunity to choose the better land for his herds so Lot chose the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley. Application: When we were looking to buy a home, we would always visit the area at night and at various times on the weekends. Why? To get a better sense of who your neighbors are and what it would be like to live in the area. On the surface, it appears as though Lot made the right decision by choosing the lush fields of the Jordan Valley. However, as we'll soon learn, not everything seemed as it appeared. When making important decisions, we need to take everything into consideration, not just the immediate benefits of our choice. Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to count the cost of our decisions. Genesis 12 - Day 12 (click here to read the chapter)
Scripture: Genesis 12:1-4 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” 4 So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. Observation: God speaks to Abram and instructs him to leave everything behind with a promise that he would be blessed beyond what he could imagine. Application: Abram has an epiphany and is told to do something that was extremely unusual. Back then, you didn't leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family because that would leave you all alone and unprotected. God invited Abram into a relationship and challenges him to step out of his comfort zone and leave everything behind. God does the same for us today. He loves us so much that He meets us where we are, but loves us too much to leave us there (challenge). Prayer: Lord, complete Your will in and through me. |
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January 2024
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