Untainted Relationship

 Untainted Relationship

Genesis 21: ³² Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba. So Abimelech rose with Phichol, the commander of his army, and they returned to the land of the Philistines.  ³³ Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God. ³⁴ And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines many days.

 

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Growing up in the land of the Chaldeans, Abraham learned the ways of a group that was on the move. He learned how to protect sheep and cattle from wild animals and thieves. But this was his father’s choice of residence. GOD told Abraham to move to a place where HE would show him. Abraham obeyed without question.

 

He ended up in a land that had a famine. He went to Egypt to avoid the famine. There he was given Hagar who later birthed him a son at the request of his wife Sarah. Abraham saw Sodom and Gomorrah get destroyed. He moved to Gerar where he settled amongst a group of people known for taking what they wanted, when they wanted.

 

My Observations:

• No place that Abraham moved was ideal, yet GOD was with him.
• Abraham lived around people who would lie and steal, yet Abraham’s relationship with GOD remained the same.
• Abraham settled down in a place that did not follow GOD, but he did.

 

Having a relationship with GOD was not dependent on the people around Abraham. He seemed untainted by their actions and followed GOD anyway. Most people would probably fold and follow the surrounding culture. By following GOD, the leaders came to him asking to be protected from GOD’s wrath.

 

They had seen what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah and knew Abraham was special. They would not change their ways, nor would Abraham change his. He would follow GOD until he died.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD mention the “land of the Philistines” to Moses so many times?
• Have you ever been in a place where you were the only follower of GOD?
• Can you follow GOD without letting your surroundings cause you to fear, falter or fall?

Looking for What’s Necessary

Looking for What’s Necessary

Genesis 13: Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South. ² Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. ³ And he went on his journey from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, ⁴ to the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Abram called on the name of the Lord.

 

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After months or years from being gone, Abram along with, Sarai, Lot and all the people who followed them, left Egypt and went back to the land GOD showed him. GOD informs Moses that Abram was “very rich.” Abram was given a lot of livestock by the Egyptians and he added it to his already vast empire.

 

Some of the Egyptians may have revered Abram and Sarai as gods because of the strange plagues that fell on them when seeking her. They dared not touch them, but sent them on their way. When Abram returned to the land, he “called on the name of the LORD.”

 

My Observations:

Abram was rich and powerful, yet he did not consider his status as acceptable.

Abram had all he wanted, but something was still missing.

Abram sought after the LORD, knowing HE was the answer to his heart’s desires.

 

After all the distractions were over, Abram seemed to be able to relax and call on the name of the LORD. His fears may have subsided as they settled in to the land GOD showed him. While he had a great number of possessions, he did not seem like the possessions had him. Something was missing. GOD.

 

He had been through famine, faltering with family, and falling to fear. None of his possessions could heal his hurt heart. He knew what he needed to look for. He sought the LORD as he had done in the past. Only the LORD could guide him.

 

Challenge

Why do you think GOD told Moses about Abram’s wealth?

Have you ever had more than enough and still called to GOD for direction?

Do you call on the name of the LORD for direction and also just to be with HIM?

Closer to the Garden

Closer to the Garden

Genesis 4: ²⁵ And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, “For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.” ²⁶ And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the Lord.

 

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With paradise lost, grief filled the land. Adam and Eve may have stayed near the garden in hopes that maybe it would be reopened. But the cherubim that GOD placed in front of the entrance would not budge. To top it all off, their son killed their other son. Years passed and Adam and Eve had another son.

 

My Observations:

• GOD had another path to HIS salvation.
• GOD chose sinners to execute HIS plan.
• Anyone who calls on the name of the LORD will not be put to shame.

 

Cain’s family left GOD and became extremely resourceful. On the other hand, Adam and Eve’s family acknowledged GOD by saying “GOD has appointed another seed.” Two paths were being defined in humanity. One that would follow human accomplishments, and one who would worship GOD, asking for help at every turn.

 

No curse was placed on Seth, rather the announcement of his birth was significant. It’s not that his siblings were insignificant, rather Seth’s birth would contain the family from which JESUS would choose to come in the form of a human. Although I believe it was JESUS who walked in the garden, I also believe JESUS was born through a line of humans.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD tells Moses about Adam’s statement?
• Have you ever been curious about your family tree?
• Have you considered how special you are to GOD?

Going Through the Fire

Zechariah 13: ⁹ This third I will put into the fire;
    I will refine them like silver
    and test them like gold.
They will call on my name
    and I will answer them;
I will say, ‘They are my people,’
    and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’

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What a year! I mean I have seen so much happen and many days I spent on my knees praying. I can truly say “The LORD is our GOD!”

• GOD takes me through fire in order to refine me.
• GOD takes me through fire in order to test me.
• GOD takes me through fire in order to burn away the impurities.

I can understand these words when the writer thanks GOD for various trials, because they make me stronger and stronger. GOD’s test never feels good. I squirm and ask “Can the test be over now?” BUT GOD has a much better plan. HE holds me in the fire a little longer until HE can see the gold of HIS fruit shining through.

Bank Account Replenished - Credit Fixed

Joel 2: ²⁵ “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—
    the great locust and the young locust,
    the other locusts and the locust swarm—
my great army that I sent among you.
²⁶ You will have plenty to eat, until you are full,
    and you will praise the name of the Lord your God,
    who has worked wonders for you;
never again will my people be shamed.
²⁷ Then you will know that I am in Israel,
    that I am the Lord your God,
    and that there is no other;
never again will my people be shamed.

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³² And everyone who calls
    on the name of the Lord will be saved;
for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
    there will be deliverance,
    as the Lord has said,
even among the survivors
    whom the Lord calls.

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“Where are my tools?” I said to myself as I look in the garage. Then it dawned on me to ask myself “Why is the garage door open?” It finally hit me that some items were missing. We had been robbed! Thieves stole years of tool collection, miter saw and all!

Months later one of the admin, who by the way did not know the incident, asked me “Do you want these left over tools? We are moving our office and have no need for them.” I wound up with double of what I had lost.

• GOD sees every loss.
• GOD sees everything that was stolen from me.
• GOD sees every item that I clung tightly to and sometimes allowed them to be stolen.

It is not the loss of the item, but the reaction GOD wants me to have. “GOD gives and takes as HE pleases” is the attitude I had to learn. I mean, it’s all HIS anyway. I breathed a deep breath and let my tools go. GOD restored them when I wasn’t looking for them.

GOD did the same for my life. When I wasn’t looking for HIM, HE restored me. HE allowed HIS SON to die for my sins so I would not have to live apart from HIM. HE only asks that I call on JESUS name and HE will fulfill a promise that I will be saved. GOD fixed my bank account with HIM and erased my bad credit, replacing it with a new life!

• Are you in debt?
• Do you constantly worry about money?
• Will you call on GOD today?
• Will you allow GOD to handle financial affairs while you continue to praise HIM?
• Can you tell someone about how great GOD is for providing for you daily?

Make HIM Bigger

Isaiah 66: This is what the Lord says:

“Heaven is my throne,
    and the earth is my footstool.
Where is the house you will build for me?
    Where will my resting place be?
² Has not my hand made all these things,
    and so they came into being?”
declares the Lord.

“These are the ones I look on with favor:
    those who are humble and contrite in spirit,
    and who tremble at my word.

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Searching all over the house, I could not find my keys. I said a quick prayer “LORD help me” and in a moment I got a thought to look on the side of the bed and there they were. Another time, I could not get a bolt off of the car I was fixing. “LORD help me” were my words and soon the bolt eased its stubbornness and subsided. But when a large problem occurred I said “I wonder if I should even pray.”

• There were times when I thought GOD was small.
• There were times when I thought GOD was nothing but a punisher.
• There were times when I thought GOD was the “Man Upstairs” not paying attention to my needs.

Relegating GOD only to small tasks of finding keys or helping me fix a car or turning off the oven when I left to go to work became the norm. My faith in GOD soon followed. I did not believe HE could solve large problems because I never gave HIM the chance. BUT GOD was graceful to me.

• GOD placed me in situations where I had to trust HIM and HE did what HE said.
• GOD put me in circumstances where I had to believe only in HIM because there was nowhere to turn.
• GOD sent me to places where it was only me and HIM and I had to see that I was never alone.

Once I realized that GOD could never be contained in a building I soon saw how BIG HE truly is. HE is the GOD of the heavens and the earth. HE has all power and is everywhere. HE knows all, sees all and is in all, yet HE is concerned about finding my keys as well as any large issue I face. All HE wants from me is to love HIM through understanding HIS ways in HIS Word. That is humbling.

• Are you making GOD small by not asking HIM to meet or exceed your needs?
• Will you allow HIM to meet your needs in HIS time?
• Can you open your eyes around you and see just how large HE truly is?
• Will you allow HIM to grow you?

Keep Calling

Psalm 99: ⁶ Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
    Samuel was among those who called on his name;
they called on the Lord
    and he answered them.
⁷ He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud;
    they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them.

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Sitting on the beach all I could think about was “What time is my spa appointment.” I had never been to a spa but this trip was a perk to the job and someone had to go! After a day of relaxation, a couple invited us out. We danced until the cows came home.

• In times of plenty, I sometimes forget about GOD.
• In times of plenty, I do not feel the need to cry out to GOD.
• In times of plenty, I “think” I have all I need and my shopping bag does not include GOD.

All of my thoughts were on the next position so I could get even bigger perks. As I climbed higher and higher, I did not notice GOD dissipating out of my life. I mean, I had plenty so GOD must have been there, right? Well sort of.

• GOD wants me to remember HIM in the time of need as well as the time of plenty.
• GOD wants me to place my thoughts on HIM and praise HIM evenly, through trouble and plenty.
• GOD wants me to seek HIS face constantly and not be distracted by trouble or wealth.

Vacations are great; BUT GOD wants me to take HIM with me wherever I go. HE doesn’t want me to get away from HIM in times of plenty and cry out to HIM only when I need HIM. HE wants me to be a full fan of HIM, not just a fair weather fan. My praise should be as equal as my requests. My excitement should be as equal as my doubt. GOD wants me and I call to HIM daily!

• Have you forgotten GOD?
• Are you on vacation and feel you can drop GOD off?
• Will you remember GOD during times of plenty?

Call on the LORD!

Numbers 10: ⁹ Suppose you go into battle in your own land. And suppose it is against an enemy who is beating you down. Then blow a blast on the trumpets. If you do, I will remember you. I will save you from your enemies. I am the Lord your God. 

¹⁰ You must also blow the trumpets when you are happy. Blow them at your appointed feasts. Blow them at your New Moon Feasts. Blow them when you sacrifice your burnt offerings. Blow them when you sacrifice your friendship offerings. They will remind me of you. I am the Lord your God.”

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Scowling faces and suspicious glances made us notice a group of guys strategically positioning themselves. My brother and I were headed to a baseball game and decided to get something to eat.  About two blocks into our five block trek we saw an ambush collecting.

My brother calmly said “RUN!” Of course he would seeing his skill was in track. I could barely keep up! “LORD please help us!” We made it to the game. I pretty much forgot about GOD from that point and enjoyed the game.

• When problems arise I call on GOD to help me but when things are going well I may forget.
• When I am in dire straits I call on GOD for assistance but in times of plenty I may forget.
• When issues are all around me I call on GOD for comfort but during times of leisure I may forget.

GOD wants me to remember HIM in times of need and in times of plenty. He wants to see when I am crying and definitely wants to join in on times of celebration. I mean it does make sense. HE created me to be with me all the time. HE actually enjoys my company!

• Do you have a relationship with GOD that only asks for things?
• When is the last time you praised HIM for something?
• Can you have a balance of requests and praise?
• Won’t you include GOD in your celebration today?