THE FAMILY

"And Abraham said to God, 'Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!'  Then God said: 'No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.'"  (Genesis 17:18, 19)

The tragedy of the Middle East is two brothers who just cannot get along.  It is the hatred of the rejected brother's descendants towards the brother's descendants of the Covenant.

Reading in Genesis again, I am impressed with the fact that all which we know of God's Administration in the earth, our Salvation History, Covenant blessings, etc., is centered in family.  The Kingdom of Heaven is rooted in family.  The Church is rooted in family.  Let's look at the positive nature of family: There is the security of relationship, friendship, acceptance, mentoring and guidance, example, instruction, loyalty, just to name a few.  Now if you do not know this from your "natural" family, it is time for the Church to affirm all of the aforementioned in you.  "We are Family!"

God, the Father, the Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit, this is Family.  The Bible tells us, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith....And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end." 

What if the Jews and Arabs would obey this command of Jesus?  What if the Church were to manifest this more and more, no "favorites," no, "preferring one before another," no one feeling rejected, less than others, less "important?"---- rhetorical.

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to be a good member of, "the household of faith."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"God Will Provide For Himself"

"Abraham said, 'God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.'  So the two of them walked on together."  (Genesis 22:8, NASB)

"God will provide for Himself...."  What a statement.  I think most have interpreted this text as "God will provide for me." 

Jesus was providing for His Purposes, not Abraham's.  Yes, our Lord is also, "the God Who provides," for us, but overriding us is, "Thy Kingdom come.  Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven."  What occurred to me today is that God will provide for me as I abide in, "Himself."

"God will provide (literally, 'see') for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering."  We all affirm that, "Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father."  Do we realize in that confession is the Truth that Life is, "for Himself," Jesus' Purposes, Jesus' will?  Can we say that The Living Triune God, "provide[s] for Himself," because He, "see[s] for Himself," just what is needed in any given situation, whether for you or me, or the administration of this Planet and the Universe?

Abraham was Jesus' servant.  He took Isaac to be sacrificed because Jesus told him to.  He prepared the altar, because Jesus told him to.  Abraham had enough, "Jesus Christ is Lord," in him to know that whatever was going on in the scenario, "God will provide for Himself."  We are the recipients of, "God will provide for Himself," if we abide/dwell/live in Jesus Christ and His Words.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I take great comfort in, "God will provide for Himself."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"In The Beginning...And Every Shall Be"

"In the beginning God created...."  (Genesis 1:1a)

And, we can say, "God sustains."

For the last part of this year I am doing a different Bible reading schedule which will take me through the Bible every two months.  My devotionals will reflect this. 

I read today about Abraham, great guy, but had as much of "I'll-do-it-my-way" as any of us.  He tried to save his own hide by giving his wife to the Egyptian king.  He argued with God about the Covenant Blessing; he wanted it to go to Ishmael.  God said no to this and gave Abraham His Covenant Purpose.  God's Word prevails, no matter what you and I do or plan.

You and I cannot navigate life's sea without continual, daily input of Jesus' Words.  If not Jesus' Words, then it will be someone else's, ours, or any of the whoevers.  The, "God-Breathed," Words begin with, "In the beginning God...."  This sets the "tone" for the way in which you and I are to walk out life's journey.  Jesus said, "Abide in Me and I in you."  There we have it: "In the beginning God," throughout life's journey God, and through, "days of eternity," God, Father, Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit. 

Ours is to be an "abiding" life in Jesus Christ and His Words, which are, as Proverbs 1 declares, "....for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are gullible, knowledge and discretion...."

Father, in Jesus' Name, "I need Thee, O, I need Thee.  Every hour I need Thee."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Another "Last Chapter" Reading

"Jesus said to him, 'If it is My will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?  You follow Me!'"  (John 21:22, ESV)

We have all noticed in life, I'm sure, that our Lord Jesus Christ's, "....will that he...," is not the same for all.  In fact, it could be possible that, "If it is My will that...," can have as much variation as there are the numbers of those who, "follow the Lamb wherever He goes."

Some Followers of Jesus seem to always have perfect health; others struggle with health issues, some for most of their lives.  Some have had marriages which have lasted decades; some have known the pain of divorce.  Some, but I might add, relatively few, have big ministries, are widely popular in the Believing Community, while most live in relative obscurity. 

I often think of, and am thankful for my Dad, and many of his fellow pastor friends.  They were exemplary in pastoral care.  They were not "widely known," and most of Dad's pastor friends served small congregations in very small communities, e.g., Kantnor, Shanksville, Hooversville.  I remember these faithfuls at church camp, faithfully being cabin counselors, playing ball with the kids, then back home caring for the people in their small farming communities, comforting the downtrodden, hospital visitations, (my Dad went to the hospital every evening.)

What is it that Jesus has, "....will that he...," and not "will that you?"  The question is the same for us all, "What is that to you?"  He did this and that, but you cannot.  She has a lot of money, but you do not.  The, "conclusion of the matter," is, and I can say of life itself, "You follow Me!"

Father, in Jesus' Name, if there is anything which I have not accepted, I so choose to.  Amen. 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2