Abundant Grace: July 2015

Friday, July 31, 2015

The Blessed House of God

“Let us arise and go up to Bethel.” Genesis 35:3

The psalmist said, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord {Bethel}’.” Another psalmist said, “I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” Still a different psalmist said, “Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.” Bethel is the place where God had met with Jacob as he was running away from home. Now God was calling Jacob to go back to where he had first met with God.

God wants to constantly direct our steps to where we met Him and remember there the care and promises He has for us. Where we met Him was at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ. There we knelt in humble faith believing God was big enough to forgive our sins and save us. It is there where He reminds us He is also big enough to keep those He has saved. We all need to have many trips to Bethel.

Dear Father, Help me stay close to the promises of the cross. Amen.

The Friday Benediction

Until Monday, my friends, may the good God envelop you with His grace; may you prove the common confession of faith, “I believe in the holy Christian church and in the fellowship of the saints”, and may you be enriched with joy and hope as you exercise that confession this weekend. Amen

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Thursday, July 30, 2015

This World Is Not My Home

“So you shall dwell with us.” Genesis 34:10

The book of Hebrews makes it quite clear that in this world we have no enduring city. Too often we forget that truth and expect us and ours to last forever. Satan also wants us to think in the wrong way about this world. He tempts us with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; all things that are fixed here on earth and are temporary at best.

The people of Canaan offered just such a relationship to the sons of Jacob. Dwell here with us, they urged, and we can all be one big happy family. But the Canaanites had nothing to offer. God had already promised their land to Jacob’s descendants. They couldn’t give what God had already given. Satan always offers what he doesn’t have the ability to produce. God’s promises alone are sure. As believers we need to keep our focus on the certainties of God and not be tricked by the failed promises of men.

Dear Father, Help me keep my focus on eternal promises and not Satan’s empty ones. Amen.

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Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Getting Safely Home

“Then Jacob came safely to the city.” Genesis 33:18

God had promised Jacob that He would go with him on his journey. God had promised Jacob that He would bring him back to the land of Abraham. We have seen in the past five chapters that the life of Jacob was not easy. He faced deception, threats, violence, and the general torments of the world. But now we see that God has done exactly what He promised. He has brought Jacob safely home.

God has called us through Jesus Christ to be His children. When He brought us into His family He promised us that He would bring us safely home to Him in heaven. The way may not be easy. We may stumble along the road or wander where we shouldn’t, but God has promised to bring us home to Him. We cannot merit our invitation to heaven nor can we merit God’s favor along the way. It is by His invitation that we come to Him and by His grace that we arrive at home.

Dear Father, Uphold our hearts in the precious promise that You will bring us home. Amen.

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Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Clinging to God, Beseeching His Blessing

“I will not let You go unless You bless me.” Genesis 32:26

Twenty years after God had met Jacob at Bethel and assured him of His presence and promises, we come to this verse. Jacob was returning to the land of his fathers. He was returning with a family, flocks, herds, and servants. One would think that Jacob already had the blessing of God, but Jacob knew otherwise. He still faced tremendous danger from his brother, possible rejection from this father, and hostility from the inhabitants of the land.

While Jacob is alone a Man came to him and they wrestled together all night. As dawn approached Jacob said, “I won’t let You go until You bless me.” Sometimes we may think we have it all and don’t need God’s blessing, but we are wrong. The world is hostile to God and His people. We need His blessings and we need to cling to Him and expect Him to give them. We should never let go of God for even a minute and we should call upon Him to bless us on our way.

Dear Father, Bless us where we need it most today. Amen.

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Monday, July 27, 2015

I Will Never Leave Thee or Forsake Thee

“This is none other than the house of God.” Genesis 28:17

I don’t know about you, but I prefer a soft pillow to a rock for sleeping. But a rock for a pillow was not Jacob’s only discomfort. He had been caught in a lying scheme that upset his father, angered his brother to the point of murder, and got him exiled from home and the mother he was so deeply attached to. He was alone, displaced, humiliated, and you could add much to that list. But in that estate, God met him and offered him comfort and assurance.

When we are God’s children we must remember that we are not alone. We may feel alone, or displaced, or abandoned, or forsaken, or even forgotten by God, but we are not forgotten by God. He knows where we lay our head and He knows the needs of our heart and life. God met Jacob in Jacob’s darkest hour and gave him precious promises. In our times of greatest distress, He offers them to us as well.

Dear Father, Thank You for Your constant love and care. Amen.

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Friday, July 24, 2015

When Famines Come, Where Do You Go?

“There was a famine in the land {but God said} ‘Do not go down to Egypt’.”

Gen. 26:1-2

Have you or are you facing a famine in your life? Have times become so tough that you don’t know what to do? Christians are not immune to famines in the land. We live along with all men who suffer in the flesh the common ailments of every kind. Paul wrote the Corinthians and told them that we suffer like others and that we are comforted in Christ so that we may offer comfort to others as well. What God doesn’t want to happen to us in our famines is for us to return to Egypt.

Egypt is the place of sin, of abandonment of hope in God, of returning to bondage and forgetting God. After the Exodus, when things were hard in the desert, the Israelites wanted to return to Egypt. When foreign nations threatened the kingdom of Judah, they sought their help in Egypt instead of God. What God said to Isaac He says to all His children, “Don’t go back to Egypt. I will provide.”

Dear Father, In our famines help us to remember Your promises. Amen.

The Friday Benediction

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Thursday, July 23, 2015

Holding Up or Tripping Up the Brethren?

“But Jacob said, ‘Sell me your birthright’.” Genesis 25:31

Yesterday we saw how Esau despised his birthright, but the additional tragedy is that it was his brother who induced him to do so. We are called to assist the brethren in their walk with God, not to seduce them to walk like the world. Jesus had harsh words for those who cause another to stumble. Paul had harsh words for those who put stumbling blocks before the brethren. We are called to support and encourage one another.

It wasn’t just Esau who suffered. While he despised his birthright and lost everything, Jacob lost years of happiness as well. He was exiled from home, tricked and deceived by others, faced ongoing family turmoil all because he robbed his brother. The book of Hebrews tells us to encourage one another. Paul tells us to be kind and tenderhearted to one another. Let us strive to uphold one another for the glory of God’s calling to all His children.

Dear Father, Help us to be helpers and a support to our brothers in Christ. Amen.

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Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Squandered Birthright

“What is this birthright to me?” Genesis 25:32

When God calls us to be His own, what do with do with the greatest new-birthright ever man could claim? Biblically the birthright was a position of honor and respect. It came with blessings and promises. Esau exchanged that birthright for a bowl of soup. He gave up honor and blessing for an earthly trifle that lasted just a few minutes. How do we treat the new-birthright God has given us?

He has called us to bear the family name – God’s name. He has called us to represent that Name, to be proud of that Name, and to receive rich blessings by bearing that Name. Esau should have seen his birthright this way, but he gave it up for a momentary physical desire, blasphemed the name of his father, and lost the blessing that he was to inherit. What earthly desire are we tempted to claim in exchange for our high calling in Christ Jesus? Paul said he would buffet his body rather than lose his calling as a minister of God. How about us?

Dear Father, Let me treasure above all the honor of bearing Your name. Amen.

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Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Heirs of All

“And Abraham gave all he had to Isaac.” Genesis 25:5

Pictures in the Bible are important. I am not talking about color glossy pictures stuck at random throughout some Bibles; I am talking about pictures of people representing something beyond themselves. Joseph is a type, or picture of Christ, and so is Isaac, both in different ways but clearly revealing a great spiritual truth about our Savior. In today’s passage Abraham is a picture of God the Father.

In this picture we are the sons of promise, heirs with Jesus Christ of all that the Father has to bestow. There is nothing that God has withheld from the children of promise. All the promises of God in Christ are yea and amen. He has given us the abundant riches of His grace. He has called us His beloved. He has given us the inheritance of eternal life. To all men He gave gifts, but to His son he gave everything He had. Let us rejoice in being God’s heirs in Christ.

Dear Father, Help us see each day what it means to be Your heir now and forever. Amen.

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Monday, July 20, 2015

Don't Forget to be Thankful

“Then the man bowed down his head and worshipped the Lord.” Genesis 24:26

Has saying thank you become too old fashioned to be cool? What ever happened to thank you letters for gifts or just thank you notes for a good time? What has happened to families giving thanks before all meals, even meals eaten at a restaurant? Have we become too busy to be thankful or have we just adopted a mindset that somehow all we have received we have deserved? The Bible is full, jammed full, of admonitions to give thanks.

When Abrahams’s servant had his prayer answered he didn’t just say to himself, “That’s cool,” he said to God, “Thank You for answering my prayer and making my trip a success.” God is rich in grace and the giver of abundant gifts. Have we become too expectant of deserving them that we have lost the sense of need to be thankful for them? The words of Paul are still important, “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Dear Father, Forgive me for not being as thankful as I should be. Amen.

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Friday, July 17, 2015

Getting Personal With God

“O Lord God . . . let her be the one You have appointed.” Genesis 24:12-14

Prayer is an extremely important element to our Christian lives. Imagine living through years and years of married life without ever talking to your spouse. That would be a pretty lousy marriage. Jesus is our betrothed spouse. We need to talk to Him. And we need to talk to Him about specific things, how we feel, our hopes, our pains, our joys, and the mundane things about our days. And when we talk we need to talk in specifics. Abraham’s servant is a grand picture of how to talk to God in specifics.

Do you want a specific answer, offer a specific prayer. Are we afraid that God will guide us in another way than we intend if we ask Him specifically about an issue on our mind? Are we afraid that God won’t answer, so it’s safer to stick to generalities? We deal with specifics with our spouses. He is our Beloved, and we need to talk to Him like He is.

Dear Father, Help us to seek You in very special ways. Amen.

The Friday Benediction

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Thursday, July 16, 2015

More Grace, Less Judgment

“Then Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth.” Gen. 23:3

Let me say at the outset that I know perfectly well what God calls sin and that no human decision can alter that. My book, Deceived: The Visible Church and the Homosexual Agenda, leaves no doubt about God’s opinions concerning sin and judgment. In today’s passage in Genesis we find a different sort of interaction with condemned sinners. How are we supposed to interact with them on a daily human basis?

In earthly matters Abraham showed them respect. He bowed down to them (vs. 7), people who were under God’s indictment for multiple abominations. He demanded nothing from them but offered to deal with them fairly as other human beings. Hebrews says that Abraham knew this world was not his home but that he was only a sojourner here. His home was in heaven where a gracious God lives who still gives mankind a chance to repent. Abraham showed grace in human interaction, a very God-like trait.

Dear Father, Help me to live in grace toward others and let You deal with the rest. Amen.

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Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Believing the Impossible

“The lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.” Genesis 22:5

What happens when what we see in our lives in is in total contrast to what God has promised in His word? Jesus said that we would have abundant life, but many times our lives are far from any appearance of abundance. We do confront apparent contradictions from what God said to what we see. So did Abraham. God told him that through Isaac all the descendants would be blessed. Then He told Abraham to offer up Isaac as a burnt offering.

We see Abraham’s trust in the promises of God in what he told his servants. “We will go and we will return.” If God said He would do something, then Abraham knew God would do it. Even if it seemed impossible, God would do it because He is the God of the impossible. Do you see a contradiction in your life? If so, remember that God always keeps His word and that is why we are to walk by faith and not by sight.

Dear Father, Help us to believe when believing is seemingly impossible. Amen.

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Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Passing the Test

“And it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham.” Genesis 22:1

Years ago I had a student in my class who was pretty sharp. Her daily work was always well done and her participation in class was excellent. But, she couldn’t take tests. Her awareness of the topic was top of the class, but her testing was always in the bottom one third. I made arrangements for her to test privately, with just another teacher in the room, and her scores reached the top quarter of the class. Testing can be difficult, but solutions can be found.

God tested Abraham, and the test was a toughie. But Abraham had learned that God was always with Him. He wasn’t going up the mountain by Himself. He had a testing partner. God has given us His Holy Spirit who is with us in every test we face. When we remember that we are not alone we will find greater strength to face the tests that come our way.

Dear Father, Let Your presence be our assurance in the tests we face. Amen.

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Monday, July 13, 2015

No Turning Back

"But his wife looked behind him and she became a pillar of salt." Genesis 19:26

A young Indian prince accepted Christ as Lord and Savior and immediately found that he was not so welcome in his culture anymore. His Hindu family and friends forsook him. Though a prince he was now an outcast. He wrote a very meaningful hymn as a result. "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" has a critical line that cannot be overlooked. That line goes simply, "no turning back, no turning back." Jesus said that anyone putting his hand to the plow and looking back is not fit for the kingdom of heaven. When we come to Christ we come to move on with Him and not turn back.
Lot's wife, who had been warned not to turn back, did anyway. She is a constant and visible reminder of the sorrow of turning back to our old life after we have begun a new life with Christ. The old and new do not mix. The joy, hope, and peace that we hoped to find in our new life won't be there if we turn back. Our old life was empty and we were filled with the need of freedom from it. Jesus gave us that freedom, and now it is time to move forward with Him. "No turning back, no turning back."

Dear Father, Give us clear vision of the hope we have in Christ, and help us keep our feet from turning back. Amen.

Friday, July 10, 2015

Dickering with God?

“Abraham said, ‘Would you also destroy the righteous with the wicked?’” Genesis 18:23

I hear people all the time talk about “bargaining” with God. “If you,” they say, “do this then I will do this.” Of course, bargaining is done between equals and we are not equal to God, so this type of bargaining is pointless. But Abraham did dicker with God in a different way, a way we can use as well. He asked for nothing in return, only for God to show His righteousness and His justice. Abraham pleaded with God to uphold His grace.

Notice that Abraham didn’t ask for punishment on the sinners of Sodom, God had already declared He would do that. Abraham simply asked for God to show mercy in His judgment, to spare the righteous who were caught up in the midst of the wicked. It is easy to ask God to judge, it is much harder to ask God to do for others what He has done for us – show His immeasurable grace.

Dear Father, Thank You for being gracious to me, a sinner, and help me to show Your grace to others still caught up in sin. Amen.

The Friday Benediction

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Thursday, July 9, 2015

God's Promises Are A Laughing Matter

“Therefore Sarah laughed within herself.” Genesis 18:12

Throughout our lives we encounter events that might strike us as so absurd we want to laugh. But then we hear the stern warning, “That is no laughing matter.” For Sarah that was quite literally true, but the end result was daily filled with laughter. God said that Sarah, age 89, was going to have a baby after she had been barren her entire adult life. That was an absurdity that made her laugh, and it would have been absurd if anyone but God had said it. But He did.

Here is something else absurd, “I will forgive you all your iniquities.” We realize that we can offend someone only so much before there is no hope of reconciliation, but that is not true with God. He forgives us and gives us hearts that are free to laugh with joy. Sarah’s son was named Isaac, which literally means laughter. Every day she had laughter in her life because of God’s promise, and so should we.

Dear Father, Let me daily rejoice in the promise of Your grace. Amen.

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Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Our Job is not to Moan but to Share Christ

“For the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” Genesis 15:16

Let’s look for a minute at the sins of the Amorites. They were grossly immoral idolaters who reveled in their sins and ignored the repeated warnings of God. They practiced infanticide (abortion), were ritually given to fornication and homosexuality, and believed that neither incest nor adultery were wrong. God still gave them four hundred years to listen to His warnings and to repent before they were destroyed. But He did declare that their judgment was sure.

We can see parallels to the Amorites spreading across western civilization, and it rightly disturbs us to see it so. We know that the unrepentant will be judged. What we too often neglect is that God gave them time to hear and repent. That is still what He is waiting for today. He wants us to bear the Good News of Jesus Christ and rescue people from the certain judgment of the sin. Wringing our hands is not our job. Telling others of God’s grace is.

Dear Father, Help me to be a lighthouse in a dark world. Amen.

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Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Faith and Righteousness

“And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” Genesis 15:6

The underlying doctrine of all Scripture is that we are justified by faith and not by works. The foundational statement for that teaching is found in this verse. God made a promise. Abraham believed it. God then declared Abraham righteous. By grace we are saved through faith.

Notice that God did not declare him righteous when he allowed Lot to choose first. He was not declared righteous when he built an altar. He was not declared righteous when he refused to take the king of Sodom’s money. He was declared righteous when he believed God.

After being declared righteous Abraham walked even more closely to God than he had before. He didn’t let his righteous standing deter his devotion or obedience to God. He went on to take even greater steps of faith, including offering up his own son. His faith produced works of righteousness. This is why Abraham is called the father of the faith.

Dear Father, Thank You for the gift of faith, help me to use it for Your glory. Amen.

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Monday, July 6, 2015

To Whom Are We Beholden?

“But Abram said, ‘I have raised my hand to the Lord that I will take nothing from {you}’.”

Genesis 14:22-23

In politics we worry that the person who takes campaign funding from a certain source is then beholden to vote favorably for that source. We want our leaders to appear unsullied by any conflict of interest. Abraham wanted to keep his record clean as well. He wouldn’t take as much as a shoestring from the king of Sodom who had offered him great wealth. What does Satan offer us to compromise our spiritual principles?

When we look at the temptation of Christ we see the things that Satan still uses to lead us to follow him instead of Christ. Will Satan’s lures really bring true blessings or only the pleasures of the world for a season? Satan sets some very attractive traps, but we should remember God’s praise of Moses who chose to endure suffering than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. He knew that all temptation comes with a cost.

Dear Father, Help me guard my heart steadfastly for You. Amen.

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Friday, July 3, 2015

Baby Steps to Disaster

“And Lot looked toward Sodom, journeyed toward Sodom, and dwelt in Sodom.” Genesis 13:10-12

Supposedly if you put a frog into a pan of water and heat the water slowly, the frog will stay in the pan until it dies of the heat. That is what Lot did. His progression into sin wasn’t just a leap off the high dive into the cesspool of Sodom. First he admired the benefits of living in the area. Then he moved nearer to Sodom but kept his distance. Finally he abandoned his flocks and moved into town with all his family. Slowly he cooked himself to death.

Twenty baby steps toward sin still equals one giant step. Scripture is replete with warnings about taking those progressive little steps that lead to great disaster. God tells us that like a shepherd He wants to lead us in paths of righteousness. The Bible tells us that His word is the light on that path. There is the flash of the flesh, or there is the Word of God. We must daily choose wisely.

Dear Father, Guide me through the Word in paths of righteousness. Amen.

The Friday Benediction

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Thursday, July 2, 2015

Keeping the Peace

“And there was strife between Abram’s servants and Lot’s servants.” Genesis 13:7

Have you ever had a serious dispute within your family? It really isn’t that rare, but it is always sad and our responses to it can make it even sadder. How did you resolve the dispute? Abram did it uniquely. “Here, Lot,” he said, “you choose what you want and I will take whatever is left.” Guess who got the short end of the deal in the end? Lot. All that he desired turned out to be his downfall.

Abram was content with what he had. Lot was greedy. Contentment always wins. Abram didn’t even hold a grudge. When Lot got in trouble Abram rescued him once and pleaded with God for him the second time. Contentment with the joy of the Lord is a good choice in family disputes. Continuing to love the other family member and pray for their welfare just adds to the blessings of peace in our lives. Abram sets quite a positive example.

Dear Father, Help me to seek peace in all my family relationships. Amen.

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Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Make Me a Blessing

“In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:3

This verse is not just a tremendous Messianic promise, it is also a great challenge to every believer to be an extension of that blessing. Only through Christ can all the world be blessed. Only through Him can all find forgiveness for sins and hope for eternity. Only through His return can earth itself be restored. There are things that only He can do.

But that doesn’t mean that we have no work to do. Paul said we should be zealous for good works. We should be eager to make the life of another person better, brighter, and more hopeful. He called us to become the extension of His blessing to others every day. Ira Wilson wrote the words to the gospel song, “Make Me a Blessing”. The words are simple and others will truly find new joy in life as we make those simple words come to life. Let us be zealous to pass on the blessing of Christ’s salvation and care to the world around us.

Dear Father, “Make me a blessing, out of my life, may Jesus shine.” Amen

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