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Friday, October 10, 2014

Choices: Where Are Yours Leading You? (Blogging Through the Bible)


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Choices...we all have to make them - every.single.day.

Meet Abram.

Abram had a choice to make when God called him to leave everything that was familiar to him - even those of his extended family that he loved. But Abram loved God more than what was familiar and comfortable to him and chose to take his wife and follow Him. Abram didn't even know where God was taking him, but yet he trusted God without having all the answers. Now that is walking by faith! Abram's faithfulness led him to the promises of God.


Now meet Lot.

Lot decided to take his wife and children and go along with Abram. Conflict arose between Abram's and Lot's herdsmen and when given the choice by Abram of any land for his own, Lot makes a choice that will ultimately cost him those he loves. Lot walked by sight and that took him right out of the will of God for his life. We will find out in our reading in the next few days exactly what happens to Lot and his family. 

Our choices not only affect us, but they affect those around us too.

Our choices are either taking us closer to God or they are taking us away from Him.

Choices: Where are yours leading you?


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***Here are my S.O.A.P.s for Thursday and Friday. Please share your thoughts in the comments below. I would love to hear from you!


Thursday, October 9, 2014

Genesis 12

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-3 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Observations: Here is the call of God upon Abram’s life to leave his country, his people, and his father’s house in order to follow Him. All of these were dear to Abram, but this was a call to love God more and leave it all in order to go with Him. God doesn’t tell Abram where He is taking him. God asks Abram to leave everything that is familiar to him to go to an unknown land.

This call tried Abram’s love, his trust, and his faith in God.

In return, there are six promises of God given to Abram:
1.     I will make you into a great nation. (He took Abram from his own people and made him the head of another.)
2.     I will bless you. (Obedient believers will inherit the blessings of God.)
3.     I will make your name great. (He would be losing his name in his country, but God would be promoting him!)
4.     You will be a blessing.
5.     I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse.
6.     All peoples on earth will be blessed through you. (The crowning promise of the Messiah!)

Application: God calls us all at some point in our lives to leave behind all the enticements of this world to follow Him. We trade what is seen for what is unseen to us right now. We have His ultimate promise of Heaven that far outweighs anything this world has to offer. We must hold on to all the promises of God while we wait for Jesus’ return.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us not to become distracted by the trappings of this world that would take our attention off of our promises of Heaven and of Jesus’ return. We know that You are faithful to do all that You have promised. Thank You for calling me out of this dark world. Help me to remember that this world is only temporary and let my love for You guide me. In the precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen!

Friday, October 10, 2014

Genesis 13
Scripture: Genesis 13:10-13 Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. 13 Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.

Observations: What stands out to me in these verses is Lot’s greediness and that he walked by sight which led to a decision that would end in complete failure as he stepped outside of the will of God. Lot had left with Abram who had followed the call of God to leave everything he knew to inherit the promise of God. Once the going got tough, Lot chooses for himself to go to a place away from Abram who continued to walk by faith toward the promise God had given to him. This is Lot’s first mistake.

His second mistake was in pitching his tents near Sodom, a land filled with wicked people who were sinning against God.

Application: The wickedness of this world continues to grow every day and sin is totally out in the open. Satan tries to make sin look good so that we will be tempted to partake in it. We have to choose to stay close to God and walk by faith toward the promise of Jesus’ return – when He will take us out of here to our glorious home in Heaven. We cannot desire the things of this world above God as Lot did. The choices we make every day determine whether we are walking toward God or walking away from Him.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You have made me a promise – a promise that one day Jesus is coming back to take us home. This world is not my home, and there is nothing here that can fulfill the longing of my heart. Help me to walk by faith and not by sight. Help me to keep my eyes focused on You in a world that screams for my attention. May the daily choices I make lead me closer to You. I pray this for all Your children, Father. Let us all run the race that is set before us so that when Jesus returns, we will all hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” In the mighty name of Jesus I pray. Amen! 

Walking in His Grace, 
Laurie

 
This week's reading plan goes through Saturday. Meet me back here on Sunday for next week's reading plan.

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It's Friday, so that mean's it's time to link-up this #bloggingthroughthebible post with Courtney Joseph at Women Living Well home of Good Morning Girls! Please click on the image below to read others posts for Blogging Through the Bible.

Blogging Through the Bible

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