Our Biggest Journey

Date: Monday, January 05, 2015
Today's Chapters: Genesis 13-15
Message Title: Our Biggest Journey

Hello My Friend, 

A journey, it's a passage from one place to another, and the biggest journey we will ever be on is that of our own lives. As with all journeys, there are hills and valleys, rocks and desserts to trek through, but the rewards are great if we trek through with Jesus walking by our side. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” - Psalms 23:4-6.

When Abraham set out on the journey that God led him through, he did not just take his wife, he took all of his substance, along with cattlemen, and his nephew Lot, and all that he had. The two men together had so much that they had to separate. “And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai; Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD. And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.” - Genesis 13:1-6.

When God chooses a journey for us, it rarely begins with other people, I mean those outside our immediate family. It's not that God cannot use loved ones and friends, but if they are not living to please God as we are, they often hinder us from our journey, which is why He often separates us, even from brothers and sisters. When God called Abraham, He told him to leave, just with his wife, no one else, so, God would not reveal His plan until he separated himself from Lot. “And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.” - Genesis 13:14-17.

Lot probably thought that God blessed him with that beautiful land, he soon found out that that beautiful land was no blessing from God, it was of Satan, full of corruption and wickedness. He ended up being captured during a war. Abraham, hearing of this, gathered his army together to go after them. “And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.” - Genesis 14:14-16,18-20.

While God does often separate us from family and friends, that does not mean He does not give opportunity for us to love them, care for them, and show them Christ through us by being there for them in times of distress. Showing kindness to others is always one of the best opportunities to show the existence of Christ, and what He has done in our lives. Jesus gave His life for us, the best thing we can ever do is show that love by being there for those who need us. “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” - John 15:12-16.

After that generous act of love, which Abraham had done, in rescuing his neighbors, perhaps he got a little scared about retaliation, but was also excited about such a great victory. It was then that he got a vision fom God, first, He comforts him by telling him that He would always be there to protect him. While talking to God, Abraham had a question. “After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it. And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.” - Genesis 15:1,2,5-7,13,14.

God answers him, giving him a great prophecy about his heirs becoming slaves in Egypt, and His judgment upon them, referring to the ten plagues. As our heavenly Father, it's okay to ask Him questions as sometimes our journeys in life seem so great and overwhelming that we lose sight of the promise. God never lets us down, and while we often cause some of our own obstacles by taking detours along the way, God never gives up on His promise for us. He will bless us when we trust Him, remain faithful, and be patient as we walk our journey with Christ. “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.” - Hebrews 6:10-15.

Today's Prayer: God, The second we are conceived, You have a journey for us to walk, sometimes we take a turn and get lost, never to return, but some of us are blessed to find You. Thank You for loving us, and never giving up on us, for being there when we need You, even when we make detours, and for always seeing better things of us that we see in ourselves. Lord, I want to walk my journey with Your Son, keep me looking to Him, and let me not veer off path in my attempts to rush and or seek other means to get what I desire in life. Give me Your power, wisdom, and discernment to know where You want me to go, the patience to wait for Your promises, and remind me that You always have something better in store for me. In Jesus' name, Amen. 

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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