Sitting here I was thinking how many times I grab one of the hands of my children or even grandchildren. Most times it was to keep them safe, to keep them from harm. Often they didn't see or understand the possible danger to which they could be exposed. Keeping their hand in mine served to keep them safe, even move them along to avoid the possible dangers that lay ahead.
Lot was urged by the angels but when he was slow to respond they seized his hand and placed him out of harms way. When you read that it sounds rough and forceful. If we stop there we might say, "that wasn't nice why didn't they give him some time to respond?" However, the next words give us an entirely different view, the view of God. We see the angels responded in the manner they did because of the compassion of the Lord.
Has someone tried to help you? Has their help seemed a little forceful? Perhaps it is because of their love for you and the love of God in their hearts.
No one would object to when someone force themselves into your life to rescue you from harms way so if you are in spiritual danger don't be upset when someone wants to rescue you that danger.
Gen 19:15-16 15 When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, "Up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city." 16 But he hesitated. So the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, for the compassion of the Lord was upon him; and they brought him out, and put him outside the city. NASU
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Failure to Believe
How many times did you tell your children (or you were told yourself) if you do that your going to get hurt? Well, our kids stop for the moment only to back to whatever they were doing when you weren't looking and then.....come crying out because they got hurt. They just didn't believe you knew about what you were talking. So they just went ahead and did exactly what you told them not to do. (Remember, this may fit you too).
Lot tried to warn his family and future son-in-laws.
Gen 19:12-14 12 Then the two men said to Lot, "Whom else have you here? A son-in-law, and your sons, and your daughters, and whomever you have in the city, bring them out of the place; 13 for we are about to destroy this place, because their outcry has become so great before the Lord that the Lord has sent us to destroy it." 14 Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, and said, "Up, get out of this place, for the Lord will destroy the city." But he appeared to his sons-in-law to be jesting. NASU
God has provided many warning in the Scriptures.
Rom 6:23 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. NASU
Luke 13:3-53 "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 "Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? 5 "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." NASU
These are two warning that God has provided. Don't be like Lot's son-in-laws who those he was teasing.God is not teasing. The warning is real.
Today, confess your sins and ask Jesus to forgive your sins and come into your life.
Let today be the day change begins.
Lot tried to warn his family and future son-in-laws.
Gen 19:12-14 12 Then the two men said to Lot, "Whom else have you here? A son-in-law, and your sons, and your daughters, and whomever you have in the city, bring them out of the place; 13 for we are about to destroy this place, because their outcry has become so great before the Lord that the Lord has sent us to destroy it." 14 Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, and said, "Up, get out of this place, for the Lord will destroy the city." But he appeared to his sons-in-law to be jesting. NASU
God has provided many warning in the Scriptures.
Rom 6:23 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. NASU
Luke 13:3-53 "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 "Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? 5 "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." NASU
These are two warning that God has provided. Don't be like Lot's son-in-laws who those he was teasing.God is not teasing. The warning is real.
Today, confess your sins and ask Jesus to forgive your sins and come into your life.
Let today be the day change begins.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Can Not Appease Evil
Evil is not something to mess with, nor can you appease evil. Those who have evil in their heart and mind will not rest till they get what they want or their heart is change by God.
Lot sought to distract those men who wanted to do evil with the guest of Lot by offering them his virgin daughters. However, the men of Sodom would not be diverted from their evil desires. We read this and shake our head is sadness. But their is more to see here. Lot did evil by offering the purity of his daughters rather than defend them.
When we constantly live among evil we will be blinded to the small changes in our own hearts. We must live with our eyes on the Lord.
1 Cor 6:17-1817 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. NASU
2 Tim 2:22-2322 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. NASU
We are stengthen when we gather with like minded individuals.
Heb 10:23-25 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. NASU
Gen 19:4-11 4 Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter; 5 and they called to Lot and said to him, " Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have relations with them." 6 But Lot went out to them at the doorway, and shut the door behind him, 7 and said, "Please, my brothers, do not act wickedly. 8 "Now behold, I have two daughters who have not had relations with man; please let me bring them out to you, and do to them whatever you like; only do nothing to these men, in as much as they have come under the shelter of my roof." 9 But they said, "Stand aside." Furthermore, they said, "This one came in as an alien, and already he is acting like a judge; now we will treat you worse than them." So they pressed hard against Lot and came near to break the door. 10 But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. 11 They struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves trying to find the doorway. NASU
Join with other believers and be strengthen for the battle of the week.
Lot sought to distract those men who wanted to do evil with the guest of Lot by offering them his virgin daughters. However, the men of Sodom would not be diverted from their evil desires. We read this and shake our head is sadness. But their is more to see here. Lot did evil by offering the purity of his daughters rather than defend them.
When we constantly live among evil we will be blinded to the small changes in our own hearts. We must live with our eyes on the Lord.
1 Cor 6:17-1817 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. NASU
2 Tim 2:22-2322 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. NASU
We are stengthen when we gather with like minded individuals.
Heb 10:23-25 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. NASU
Gen 19:4-11 4 Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter; 5 and they called to Lot and said to him, " Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have relations with them." 6 But Lot went out to them at the doorway, and shut the door behind him, 7 and said, "Please, my brothers, do not act wickedly. 8 "Now behold, I have two daughters who have not had relations with man; please let me bring them out to you, and do to them whatever you like; only do nothing to these men, in as much as they have come under the shelter of my roof." 9 But they said, "Stand aside." Furthermore, they said, "This one came in as an alien, and already he is acting like a judge; now we will treat you worse than them." So they pressed hard against Lot and came near to break the door. 10 But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. 11 They struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves trying to find the doorway. NASU
Join with other believers and be strengthen for the battle of the week.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Knock, knock...Angels Here
There is a commercial running right now that says, "if we only knew what laid ahead, then we could make better choices". Today we see how we should choose, not only doing good when we know but even if we don't know we should do the right thing.
Gen 19:1-3 19 Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. 2 And he said, "Now behold, my lords, please turn aside into your servant's house, and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way." They said however, "No, but we shall spend the night in the square." 3 Yet he urged them strongly, so they turned aside to him and entered his house; and he prepared a feast for them, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. NAS
How will you treat a stranger today. Will they be an inconvenience or will you treat them with kindness and the love of Christ?
Gen 19:1-3 19 Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. 2 And he said, "Now behold, my lords, please turn aside into your servant's house, and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way." They said however, "No, but we shall spend the night in the square." 3 Yet he urged them strongly, so they turned aside to him and entered his house; and he prepared a feast for them, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. NAS
How will you treat a stranger today. Will they be an inconvenience or will you treat them with kindness and the love of Christ?
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
For Who Would You Plead?
Ah, mom...why can't I go to my friends house? We all pleaded for ourselves when we were little. We wanted something for ourselves, but now that we are grow up do we still "plead" for ourselves or are we willing to plead for the need of someone else?
Abraham goes before God and pleads for the welfare of Lot and the people in the communities of Sodom and Gommorah. His prayer was that even one would be saved from the judgement of God.
Do you know Christ as your Savior? Then are you willing to go before God and "plead" for their salvation?
Gen 18:22-33 22 Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham was still standing before the Lord. 23 Abraham came near and said, " Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 "Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 "Far be it from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?" 26 So the Lord said, " If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place on their account." 27 And Abraham replied, "Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am but dust and ashes. 28 "Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five, will You destroy the whole city because of five?" And He said, "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there." 29 He spoke to Him yet again and said, "Suppose forty are found there?" And He said, "I will not do it on account of the forty." 30 Then he said, "Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak; suppose thirty are found there?" And He said, "I will not do it if I find thirty there." 31 And he said, "Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord; suppose twenty are found there?" And He said, "I will not destroy it on account of the twenty." 32 Then he said, " Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?" And He said, "I will not destroy it on account of the ten." 33 As soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham the Lord departed, and Abraham returned to his place. NASU
Plead for your neighbors on the street where you live. Plead for the community where you live.
Cry out to God for He alone can save His people from their sins.
Matt 1:21 "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." NASU
Abraham goes before God and pleads for the welfare of Lot and the people in the communities of Sodom and Gommorah. His prayer was that even one would be saved from the judgement of God.
Do you know Christ as your Savior? Then are you willing to go before God and "plead" for their salvation?
Gen 18:22-33 22 Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham was still standing before the Lord. 23 Abraham came near and said, " Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 "Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 "Far be it from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?" 26 So the Lord said, " If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place on their account." 27 And Abraham replied, "Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am but dust and ashes. 28 "Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five, will You destroy the whole city because of five?" And He said, "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there." 29 He spoke to Him yet again and said, "Suppose forty are found there?" And He said, "I will not do it on account of the forty." 30 Then he said, "Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak; suppose thirty are found there?" And He said, "I will not do it if I find thirty there." 31 And he said, "Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord; suppose twenty are found there?" And He said, "I will not destroy it on account of the twenty." 32 Then he said, " Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?" And He said, "I will not destroy it on account of the ten." 33 As soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham the Lord departed, and Abraham returned to his place. NASU
Plead for your neighbors on the street where you live. Plead for the community where you live.
Cry out to God for He alone can save His people from their sins.
Matt 1:21 "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." NASU
Monday, August 17, 2009
Judgement Revealed
I am sure we remember the days when Mom or Dad would say "if you do that, you will be sent to your room". They were teaching you what their judgement would be before they implemented into your life.
God also wants us to know about his judgement that will be coming into our life. Before the Lord's judgement on Sodom and Gomorrah He revealed to Abraham what was headed their way. Abraham was chosen to teach his children. Teaching children that actions as consequences is an important step in their development.
Genesis 18:16-21 16 Then the men rose up from there, and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off. 17 The Lord said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed? 19 "For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him." 20 And the Lord said, " The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave. 21 "I will go down now, and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know." NAS
The Lord was heading to Sodom and Gomorrah to examine and judge them. But not before he revealed to Abraham that judgement was heading their way.
Are you prepared for judgement in your life?
Ps 9:8 And He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity. NASU
1 Peter 4:5-6 5 but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God. NASU
God also wants us to know about his judgement that will be coming into our life. Before the Lord's judgement on Sodom and Gomorrah He revealed to Abraham what was headed their way. Abraham was chosen to teach his children. Teaching children that actions as consequences is an important step in their development.
Genesis 18:16-21 16 Then the men rose up from there, and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off. 17 The Lord said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed? 19 "For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him." 20 And the Lord said, " The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave. 21 "I will go down now, and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know." NAS
The Lord was heading to Sodom and Gomorrah to examine and judge them. But not before he revealed to Abraham that judgement was heading their way.
Are you prepared for judgement in your life?
Ps 9:8 And He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity. NASU
1 Peter 4:5-6 5 but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God. NASU
Monday, August 3, 2009
Impossible-Possible
Have you ever watched someone do something, carving in ice, doing a chalk talk, get a computer going when you have been working on it for hours, and wondered "how did they do that"? Something aren't that difficult when you are trained in those areas. For an person who is good a carving, carving in ice isn't that difficult but to someone who only "carves" a piece of steak well, that is another story.
Be careful that when it goes to things that God is doing that we don't try and explain them away. How many times have we heard people try to deny that God has done something miraculous. Today we see that Abraham and Sarah were well beyond child bearing age when the Lord tells Abraham that by "next year" Sarah would bear a child. Now that is "impossible", yes it is for man...but not for God.
Gen 18:9-15 9 Then they said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" And he said, "There, in the tent." 10 He said, " I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. 12 Sarah laughed to herself, saying, " After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?" 13 And the Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?' 14 " Is anything too difficult for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son." 15 Sarah denied it however, saying, "I did not laugh"; for she was afraid. And He said, "No, but you did laugh."NASU
Are you facing a humanly impossible situation? God can do more than we can think or ask.
Eph 3:20-21 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. NASU
Trust God to do what you can't do!
Be careful that when it goes to things that God is doing that we don't try and explain them away. How many times have we heard people try to deny that God has done something miraculous. Today we see that Abraham and Sarah were well beyond child bearing age when the Lord tells Abraham that by "next year" Sarah would bear a child. Now that is "impossible", yes it is for man...but not for God.
Gen 18:9-15 9 Then they said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" And he said, "There, in the tent." 10 He said, " I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. 12 Sarah laughed to herself, saying, " After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?" 13 And the Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?' 14 " Is anything too difficult for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son." 15 Sarah denied it however, saying, "I did not laugh"; for she was afraid. And He said, "No, but you did laugh."NASU
Are you facing a humanly impossible situation? God can do more than we can think or ask.
Eph 3:20-21 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. NASU
Trust God to do what you can't do!
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Are you Ready
There are times in my life when I wasn't sure I was ready for the next steps. Each time we bought or built a home, signing all the legal paper work, I had to ask myself was I ready for this commitment. Making decisions and taking our time is usually something we do to be ready. But what happens when things must happen at a moments notice. Are we "prepared" for the unplanable? Sometimes we have to respond at a moments notice..we don't have time to get ready we must react. It is those time that our true character comes to the forefront of our lives. How we respond in a moment is something this is deep within us.
The Lord came to meet Abraham and Sarah, how he respond is critical for us to see. Despite not being able to know "in advance" of His coming Abraham jumped into action to provide a meal for his guests.
Gen 18:1-8
18 Now the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 When he lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth, 3 and said, " My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass Your servant by. 4 "Please let a little water be brought and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree; 5 and I will bring a piece of bread, that you may refresh yourselves; after that you may go on, since you have visited your servant." And they said, "So do, as you have said." 6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, " Quickly, prepare three measures of fine flour, knead it and make bread cakes." 7 Abraham also ran to the herd, and took a tender and choice calf and gave it to the servant, and he hurried to prepare it. 8 He took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and placed it before them; and he was standing by them under the tree as they ate. NAS
How would you respond if your neighbor needed help? What if your co-worker had an emergency could they rely on you to assist them or are you to busy.
Let's be sure that we are never to so busy that we can respond to someone else's need.
The Lord came to meet Abraham and Sarah, how he respond is critical for us to see. Despite not being able to know "in advance" of His coming Abraham jumped into action to provide a meal for his guests.
Gen 18:1-8
18 Now the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 When he lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth, 3 and said, " My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass Your servant by. 4 "Please let a little water be brought and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree; 5 and I will bring a piece of bread, that you may refresh yourselves; after that you may go on, since you have visited your servant." And they said, "So do, as you have said." 6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, " Quickly, prepare three measures of fine flour, knead it and make bread cakes." 7 Abraham also ran to the herd, and took a tender and choice calf and gave it to the servant, and he hurried to prepare it. 8 He took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and placed it before them; and he was standing by them under the tree as they ate. NAS
How would you respond if your neighbor needed help? What if your co-worker had an emergency could they rely on you to assist them or are you to busy.
Let's be sure that we are never to so busy that we can respond to someone else's need.
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