Abraham wholeheartedly believed that God answers prayers, a truth he had experienced throughout his life. God does not always respond in the way we expect or with the outcomes we fully desire, but according to His perfect will and grace. I remember praying for an eight-month-old infant suffering from a liver disease. As I laid …
Hanging on when God says to let go often represents a significant part of our spiritual journey. Before returning to school to become a pastor, I spent twelve years in a completely different profession. To follow the direction the Lord was leading me, my wife and I had to let go of our jobs and …
Have you ever considered taking time to pray about heeding God’s warning so that when it comes, you will obey the Lord? Warnings, like temptations, often arrive when we least expect them, and our ability to follow can have serious ramifications. In life, frequent signs are warning us of danger, such as “High Water: Turn Around” …
Lot’s story tells of God’s intervention despite our foolishness. Lot’s desire for worldly pleasures had led him to live in Sodom. He was aware of God and may have denounced evil, but he seemed to enjoy the lifestyle there. He foolishly allowed bad company to corrupt him and his family. This resulted in corrupted values. …
Biblical values transform our thinking. Romans 12: 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. [1] Our thinking influences our values, actions, …
The destructiveness of sin is evident in Lot’s life, which also serves as a warning of a trap we could fall into. Walking with the Lord sharpens our awareness of sin. A tender heart enables us to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice more clearly and turn away from sin. However, when we, myself included, drift …
We see the dangers of compromise in the life of Lot before the destruction of Sodom. Lot, a nephew of Abraham, had benefited from his uncle’s relationship. Both Abraham and Lot seemed to have gained wealth from their visit to Egypt (Genesis 12). They both had acquired large flocks of livestock to the point that …
We see the power of decisions as Abram and Lot faced pivotal decisions regarding their land. They needed to separate to have enough land for all their livestock. Abram graciously allowed Lot to choose first, leading to Lot’s choice of the fertile plains of Jordan, while Abraham remained in the less desirable land of Canaan. …
Seeing beyond the surface requires looking at life through God’s lens as the Holy Spirit leads us. The land could not support the large flocks of sheep, goats, and cattle owned by Abram and Lot, so we see them go in different directions. Genesis 13:10 Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the …
Today’s story shows the power of generosity. Genesis 13: 8 Finally Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives! 9 The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If …