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 …
Temptation often follows victories due to fatigue and the celebration that accompanies them. The most dangerous time for a mountain climber is the descent down the mountain. The exhilaration of reaching the top can lead to overconfidence. The increasing exhaustion from the trip adds to the temptation to overlook safety precautions. This combination can lead …
We all desire a heart that blesses others, and through Jesus’s love, this transformation is possible. When successful invaders attacked Sodom, Abram’s nephew Lot was taken captive. In response, Abram organized and led a group of 318 trained men from his household to rescue Lot and others from their captors. There was a blessing after …
The story of Abram and Melchizedek contains the first mention of tithing. A tithe is simply one-tenth of an amount. Genesis 14: 19 Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And blessed be God Most High, who has defeated your enemies for you.” Then Abram …